gb_madcat_sl Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 (edited) I’m looking to build a F-15C from the mid-1980s. Specifically 78-0531 from the 18th TFW operating out of Kadena AFB in Okinawa in 1983. For the loadout, I’m going for 4 AIM-9s and 4 AIM-7s which would be standard for that time period. So the questions are: 1. Which variant of the AIM-7 and AIM-9 would they have been using during that time? 2. Would these missiles be painted white or light ghost grey? Thanks in advance! Mark Edited July 1, 2019 by gb_madcat_sl Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 Just a WAG. AIM-7Fs and AIM-9Ls, grey bodies on both, the Sparrows could have black fins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sleepy Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 Elmendorf was operating the AIM-7E and AIM-9L in 1983. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 The AIM-7F entered service in 1976. The AIM-7M entered service in 1982. It was very likely carrying the AIM-7F in 1983. Almost certainly not an earlier version than that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted July 8, 2019 Author Share Posted July 8, 2019 Thanks for the info everyone! Regarding the AIM-7F, they are the ones which look similar to the M but with only 2 brown strip antenna along the side of the nose vis the 4 found on the M right? Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 (edited) On 7/1/2019 at 4:08 AM, gb_madcat_sl said: I’m looking to build a F-15C from the mid-1980s. Specifically 78-0531 from the 18th TFW operating out of Kadena AFB in Okinawa in 1983. For the loadout, I’m going for 4 AIM-9s and 4 AIM-7s which would be standard for that time period. So the questions are: 1. Which variant of the AIM-7 and AIM-9 would they have been using during that time? 2. Would these missiles be painted white or light ghost grey? Thanks in advance! Mark Could have been the AIM-7F or the AIM-7M; the Eagle could not carry the AIM-7E, the seeker was incompatible with the F-15's radar. At that point the missile manufacturers were still transitioning from white to gray, especially for the AIM-7F, so you could have a missile with both colors. The AIM-7F had two fuse windows (aligned between the fins) rather than the four of the AIM-7M, which had the fuse windows in line with the fins. For the AIM-9 there was no difference between the Lima and Mike for modeling purposes. The AIM-9 was more likely to be overall gray; although, for Desert Shield we had a bunch of them left that still had the aft fins painted in white which was yellowing. Regards, Murph Edited July 8, 2019 by Murph Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sleepy Posted July 10, 2019 Share Posted July 10, 2019 Sorry, yes, that was a typo. Elmendorf had the AIM-7F in the mid-80s, not the E. The E was Vietnam era. All of the missiles at Elmendorf at that point had gray bodies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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