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1/72 RF-4B Phantom queries


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I've purchased this sheet off E-bay:

Cut then Add (CTA) 1_72 'Romeo Fox, Specter & Others - RF-4B of VMFP-3:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cut-then-Add-1-72-Romeo-Fox-Specter-Others-RF-4B-of-VMFP-3-Decal/302589752458?hash=item4673c1348a:g:jgsAAOSwDFBaFXsY

 

I'm planning to build all 3 versions included in the sheet and I'm planning to use the 1/72 Hasegawa kits. However, I am aware that some RF-4Bs were later modified to RF-4C versions but with the addition of the intake antennas, etc.

 

I only have 1 x Hase RF-4B but several Hase RF-4Es in my stash. I think I might have an old ESCI RF-4C/E kit somewhere around in my stash too). The RF-4B kit that I have is the green tailed VMFP-3 kit that includes both thin & thick wings.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10033608

 

 So which kit should I use for the 3 versions in the sheet? If the sheet ones are all thick winged versions then can I convert the Hase RF-4Es that are already in my stash rather than seek out new RF-4B/C etc?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All three options on the decal sheet are for thin winged RF-4B's which was based on the F-4B.  The last 10 RF-4B's were based on the F-4J and the bureau numbers were 157342 to 157351.  Any bureau number below those listed are thin winged aircraft.  Additionally late in their service lives RF-4B's had the original J-79 engines with short exhaust nozzles replaced by late J-79's with long exhaust nozzles found on E/G and J models so try to find photos of your particular aircraft. More than likely the last 2 options have short nozzles and the first long nozzles.  But that is not for sure as I have seen some RF-4B's in the tactical paint scheme (first option on the sheet) with short nozzles.  Also be sure to leave off the inner wing pylons.  After the ECM antennas were fitted to the intakes the inner wing pylons were rarely carried on Marine RF's as their main purpose was to carry ECM pods. It would probably be difficult to convert your E models to thin winged B's.  The main landing gear doors are bulged instead of flat and the wings are different due to the thicker wheels on E's. You would also need thin main wheels if they are not in the kit.  In my opinion it would be a lot of work but maybe someone out there has done it.

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all the aircrafts in that sheet appear to be RF-4B with thinner wing as all the one with the thicker one had their bu.no starting with 157

 

Luigi

 

edit also depending where you live I can help you with a spare thin wing and an additional Hasegawa RF-4B which I'm going to receive for the next monday which I don't need as it was bundled together with an Hasegawa Ta 154

Edited by Mizar
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One small warning about "proof" with a photo when it comes to Phantoms. Especially the RF-4B.

 

Having a photo with an early J-79 does not mean that the aircraft didn't get the later J-79s later on in her life. In fact, if all those jets are supposed to have F-4B engines, then the decal sheet and Pick's photo show that an aircraft received the SURE update without the SLEP update. (SURE added the DECM on the shoulders, SLEP added the late J-79s ala F-4J to the early RF-4B.)

 

I never made a list of the SUREd and then SLEPd aircraft,,,,but, maybe someone has made one? (with dates?, hopefully)

 

It is possible to have the same thin winged RF-4B BuNo photographed with "small" engine exhausts, then again with "small" exhausts and the DECM, and then again later on with the "large" exhausts and DECM.

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Found 3103 on wikimedia commons but picture is blurry and I don't have any photoediting tool installed on

 

but I have found this if it helps

 

p1621678121-3.jpg

 

which then turned into this

 

23544372854_8a8367c313_b.jpg

 

Luigi

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Has anybody seen a picture of the second option on that sheet; it's in the overall Light Gull Gray scheme, except for the vertical tail, which is painted in one of the TPS Grays and has subdued TPS markings on it?  I've tried a bunch of googling and checking various books, but can't find a picture of it.

 

Regards,

Murph

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14 minutes ago, picknpluck said:

Here you go!

 

W43FNkG.jpg

 

Thank you very much, it's tough to tell what the colors are.  The tail doesn't look bluish enough for what the decal instructions say (FS #35237), and the rest of the jet looks more like faded Light Ghost Gray; although, the high-vis rescue triangles would seem to indicate it was still Light Gull Gray.  The external tanks definitely look to be gloss Light Gull Gray.

 

Regards,

Murph

Edited by Murph
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I have the Airdoc Publications book on the RF-4B and they have a camo section in the book.  The vertical tail is 36375 light ghost gray as is the anti-glare panel on the radome.  Additionally the roundel for the national insignia is also light ghost gray. The overall airframe is the usual light gull grey.  Hope that helps.

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No the markings aren't ghost gray.  What I am saying is the circle for the star is light ghost gray.  In the camo section of the book the anti-glare panel, vertical tail, and canopy frames are light ghost gray. That was the stateside scheme. The only jets I have seen in this particular scheme (dark gray markings and anti-glare panel) operated from the Midway on detachment.  I don't think it lasted to long. It looks to me this particular aircraft had a replacement radome installed which had the light ghost gray.  In the book there is a picture of 3108 with all dark gray markings, including the tail with full national insignia also dark gray and the ghost gray has disappeared.  In reading the book the way I took it the Japan detachment had some leeway on how to paint the aircraft.  There is also a photo of 3103 with the same type of radome coloring with a dark anti-glare panel.

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Could these help?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RF-4B_on_USS_Midway_Nov_1981.jpeg

(click on image to get larger version).  The anti-glare looks glossy.

https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/decals/fad/pages/fad_48004_p.shtml

https://web.ipmsusa3.org/sites/default/files/reviews/lo-viz-rhinos-rf-4b-f-4n-f-4j-f-4s-decals/image9.jpg

https://web.ipmsusa3.org/sites/default/files/reviews/lo-viz-rhinos-rf-4b-f-4n-f-4j-f-4s-decals/image11.jpg

 

 

Here's 3103:

http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/1003/7735426877.jpg

And here's 3103 with darker markings:

http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/940735/media/cGF0aDovdm1mcC0zX3pwczBvNWhjd20xLmpwZw==/?ref=

So it seems this unit did have variations of how they painted their aircraft.

 

And I just stumbled upon this Russian online build of a Fujimi RF-4B with the CTA decals. I think the threadstarter is the same person who makes/sells these decals ( notice the name as well as the build pics on pages 2 & 3). Same as the E-bay auction page.

http://www.greenmats.club/topic/4402-172-rf-4b-phantom-fujimi-cta-models/

 

 

Edited by JackMan
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