Frank Kranick

Thank you for the posted images and the offer to help! Here's the insignia I recall seeing - don't know why they were produced in the positive/negative versions but either would work for my needs, I suppose. The Aeromaster sheet's version would also be useful and I may take you up on your offer, Sean. Does this pic ring a bell or am I really losing it? I seem to recall a smaller decal outfit doing these but at this point, anything's possible.

Prior to VX-30 being established, I understand its predecessor was the Naval Weapons Test Squadron Point Mugu. NTWSPM's insignia was a round, stylized eagle's head on the vertical tail. I could swear I saw some decal outfit offer these decals for either an F-4 or F-14. Or, am I really losing my mind? :bandhead2:/> Frank

Mike - A mixed bag I found. I have the front landing gear and wheels but the gear doors I used on my model. Likewise, I have the extension for the FLIR dome but used the original dome and well, as well as the doors, on my model. Don't know if these will suit you but if so, just give me an address and they're yours. Frank

Mike - I built an S-3 'in-flight' last year and I think I still have those parts. I'll check tonight. Frank

Looked high and low for the F-4S conversion on the SB site and cannot find it. Man, you have a ton of stuff for the Gull Grey over White set! :-)

Wow! Many thanks for this! I just grabbed the sheet on eBay (which I swear didn't show up in my search yesterday!) and I may have to shop a little bit more at Mustang Hobbies to warrant their shipping quotes. Agreed on the additional stencils available via other Superscale sheets - some are plentiful and cheap. The kit decals give me fits... Again, major thanks! Frank

As I have a couple kits in the stash (both S-3 and ES-3), I'd be willing to buy one or a couple of each. But again, I'd be happy getting whatever I can at this point. I've had a stretch of awful luck with the kit's decals...

Aeromaster made a sheet but I'm striking out in my searches. If you've got one to part with, I'll pay. If you know anyone who offers them, I'd be much obliged if you'd share. Either way, thanks very much! Frank

I don't know if it has one but I have an Academy EF-111 kit in the stash. If it's got a ladder, it's yours. I will look tonight unless you can tell me it doesn't have it in the kit. Frank

The Hasegawa RF-4B kit (1/48th) has the thicker wing of the last 10 or so airframes built of the 46 RF-4Bs. Of these, seven were built with the more commonly seen 'angular' nose (the lower area where the cameras are installed) and three of the last ten had the rounder nose; both noses are included in the kit. Decals for both types of airframe are also included though one would be incorrect for an early RF-4B with the thin wing and the shorter turkey feathered tailpipes. These differences are spelled out and illustrated in the Detail & Scale book on USN Phantoms. Someone made a recce no

If anyone's got a spare one-piece canopy from a Hasegawa 1/48th Phantom, I'd like to trade/buy/mooch it from you! I know it was offered in the "Showtime 100" release, don't know if any others... Gimme a yell if you wanna deal. And, thanks very much! Frank

This one is in addition to the F-4J. The RF-4B has long been my favorite Phantom and I was elated when Hasegawa brought them out. Now, I can justify its building and hope for a quick build. Impact's decals will be used and it'll also be built gear up and in flight with all three external tanks. OOB pretty much. Here's the stuff with a pic from Bob Dorr's book, "Phantoms Forever".

Well, since others have signed up for multiple builds, I thought I'd join in the fray to hopefully get my build count up for 2013. I'm going to also build a Hasegawa 1/48 RF-4B, again in-flight and pretty much outta da box....

See, an old dog CAN be taught new tricks! Many thanks...

Never being one to follow instruction sheets completely, I started doing some smaller items on my checklist. I removed the slime lights from the fuselage and reduced the height of the bulged covers atop the wing, for the landing gear. The Daco book shows a much less-pronounced bulge so I am just following that lead. I also added some 10-thou strips to tighten-up the wing root/fuselage joint; you can see them here: I also buttoned-up the gear doors as again, this will be modeled in-flight. Now, to my least favorite step, the cockpit. Th upside here is it will be occupied and enclosed so