amflores Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hello, Undecided about the cammo scheme for my Hasegawa 1/48 F-4EJ. I like the Euro1 (NATO?) scheme best, but don't know what color to use for the underbelly/belly(?). I have one such scheme image that shows the belly using the same cammo of the top side, what doesn't make sense for me. I appreciate your help. Cheers, Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PouK9 Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/F-4E_Phantom_II_armed_with_missiles_in_1985.JPEG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fiddler Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 It was a wrap around 'Lizard' sheme though, all of them in the Euro one. And the later SEA camo was also painted in Lizard version too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ben Brown Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hi Flores, I think the intent of the dark underside of the wraparound camouflage scheme was to hide the plane during its new mission of low level bombing over Europe. The earlier Southeast Asia camouflage scheme, with the light grey underside, was better for the higher altitudes as used over Vietnam, making it harder for an observer looking up to see. With the low level mission, an enemy would most likely be looking down on the F-4. While he’s maneuvering, a steep bank might expose the underside of the jet, and you don’t want a flash of light grey against a dark green background to give away your position. Way back in the 1980s when I was a flight instructor, one of our practice areas was over a low level route used by 4th TFW F-4Es. There was a steep turn along the route in that area, where they’d make a large heading change, and even with their bellies exposed, the Europe 1 wraparound camouflage made them hard to see against the green vegetation below them. Cheers, Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 The Euro1 scheme was used on USAF Phantoms ie: C D E G and RF. The EJ was used by JASDF and never wore Euro1. The JASDF did have a two Green /Grey scheme of their own with Lt Grey undersides. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amflores Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 2 hours ago, Ben Brown said: Hi Flores, I think the intent of the dark underside of the wraparound camouflage scheme was to hide the plane during its new mission of low level bombing over Europe. The earlier Southeast Asia camouflage scheme, with the light grey underside, was better for the higher altitudes as used over Vietnam, making it harder for an observer looking up to see. With the low level mission, an enemy would most likely be looking down on the F-4. While he’s maneuvering, a steep bank might expose the underside of the jet, and you don’t want a flash of light grey against a dark green background to give away your position. Way back in the 1980s when I was a flight instructor, one of our practice areas was over a low level route used by 4th TFW F-4Es. There was a steep turn along the route in that area, where they’d make a large heading change, and even with their bellies exposed, the Europe 1 wraparound camouflage made them hard to see against the green vegetation below them. Cheers, Ben Hi Ben, Thanks for your crystal clear explanation. Now the wraparound cammo scheme does make sense. 👍👍👍👍 Cheers, Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amflores Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 2 hours ago, scotthldr said: The Euro1 scheme was used on USAF Phantoms ie: C D E G and RF. The EJ was used by JASDF and never wore Euro1. The JASDF did have a two Green /Grey scheme of their own with Lt Grey undersides. Hi scotthldr, You are right. My Hasegawa F-4 came with the JASDF markings. I will favour the lizzard wraparound scheme instead, and will have to buy a set of low-vis decals. Thanks for your help. Regards, Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 4 minutes ago, amflores said: Hi scotthldr, You are right. My Hasegawa F-4 came with the JASDF markings. I will favour the lizzard wraparound scheme instead, and will have to buy a set of low-vis decals. Thanks for your help. Regards, Flores Check your sources on the plane you are wanting to do. The EJ kit comes with the hard wing and different wingtip antennas specific to the Kai. I believe that most USAF E's had the slatted wing by the time they went to the Euro 1 paint scheme. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amflores Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 6 hours ago, PouK9 said: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/F-4E_Phantom_II_armed_with_missiles_in_1985.JPEG Hi PouK9, I understand that the reason for the low-vis markings is to avoid contrast with the Euro1 color scheme. So, the Sidewinders should be painted using the same scheme of the wraparoud. 😂😂😂😂😂 Just for laughs. Cheers, Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amflores Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 10 minutes ago, Drifterdon said: Check your sources on the plane you are wanting to do. The EJ kit comes with the hard wing and different wingtip antennas specific to the Kai. I believe that most USAF E's had the slatted wing by the time they went to the Euro 1 paint scheme. Thanks, but I'm not that detailist. 👍👍👍👍 Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 15 minutes ago, amflores said: Thanks, but I'm not that detailist. 👍👍👍👍 Flores In that case, check these out. Some really nice Euro 1 paint schemes. https://www.reidairpublishing.com/decals/usaf-f-4e-gunfighter-phantoms Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantomdriver Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 52 minutes ago, Drifterdon said: In that case, check these out. Some really nice Euro 1 paint schemes. https://www.reidairpublishing.com/decals/usaf-f-4e-gunfighter-phantoms I just got the set for the G... excellent! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drifterdon Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 30 minutes ago, phantomdriver said: I just got the set for the G... excellent! Completely agree phantomdriver. I have that set as well. All of Jake's Phantom decals are some of the best out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
amflores Posted July 8, 2020 Author Share Posted July 8, 2020 16 hours ago, Drifterdon said: In that case, check these out. Some really nice Euro 1 paint schemes. https://www.reidairpublishing.com/decals/usaf-f-4e-gunfighter-phantoms Will check. Thanks. Flores Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mstor Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 On 7/7/2020 at 12:16 PM, Drifterdon said: Check your sources on the plane you are wanting to do. The EJ kit comes with the hard wing and different wingtip antennas specific to the Kai. I believe that most USAF E's had the slatted wing by the time they went to the Euro 1 paint scheme. Hasegawa released both EJ and EJ Kai kits. If you have the plain old EJ kit it will have the standard wingtip and vert stab antennas. It is the old hard wing though, but if you're not picky, as you stated, it should suffice for an early F-4E. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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