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1/48 F-4E/G decal advice


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Hi all
I am planning to build the MENG F-4E and F-4G and I need your advice about what decals to use 

 

1. F-4E vietnam era SEA camo with white stencil and letters on fin

 

2. F-4G SEA camo with white stencil again

 

What decals to get?


Any suggestions?

 

Any inspirational photos?

 

Thanks 

Edited by agelos2005
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After looking around online, I’m not seeing any currently available decals for slatted F-4Es in the SEA camouflage scheme. There are some old, out of production decals from SuperScale and Afterburner. Caracal released some decals for QF-4Es in that camo scheme. The most recent decals for SEA camo’d F-4Es are all for Vietnam jets, so you’d need the early, non-slatted F-4E from Zoukei-Mura, which is a great kit.

 

Hopefully, someone with better Google Fu than me can point you in the direction of some slatted F-4E decals.

 

Ben

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On 11/19/2024 at 9:07 AM, Ben Brown said:

After looking around online, I’m not seeing any currently available decals for slatted F-4Es in the SEA camouflage scheme. There are some old, out of production decals from SuperScale and Afterburner.

 

A small number of subjects from the vintage Microscale/Superscale line have been redone and are still currently available from the current incarnation of their original source:

 

 https://www.microscale.com

 

Look under "Military Decals" -selection is certainly sparse compared to their vintage catalog, but they have several sheets for USAF F-4Es and also offer data sheets for both SEA and gray schemes.

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I can’t comment on all of the Microscale SEA camo F-4 decals, but the two (48-0049 & 48-0047) with 4th TFW jets (SA, SB, SC tail codes) will need correctly-sized national insignia and possibly squadron badges. The 4th was switching over to slatted F-4Es during the couple of years before they went to the SJ tail code, so some of those on the decal sheets might be unslatted jets (so use the Z-M kit). Apologies if this is too nerdy. I’m kind of a 4th TFW fan.😄
 

Ben

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On 11/19/2024 at 4:24 AM, agelos2005 said:

F-4E vietnam era SEA camo with white stencil and letters on fin

Are you looking for a F-4E during the Vietnam war or a SEA camouflaged Phantom operated by the USAF in general? Note that the Meng kit is limited to a Vietnam era F-4E no earlier than mid to late 1972 into 1973 when a few slatted jets were operated from Korat in Thailand as part of project Rivet Haste. However, none appear to have carried tail codes and had minimal white stencils. Also, since Meng omitted to include either you'll need to add the belly reinforcing strap and a TISEO pod on the left wing leading edge. I recommend either the Flying Leatherneck Scale Creations or Quinta versions if you don't want to scratchbuild the strap. Quinta also make a TISEO pod for the Meng kit. As an alternative there is one by Hypersonic Models. The arrowhead reinforcing plate outlines engraved on the stabilators should be filled in; these plates didn't start being added until post war.

 

The myriad of white stencilling also didn't appear until after the war ended being part of a repaint programme during depot maintenance. These only lasted from about 1974 to 1980 when the codes began changing to black followed by the overall wraparound scheme being introduced. You can use this Procal decals sheet; it says it's for Greek F-4s but would still be useable for a USAF F-4E.

 

In the Microscale sheets linked by Quixote74 the only subject I definitely know to fit your criteria of white codes and lots of white stencils is 68-0493 (belly strap, no TISEO) the 21CW F-4E on AC48-0047. However, in addition to the wrongly sized insignia, the MiG Killer star on the port vari-ramp is missing and the camouflage pattern is incorrect on the instructions as can be seen in this photo:

 

21st TFW  McDonnell F-4E Phantom II 68-0493

 

68-0312 the 3TFW commander's jet on the same sheet is similarly marked but has the pale grey/black tail codes.

 

Alternatively, if you're happy with a USAFE example take a look at the PK Productions sheet: https://www.pkproductions.de/shop/decals/48-008-usafe-phantoms-1-48-f-4d-e/

 

For those aircraft where the Zoukei-Mura SWS48 No.15 'Late F-4E' kit is recommended, you can still use the Meng kit instead but you need to add the belly reinforcing strap, except for the Hahn jet (74-1626), which only needs TISEO adding, this jet having been built with thicker wing skins removing the need for the strap.

 

HTH,

Jonathan

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Jonathan that was a very comprehensive post thank you very much

 

I just wanted to make an F-4E with white tail markings and white/black stencils

 

Not really bothered about year or vietnam war

 

I ll have a look at PK decals as well

 

What would you propose?

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  • agelos2005 changed the title to 1/48 F-4E/G decal advice

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