Jerry M Posted January 13 Author Share Posted January 13 On 1/8/2024 at 1:43 AM, Finn said: Here is 609: Jari Hi Jari , Thank you for great photo of 7609 ( Early F-4C - I am guessing summer 1966 before USAF started applying large numbers on Vertical Stabilaizers Please correct me if I’m mistaken. Since I a planing to depict early bird from winter 1966 it seems right on … Regards, JM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 Hi Jerry, no date on the photo i'm guessing in 1966. As for the use of the AIM-7, there were several MiG kills with the Sparrow by F-4Cs in 1966. Here is a photo of a AIM-7 on a F-4C in April 1963. Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmayer Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 (edited) 3 hours ago, Jerry M said: Hi Jari , Thank you for great photo of 7609 ( Early F-4C - I am guessing summer 1966 before USAF started applying large numbers on Vertical Stabilaizers Please correct me if I’m mistaken. Since I a planing to depict early bird from winter 1966 it seems right on … Regards, JM Hi Jerry - Yes, that shot of 7609 (sister ship to the jet you intend to model, 7608) is from the first-half of 1966 (prior to tail code applications in late-summer/early fall of 1966), at Da Nang. The light-blue/white rudder flash was the squadron marking for the 390 TFS/366 TFW "Gunfighters" at Da Nang. Unlike every other wing in theater, the 366 TFW squadrons had a squadron code (A, B, or C), and the second character was assigned to a specific tail number. The tail codes for the 390th, once they started using them, were B_; with the second character unique to each, individual tail number. So, the 390th aircraft started with BA, then successively through BB, BC, BD, BE, etc.; while the 389th (green/white rudder flash) had AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, ... and the 480th (red/white rudder flash) tail code sequence was CA, CB, CC, CD, etc. But the camouflage application and subsequent weathering in this photo of 7609, or any other C-model from this period, is certainly worth emulating for your particular model. And back to your question ref. air-to-air ordnance for this period (with 7608 on an RB-66 escort mission in Dec 66); escorts over Hanoi would have likely been configured with with a full load of 4x AIM-9Bs on the inboard pylons (likely the Navy-style LAU-17, pointy pylons with adapter and AIM-9 LAU-7A launchers); and 4x AIM-7Es in the fuselage stations; along with three fuel tanks: two Sargent Fletcher 370 gal wing tanks and the Royal Jet 600 gal centerline tank. I would not expect them to have had a centerline gun pod for an escort/MiG CAP mission over Hanoi in 1966 (not impossible, but not likely; although the Da Nang squadrons began using the gunpods for MiG Sweeps quite often, later, in 1967). Nor would they have had an ECM (radar jamming) pod in Dec, since the first time those were used by Phantoms was 2 January 1967, for the 8 TFW Wolfpack's "Operation Bolo" mission. The 8 TFW guys at Ubon did a lot of work with maintenance and theater logistics to get the correct electrical cables and work out the procedures for enabling the F-4Cs to successfully carry the ECM pods, leading up to Bolo. After the success of that mission, all the F-4 units started employing the QRC-160 / ALQ-71 ECM pods, but you won't find photos of them prior to that mission. I haven't given up looking for a photo of 7608, but haven't had any luck, yet. I will circle back. Cheers! Chris Edited January 13 by cmayer Jerry M and John1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allthumbs Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 (edited) On 1/11/2024 at 5:56 PM, Jerry M said: Hallo Gentlemen, So…pretty quickly Tamiya F-4C/D arrived from Japan and now actually I am scrolling all over the net to find Martin-Baker MK5 Ejection Seats. Any tip or link would be greatly appreciated on my end. So far I have found nothing- looks as AIMS is out and I even send them email but no response yet. Any other suggestions/ options in regards to MB MK5 ? Regards JM Sparkit do Mk.H5 seats in 1/32…3D printed, extremely accurate and bristling with details. click here Edited January 17 by allthumbs phasephantomphixer and John1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Here is an early F-4C, even with a load of naplam and gun pod for a CAS mission, it has a full load of AIM-7s: Jari phasephantomphixer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phasephantomphixer Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Not so much a weapons guy so asking of those metal cone covers by the NLG, will those be mounted, or were they removed? Another sweet treat there Jari. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Those are the nose and tail cones for the napalm installed before flight. Jari Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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