Kevin Carroll

Saw that and I hope Horizon continues their past policy of first offering the release to previous direct purchasers - but time is growing short!

Another cool feature of the original Monogram kit was molded-in "eyes" on the wings and fuselage, meant to facilitate hanging this monster from the ceiling. Intentional or not, I discovered that old-fashioned Christmas tree ornament hooks fit perfectly through the eyes - four (?) of them plus several feet of heavy-duty thread from Mom's sewing basket and I was in B-52 business.😊

Gene is right, as always - but don't tell him. I tried my hand at using the Tamiya seat in their 1/48 F-4B. I am a shameless, reflexive user of resin replacement seats but man, the Tamiya seats looked darn nice to this untrained eye. I had a Kelik 3D decal cockpit set for the Academy 1/48 F-4B and while the cockpit IP and consoles are, in my estimation, sub-par, the belts and pull handles are pretty nice, so I figured I'd give them a try. I muffed the first seat but with Gene's patient coaching, this one came out a little better. I got one final scolding from Speedy for not using

>I choose to use the cushion without the NO STEP. >Gene K Back in the olden daze, Gene's seat cushions just said "Wipe Your Feet".😊

I was thinking the other day that Tamiya missed the boat by not providing a seat "No Step" decal on their otherwise comprehensive decal sheet. Shame on me. On closer inspection it is there but mostly buried beneath their 2D decal lap belts.

Maybe the "No Step" legend is a case of 'pick 'em'? Perhaps specific to a time period? With thanks (or apologies) to Bert Kinzey, here are photos of the front and rear cockpits of the same F-4S. Shown for discussion, they are in his F-4 Phantom II, D&S Volune 12. The Copyright is 1983. Front cockpit has the No Step warning, but the rear does not. Go figure.

Another sad case of the blind following the blind. 😊

That, Jari, is another super-cool-and-on-point photo; thanks! Alas, my die is cast..in CA glue anyway. For those who want to duplicate this photo (if not the exact F-4B) see: https://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Rev7/6801-6900/rev6891-Furball-Aero-Design-48-018/00.shtm Thanks again to all the good and very knowledgeable folks here on ARC for the help. kc

Wow, thanks gentlemen. So not only feasible, but not uncommon too. Interesting info regarding the placement of the Sparrows in the rear wells also - much appreciated.

Would it be feasible for a Navy F-4B, circa 1972 but not in the SEA theater, to carry just two Sidewinders and two Sparrows? The only other store would be the centerline fuel tank. And if so, would the AIM-9s be carried on the outboard or inboard stations of the standard twin launcher? Similarly, would the AIM-7s be carried in the rear or front wells? Or does it make any difference at all? Nothing too important or mysterious here, just looking for a bit different but proper load for my Tamiya F-4B. Thanks.

Got it, Speedy, thanks.

Gene, what is on the centerline of 'Sandy' in this photo - the silver (?) object right where the start/auxiliary lines are going upwards?

Heck, I'd buy one in a heartbeat - but only if that figure is included.

You are quite welcome, Marc. As pictured above, 56-6707 is indeed a U-2C. Like many U-2Cs, it started life as a U-2A with later upgrades to U-2C standards. In fact this bird evidently also saw earlier service as a U-2E and as a U-2F before its final configuration as a late-model "C", post 1968. I'm guessing - with emphasis on guessing - that this photo was taken just after the C conversion hence its clean bare metal appearance. (Info via the Jay Miller book Habu2 references as well as Chris Pocock's "50 Years of the U-2"). Caracal Decals make a few 1/48 U-2 sheets and w

Here's one. Markings are pretty standard stuff and probably doable by rounding up your spares.