Jump to content

VX-4 F-4J Phantoms - Standard Scheme


Recommended Posts

Hello All,

I have been asked by a friend to build "the airplane my dad worked on when he was in the Navy". In some basic inquiries, I've determined that her dad was possibly a crew chief (or the Navy equivalent) for one of the VX-4 Black Bunny F-4 Phantoms at Pt. Mugu back in the 1968-1970 timeframe (I don't think the low-viz gray scheme was around back then, but I could be wrong). She told me that her dad's plane had the Playboy bunny on the tail, he was part of a test squadron, and he was responsible for the overall maintenance of the airplane and that the plane had his name on it, but he wasn't the pilot, though he would sometimes have to fly in the back seat to check out the airplane. From what it sounds like, he wasn't the GIB. So with that in mind, I'm wondering if anyone out there would have any information regarding which model of the F-4 (i.e. F-4J, F-4S, etc.) and which BuNos existed at that time for the Black Bunny Phantoms. I'm having my friend try to obtain some further information or photos her dad might have on this, but if anyone knows which BuNo's there were for those, or maybe have some photos from that time frame, or even may know or remember my friend's dad, that would be much appreciated. His last name is Noth. Information on Google is plentiful, but not specific on some items. Really, any information that someone would have on these Phantoms would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

:cheers:/>/>

Justin

<<<Update>>>

As I have found out, my friend's father's jet was BuNo 158350 and was in the standard gull gray over white scheme. If anyone has any photos of this aircraft in the late 60's or early 70's time frame, I would greatly appreciate seeing them. Thank you very much to all who have contributed to this thread!

Edited by jminer
Link to post
Share on other sites

VX-4 (they're called the "Evaluators", btw) operated F-4Js around the 68-70 time frame (and probably some Bs too) So near as I can tell, only 1 F-4J wore the "black bunny/Vandy 1" paint scheme

From Boeing, 153783 is generally the most popular:

c182.jpg

Most of the squadron wore a standard gull grey over white paint scheme

From my own collection (most of their jets wore paint schemes like this)

8686345657_7196fbcb44_z.jpg

There were F-4Ss that also wore the scheme (158358 and 359 were two of them) but they would not have existed during the 68-70 timeframe. As it got later in the 70s, more interesting schemes began to show up (the White Bunny, the blue cammo bunny, the bicentennial scheme, etc)

Edited by Skull Leader
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for the info, Skull! I'm having my friend confirm that it was, indeed, the Black Bunny Phantom that her dad worked on and not one of the other aircraft, your information at least narrows down the type and markings if he did work on Vandy 1.

:cheers:

Justin

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you're doing a Black Bunny from 1969 - this is how it looked -

FTD48068_pg4_zps9ae126d6.jpg

bottom F-4J was with VX-4 for several years

Technically it was Vandy 9 ;)

Later in the late 70s and thru the 80s there were several Black Bunny's at VX-4, and at the same time.

hth,

brian

Link to post
Share on other sites

That definitely helps, thanks Brian!

Also, it appears that my friend may be a bit confused about the aircraft having the bunny on the tail. She was searching her dad's squadron on Google and came up with the photos of the Black Bunny Phantom she sent me, but from what Brian's decal sheet shows, the actual Bunny Phantom didn't appear until the late 80's. Also, anyone know the how/why of the nicknames "Vandy X"?

:cheers:

Justin

Link to post
Share on other sites

All speak of the ultra known Black Bunny, but in the VX4 there has been also the lesser known/ not discussed "all azure phantom", not the two tone camouflaged, I speak of the all azure one in the top of the formation:

phantoms-inflighty_zpsaf766ec9.jpg

I'm looking for others images of this Phantom, until now found nothing, look like I'm the only one interested to it.

Link to post
Share on other sites

jminer, the bunny appeared on the tail of vandy 1 sometime late in 69/early 1970. Plescia's decals predate that by a few months, although you could certainly make 3783 with the bunny on the tail from his sheet. The boeing photo I posted was circa 1970.

Link to post
Share on other sites

All speak of the ultra known Black Bunny, but in the VX4 there has been also the lesser known/ not discussed "all azure phantom", not the two tone camouflaged, I speak of the all azure one in the top of the formation:

phantoms-inflighty_zpsaf766ec9.jpg

I'm looking for others images of this Phantom, until now found nothing, look like I'm the only one interested to it.

Hate to burst your bubble, but that's not "azure blue", it's just weirdly exposed. Here's the same formation earlier in the flight

F-4PhantomIIfromAirTestandEvaluationSquadronVX4andNavalMissileCenterNMCChinaLakeCalifornia1975_zps802f4313.jpg

Link to post
Share on other sites

That said, it is unusual in that it is overall gray with no white (except for radome), not typical of that time frame. Seems to me that Microscale had a 1/72 sheet of "Phansy Phantoms" that may have had all four of these on the sheet.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, all kinds of good stuff in this thread. I'm very thankful for all the contributions.

Once I get the build finalized, I'll post a build thread so everyone can follow along. And if anyone has anything to add, keep it coming!

:cheers:

Justin

Link to post
Share on other sites

Old Microscale sheet # 72-137 had three of these four, instead of the plain Lt Gull Gray aircraft it had the YRF-4C

New Microscale sheet # AC72-0021 has the same four as 72-137, plus the 5000th Phantom F-4E,,,with color instructions

http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=AC72 towards the bottom, they have 236 in stock

New Microscale sheet # AC48-0021 is the same as AC72-0021 http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=AC48 towards the bottom, they have 231 of those in stock,,,,,,I don't know about the instructions, though, I only have 1/72 decals

Edited by Rex
Link to post
Share on other sites

We have a winner!

Through some creative questioning, my friend was able to determine that the aircraft in question was an F-4J, BuNo 158350 which apparently later became the low-viz Vandy 5 White Bunny aircraft. The aircraft when he worked on it, however, was in the standard gull gray over white scheme.

Soooo....with that being said....does anyone know of any 1/48 decals for the VX-4 Phantoms in the gull gray over white paint scheme? Even if it's not the same BuNo?

Also, any photos? There are a few I've seen on a Google search, but most are of the aircraft in the White Bunny scheme. Same with decals.

:cheers:/>

Justin

Edited by jminer
Link to post
Share on other sites

We only covered a few specific jets and timeframes. The 'standard' bunny was around well before our 1989 markings (plenty of 1982 and all through 80s documentation). As for the popular Monogram markings (also done by a few other companies, I can't find any documentation of that scheme until 1973. The big XF was pretty standard through 1975 with the low viz jets. For the record our XF 1969 jet was taken in Aug 69.

-brian

Link to post
Share on other sites

We only covered a few specific jets and timeframes. The 'standard' bunny was around well before our 1989 markings (plenty of 1982 and all through 80s documentation). As for the popular Monogram markings (also done by a few other companies, I can't find any documentation of that scheme until 1973. The big XF was pretty standard through 1975 with the low viz jets. For the record our XF 1969 jet was taken in Aug 69.

-brian

Thanks, Brian! I greatly appreciate the information.

:cheers:

Justin

Link to post
Share on other sites
The "Vandy" monicker comes from VX-4's other name, The Vanguards ...

You'd think so; I did for a long time.

It turns out that "Vandy" was short for the squadron's 1950's radio callsign - "Vanderbilt".

Link to post
Share on other sites

You'd think so; I did for a long time.

It turns out that "Vandy" was short for the squadron's 1950's radio callsign - "Vanderbilt".

Thanks, that's interesting.

I wonder if the "Vanderbilt" radio callsign was derived from the Vanguards name?

-Gregg

Link to post
Share on other sites

I can grab the photo tomorrow for you (it is dark outside now)

but, Colors & Markings Vol 22 US Navy F-4 Phantom Pacific Coast page 55, has a photo of F-4J 158350 as XF-5 in Light Gull Gray over White November 1972, before it became White Vandy 5 (two photos on page 57 in May 1977)

I won't be posting this photo after today's posts,,,,,,,but, the location is up there if anyone really wants to use it for modeling

Edited by Rex
Link to post
Share on other sites

same formation

different angle:

4phantomvx4involoMixedF-4s_zps035d618a.jpg

I know I've said that you can't deduce colors from photos, but is it absolute that 0435 is overall gull gray? In this picture, it truly looks like it's an overall light blue. In the original picture that's strangely exposed, I wouldn't think gull gray would look that blue. Also, playing devil's advocate, the formation seems to be made up of "special" paint schemes. Why would they include a simple gray scheme?

Rex, thanks for the lead on the decal. I have an old Revell set of Blue Angels. I'm going to build them and then paint them up like the picture. I was wondering what to do about decal. Now I don't have to worry about it. Yes, I realize two of them are B's, but I'm trying to lessen my stash, so I'll just use what's in the box. Would you happen to have 2 extra IR sensors that you won't be using? At least that would make them look somewhat like B's, although the Revell F-4's are a bit basic to begin with. It will be a fun quick build.

Edit: Never mind on the IR sensors. In pulling out the kits, they are already included.

Edited by Darren Roberts
Link to post
Share on other sites

I know I've said that you can't deduce colors from photos, but is it absolute that 0435 is overall gull gray? In this picture, it truly looks like it's an overall light blue. In the original picture that's strangely exposed, I wouldn't think gull gray would look that blue. Also, playing devil's advocate, the formation seems to be made up of "special" paint schemes. Why would they include a simple gray scheme?

Rex, thanks for the lead on the decal. I have an old Revell set of Blue Angels. I'm going to build them and then paint them up like the picture. I was wondering what to do about decal. Now I don't have to worry about it. Yes, I realize two of them are B's, but I'm trying to lessen my stash, so I'll just use what's in the box. Would you happen to have 2 extra IR sensors that you won't be using? At least that would make them look somewhat like B's, although the Revell F-4's are a bit basic to begin with. It will be a fun quick build.

Edit: Never mind on the IR sensors. In pulling out the kits, they are already included.

Hey Darren,

Would you happen to know right offhand if your letter masks for 1/48 are the right size for the XF that I'd need to put on the tail? It looks like the letters are drop shadowed with black over white. The letter masks would be perfect for getting that effect since I'd have to do white as the base color, then offset the masks slightly and do the black. Are they self-adhesive as well? Thanks!

:cheers:

Justin

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...