Revell 1/32 F-4E (from F-4G kit) 32nd TFS - The paint is on!

[alain11]

one last thing " needs " " to be corrected ( note quotes " nothing is imposed  ) The gear legs ..... The front one is too "skinny " , the main legs are too long ( 3 mm ) that gives the kit a bad stance .... so , if you still have a little bit money to spend , take a look at " Aerocraft models " there is a set to correct this flaw .... maybe it's worth to be considered ..... I would ! yes , I know  all of these goodies inflate the kit price ....In France , we use to say : " quand on aime , on ne compte pas !! " , I let you meditate this 

Cheers 

Alain

https://www.aerocraftmodels.com/mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-undercarriage-for-132-revell-kit-12-p.asp

Edited October 27 by alain11

[Grunticus]

2 minutes ago, alain11 said:

one last thing " needs " " to be corrected ( note quotes " nothing is imposed  ) The gear legs ..... The front one is too "skinny " , the main legs are too long ( 3 mm ) that gives the kit a bad stance .... so , if you still have a little bit money to spend , take a look at " Aerocraft models " there is a set to correct this flaw .... maybe it's worth to be considered ..... I would ! yes , I know  all of these goodies inflate the kit price ....In France , we use to say : " quand on aime , on ne compte pas !! " , I let you meditate this 

Cheers 

Alain

 

Thanks Alain, I just started gluing the gear today. The arch that holds the wheel gear looks pretty frail to hold the weight of such a big kit. I will look into it. Money is never an issue fortunately.

 

According to Google it means "If we love, we don't count".    True.

[Redcap1960]

On 10/6/2023 at 5:29 PM, alain11 said:

Hi

I am very tempted by the Academy ( Revell rebox ) with an impressive decal scheet ,but I read here and there that this kit has some shape issue , the nose cone for exampe , the wheel well not deep enough , the cockpit floor .....too deep ,the gear legs especially the front on are too " skinny " , and the top of the vertical fin must be reworked 

I said , I am tempted , because it's a cheap kit , and these shape issues can be " easily fixed " after all ....and the last .. the Tam's kit is not available ... anywhere 

maybe , it's time to produce a conversion ( as cutting edge  did it a while ago ) to upgrade the C/D from Tamiya  

I will follow your thread , sure it will help me to take the plunge 

Alain

Alain,

 

Sorry for coming late to this thread [been gallivanting around Belgium for a few weeks], but just to let you know I have a Tamiya F-4E available for sale if you are still interested? It's going for £100.00 + postage. If you are still interested drop me a pm  .

 

Warm Regards & Good Modelling from the Kingdom of the Rheged.

 

Gary.  

[Shujaa]

I see a pattern emerging...   

 

It look's like all CR-bird's sporting the RWR's are F-4E "late" versions (Slotted slats, long gun-muzzle, etc., etc..). This surely makes sense since:

* the RWR's were added at a later date

* the 32nd at Soesterberg were often equiped with the "latest tech" ;

 

Where as many USAFE units were still operating the F-4D, the 32nd received the E-model. When other USAFE units switched to the E-model, the 32nd swapped their F-4E "early" models for the F-4E "late" models. Where as many USAFE units kept on using the F-4 Phantoms, the 32nd switched to the F-15. A-B's at first, quickly followed by C-D's which were accordingly replaced by C-D's MSIP's. Only when the 32nd was doomed to be dissolved, their MSIP's were replaced by "down-graded" F-15's...

 

Thanx for the additional pic-info Leon. A nice addition to my "32nd archive".   

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

[Grunticus]

10 hours ago, Shujaa said:

I see a pattern emerging...   

 

It look's like all CR-bird's sporting the RWR's are F-4E "late" versions (Slotted slats, long gun-muzzle, etc., etc..). This surely makes sense since:

* the RWR's were added at a later date

* the 32nd at Soesterberg were often equiped with the "latest tech" ;

 

Where as many USAFE units were still operating the F-4D, the 32nd received the E-model. When other USAFE units switched to the E-model, the 32nd swapped their F-4E "early" models for the F-4E "late" models. Where as many USAFE units kept on using the F-4 Phantoms, the 32nd switched to the F-15. A-B's at first, quickly followed by C-D's which were accordingly replaced by C-D's MSIP's. Only when the 32nd was doomed to be dissolved, their MSIP's were replaced by "down-graded" F-15's...

 

Thanx for the additional pic-info Leon. A nice addition to my "32nd archive".   

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

 

Thanks for this Rudy, you are very knowledgeable about Phantoms. The Revell kit represents a mid-production non-TISEO example. Does it already have the modifications you mention? Or would I be wiser to use the older style RWR part?

 

I noticed something sitting in the right wing root, it looks like some sort of gun camera or sensor to me. I am trying to find out what it is because it is a notable omission in the kit so I will scratch-build it. Many 32nd TFS F-4Es show it.

 

Edited October 28 by Grunticus

[thierry laurent]

3 hours ago, Grunticus said:

 

Thanks for this Rudy, you are very knowledgeable about Phantoms. The Revell kit represents a mid-production non-TISEO example. Does it already have the modifications you mention? Or would I be wiser to use the older style RWR part?

 

I noticed something sitting in the right wing root, it looks like some sort of gun camera or sensor to me. I am trying to find out what it is because it is a notable omission in the kit so I will scratch-build it. Many 32nd TFS F-4Es show it.

 

It is a removable strike camera.

[Dave Williams]

Those strike cameras (there are usually two, one on the other side facing to the rear) are actually in the Academy rebox of the Revell kit.  It was on a new sprue Z that they added to their kits.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10787598/40/4

 

[Shujaa]

Interresting question Leon, to which I (unfortunately) do not have a definitive answer... I think I can hold my own when it comes to the F-4, but with over 5000 being build and operated all over the world, it's kinda hard to know EVERYTHING...      However, I'll do my best trying to give You some "guidance". (Grab some coffee my friend.) 

 

When the 32nd switched to the F-4, they started out operating the F-4E "early" models. These bird's can be recognized by a few external features, such as:

- short gun-muzzle

- a so-called "hard wing", which was not equipped with leading edge slats

- "old style" horizontal stabilizers which were equaly not equiped with a slotted leading edge

The very first bird's also lacked the luminescent formation-light "bar's". Furthermore, these "early" models could be seen with different missile-rails on the inboard pylons to facilitate the AIM-4 Falcon missiles.

 

Through time the 32nd swapped their "early" models for "late" models. These bird's can be recognized by a few different external features, such as:

- long gun-muzzle

- slatted wing's, which can be recognized by the buldges on the underside of the inboard wing-section

- slatted wing-tip's

- horizontal stabilizers, equipped with a slotted leading edge

- TISEO (*)

- To my knowledge the "late" models no longer used the AIM-4 Falcon missile-rails

 

* NOTE:

I'm pretty sure the "early" models didn't have TISEO due to the fact that this system was designed by Northtrop in 1972. (More on that later-on...)

 

OK, now we kinda know the differences between the "early" models and the "late" models. Soooo...   All we need to do is to have a look at the Fiscal Year numbers in the registration, right ?!   WRONG !!!

 

Going by the external differences, it look's like CR/68-412 is an "early" model. The same goes for CR/69-558. However... Guess what ??? Looking at CR/68-513, this clearly is a "late" F-4E...!!!   

 

(Check out "overshoot.nl" for the pic's.)

 

Let's try to explain;

 

In 1969 the 32nd swapped their F-102's for the F-4E. That's when they received the F-4E "early" models. In 1971 these "early" models received an upgrade-program during which they received long gun-muzzles, slotted horizontal stabilizers as well as the luminescent formation-light "bar's". That's also where all the confusion started due to the fact that these bird's looked like "late" models but they were NOT. The upgrade program was completed in 1972. In 1974 the 32nd bird's received another upgrade-program during which they were transformed to "late" models. This explains the Fiscal Year chaos which I tried to point out above.

 

Through time the 32nd also received some "brand new" F-4E's. Since these bird's carry the Fiscal Year indicator "74", they must be "full fledged" "late" models. This is also were TISEO comes in to the picture since Northtrop designed this system in 1972. That's why I'm pretty sure the "early" models never carried this system. Still, this doesn't mean that all "74" bird's carried TISEO. Have a look at the link below:

 

http://www.overshoot.nl/F-4Es_1978_(I).html 

 

Both airframes carry Fiscal Year "74", however CR/74-053 (in the foreground) clearly shows TISEO where-as it look's like CR/74-046 (in the background) is not equipped with TISEO... (Could be just an optical illusion, though...)

 

Well Leon, I'm pretty sure we can conclude 1 thing without a doubt: It's all pretty confusing, isn't it...??? 

My approach would be to select a specific airframe according to ref-pic's and try to replicate it as best as possible...

 

(My sincere appologies to everybody who gives a rat's @ss about all this nitty-gritty stuff but please keep in mind that I'm just trying to help out a fellow modeller. )

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

 

P.S.:

The little doohickey You pointed out is indeed a strike-camera. To me it look's like a piece of "strap-on kit" since it appears to been seen on the other side as well. Check out the last pic in the link:

 

http://www.overshoot.nl/32nd._V.html   

[Shujaa]

Ahhh, just stumbled upon this which might be of any use:

 

https://www.sberg-movements.nl/32nd-serial-listing/32nd-f4e-serials

 

I also recall You might be thinking of a 32nd F-15 Eagle as a future project. Maybe this might come in handy:

 

https://skytrailer.nl/eagle-squadrons/32nd-fighter-squadron/

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

[Grunticus]

2 hours ago, thierry laurent said:

It is a removable strike camera.

 

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

Those strike cameras (there are usually two, one on the other side facing to the rear) are actually in the Academy rebox of the Revell kit.  It was on a new sprue Z that they added to their kits.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10787598/40/4

 

 

Thank you guys. And also thanks for pointing out one comes with the Academy rebox. What great schemes with that one BTW, and that decal sheet....just wow. This kit gave me so much joy I am going to get one of the Academy boxings.

 

In the mean time I\ll try to find photos of the strike camera to see if I can replicate it.

[Grunticus]

53 minutes ago, Shujaa said:

Interresting question Leon, to which I (unfortunately) do not have a definitive answer... I think I can hold my own when it comes to the F-4, but with over 5000 being build and operated all over the world, it's kinda hard to know EVERYTHING...      However, I'll do my best trying to give You some "guidance". (Grab some coffee my friend.) 

 

When the 32nd switched to the F-4, they started out operating the F-4E "early" models. These bird's can be recognized by a few external features, such as:

- short gun-muzzle

- a so-called "hard wing", which was not equipped with leading edge slats

- "old style" horizontal stabilizers which were equaly not equiped with a slotted leading edge

The very first bird's also lacked the luminescent formation-light "bar's". Furthermore, these "early" models could be seen with different missile-rails on the inboard pylons to facilitate the AIM-4 Falcon missiles.

 

Through time the 32nd swapped their "early" models for "late" models. These bird's can be recognized by a few different external features, such as:

- long gun-muzzle

- slatted wing's, which can be recognized by the buldges on the underside of the inboard wing-section

- slatted wing-tip's

- horizontal stabilizers, equipped with a slotted leading edge

- TISEO (*)

- To my knowledge the "late" models no longer used the AIM-4 Falcon missile-rails

 

* NOTE:

I'm pretty sure the "early" models didn't have TISEO due to the fact that this system was designed by Northtrop in 1972. (More on that later-on...)

 

OK, now we kinda know the differences between the "early" models and the "late" models. Soooo...   All we need to do is to have a look at the Fiscal Year numbers in the registration, right ?!   WRONG !!!

 

Going by the external differences, it look's like CR/68-412 is an "early" model. The same goes for CR/69-558. However... Guess what ??? Looking at CR/68-513, this clearly is a "late" F-4E...!!!   

 

(Check out "overshoot.nl" for the pic's.)

 

Let's try to explain;

 

In 1969 the 32nd swapped their F-102's for the F-4E. That's when they received the F-4E "early" models. In 1971 these "early" models received an upgrade-program during which they received long gun-muzzles, slotted horizontal stabilizers as well as the luminescent formation-light "bar's". That's also where all the confusion started due to the fact that these bird's looked like "late" models but they were NOT. The upgrade program was completed in 1972. In 1974 the 32nd bird's received another upgrade-program during which they were transformed to "late" models. This explains the Fiscal Year chaos which I tried to point out above.

 

Through time the 32nd also received some "brand new" F-4E's. Since these bird's carry the Fiscal Year indicator "74", they must be "full fledged" "late" models. This is also were TISEO comes in to the picture since Northtrop designed this system in 1972. That's why I'm pretty sure the "early" models never carried this system. Still, this doesn't mean that all "74" bird's carried TISEO. Have a look at the link below:

 

http://www.overshoot.nl/F-4Es_1978_(I).html 

 

Both airframes carry Fiscal Year "74", however CR/74-053 (in the foreground) clearly shows TISEO where-as it look's like CR/74-046 (in the background) is not equipped with TISEO... (Could be just an optical illusion, though...)

 

Well Leon, I'm pretty sure we can conclude 1 thing without a doubt: It's all pretty confusing, isn't it...??? 

My approach would be to select a specific airframe according to ref-pic's and try to replicate it as best as possible...

 

(My sincere appologies to everybody who gives a rat's @ss about all this nitty-gritty stuff but please keep in mind that I'm just trying to help out a fellow modeller. )

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

 

P.S.:

The little doohickey You pointed out is indeed a strike-camera. To me it look's like a piece of "strap-on kit" since it appears to been seen on the other side as well. Check out the last pic in the link:

 

http://www.overshoot.nl/32nd._V.html   

 

41 minutes ago, Shujaa said:

Ahhh, just stumbled upon this which might be of any use:

 

https://www.sberg-movements.nl/32nd-serial-listing/32nd-f4e-serials

 

I also recall You might be thinking of a 32nd F-15 Eagle as a future project. Maybe this might come in handy:

 

https://skytrailer.nl/eagle-squadrons/32nd-fighter-squadron/

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

 

Rudy, many many thanks. So much to take in. I will follow your advice and replicate 74-1054 as much as I can. Unfortunately this one crashed near Sembach while assigned to the 480th TFS. The crew was killed...

[Grunticus]

I spent some time finishing the 600 gallon fuel tank. I will apply a few stencils near the filler caps, still looking for a good pic.

 

 

Some work also got done on the intakes. I painted all areas that won't be easily accessible later to ensure stress-free airbrushing later on.

 

 

The splitter plates will not sit sturdy if one only glues the slot and groove. I removed any paint from any mating surfaces to ensure maximum grab of the glue. This is easily done with a cotton swan drenched in ethanol (or IPA) when using MRP paints.

 

 

In place. Care has to be taken to align them parallel to the fuselage, they do not sit right automatically, there is wiggle up and down because the stubs at the back do not meet the fuselage on all four points. Before the glue set I dry fitted the intake covers, It's tight, but it fits.

 

 

The paints used for the main scheme. Wonderful stuff, I can't praise it enough.

 

 

I also masked off the cockpit area in preparation of Surfacer overall.

 

 

And lastly for today, the Sparrows are also done. I boo-boo'd with the decal placement a bit, I did not catch that misalignment at the nose-end when I did them. Too bad.

 

 

Cheers!

[alain11]

hi

That comes along nicely, it looks more and more to an F 4 E .... If you allow me.( I am not an adviser  ).......... maybe you could add the small vent on the right side of the nose ( maybe provided in the kit  ), check pictures to get  the good place 

Alain

 

[Shujaa]

4 hours ago, alain11 said:

hi

That comes along nicely, it looks more and more to an F 4 E .... If you allow me.( I am not an adviser  ).......... maybe you could add the small vent on the right side of the nose ( maybe provided in the kit  ), check pictures to get  the good place 

Alain

 

The little vent on top of the nose-section which Alain is talking about should already be included in the box (part #230). Keep in mind that the vent is a small intake which conducts incoming air (while in flight) to the gun-compartment in order to purge the gasses when the gun is fired. Therefore it normaly is closed when the bird is parked/on the ground. However, there are of course always exceptions and furthermore we can always apply some "artistic license". 

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

[Shujaa]

Hmmm, silly me... I totaly forgot to complement You with the excellent AIM-7 Sparrow's. They sure look mighty nice all dressed up with those decals and surely match the sweet ALQ-119. Keep up the good work !!!

 

Kind regards,

 

Rudy.

Edited October 28 by Shujaa
typo