P-38 guy Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 I have to make new star and bars for an F-4C (not a model one) I help take care of. Everything I find shows the sizing for the pre SEA camo with 30" star. Anyone know what size they went to when they went with SEA camo? Google has not been my friend today. Thanks, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whiskey Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 This is for an actual F-4 Phantom, like restoration? I'd say if no one here can answer your question (which I bet someone can) then your best best is to ask the USAF Museum for questions of that nature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P-38 guy Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) Yep full-size real bird. Vietnam combat vet. Museum is closed until June. If It doesn’t workout here I’ll try other sources. Mike Edited May 3, 2020 by P-38 guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted May 3, 2020 Share Posted May 3, 2020 Based on the photos (not official documents), I calculated the insignia size on Vietnam and post-Vietnam era camouflaged Phantoms to be 15" star. I have been using this size in my products for years. Note that a national insignia with a star diameter of 15" will end up being 16.875" high (15 x 1.125) on the aircraft when you factor in the border width etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P-38 guy Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 That’s what I was thinking too. I have the diagram on how to make them. I did 30” ones awhile back for the F-105B at my local airport. That thing was big when done. Lol Thanks, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sabre Freak Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Well F-106 site has a 1964 and a 1994 editions of T.O. 1-1-4. 64 is too early and 94 is probably too late. FWIW, the 94 edition calls for 15" National Insignias for camouflaged aircraft. https://www.f-106deltadart.com/manuals_documents.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Look up the tech order, T.O. 1-1-4, My wife got me one back when she was a C-130 crew chief at Little Rock in the 70s. I just looked up the size in the T.O. and it calls for 15 inch stars unless you have a really big aircraft like a B-52. This T.O. covers all the different type of markings that could have been used on all the Air Force aircraft in the inventory at the time. This includes Tail Codes, warnings, serial number placement, camo patterns, colors and so on. The actual camo patterns don't have to be exact, there was always some variation, and the national markings were either stenciled on or in the case of the larger markings, I have seen them apply what are essentially large stick on insignias. You don't always have time to paint things on. We have a F-4 on display here I town to honor Kittenger. They called D.M and they sent a old F-4 that just happened to be one of his old rides that kad his kill marking on it. [/URL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) Here's a shot from the 1978 T.O. 1-1-4 (Link to full manual). The radius of the star you need will be 15", as others have said. The tail codes on the F-4 were 24". I can't recall how tall the serial numbers were, but the info is in the T.O. If you're painting the jet as it looked in the early days of the SEA camouflage scheme, before tail codes were used, the serial number ("USAF, with last five of the serial below) used 6" numbers and letters. Stencils such as the aircraft data panel would be 1/2", IIRC. Kursad can correct me on that, since he's more familiar with it from his decal business. Ben Edited May 4, 2020 by Ben Brown Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P-38 guy Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 Thanks for all the info. I have all the specs. Just needed the starting size for the star and bar. When we restored it in 2011. I painted but wasn't involved in getting the marking for the plane. The place that did them went out of business so I'm taking care of them since I did all the ones on the local F-105 we have. From 2011. From 2019 Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted May 5, 2020 Share Posted May 5, 2020 I think I've asked this before, but that Thud used to be displayed at an airport in western NC back in the '90s, didn't it? Or maybe the late '80s? I can't recall which employer I was working for when I saw it. Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
P-38 guy Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 Yes, I think it came here in the late 90's. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.