Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 The outboard pylons of this launching F-4B seem to have MER's, but I'm not completely sure what's hanging off the MER's. Mk 82's on only two points out of six, perhaps? Also, anyone have any clearer photos of how the MER attached to the outboard pylons? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I don't know if these will help you Andrew ... >>> Clicky #1 <<< >>> Clicky #2 <<< >>> Clicky #3 <<< I realize the last one is of an F-4E but I believe the attachment is all the same ... All are Boeing photos ... HTH ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mercury Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 It's amazing how long and how hard it's been for me to find a shot of a VF-84 F-4B in the early markings - Thank You, "Jolly Rogers Guy". (Gee, should have just asked you in the first place, right?) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
revellmania Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Hi, From the aspect which the photo was taken, the bombs on the TER of the VF-84 F-4 seems to look bigger than Mk 82s. My guess is that they are likely to be Mk 83s (1000 pounders). TERs can carry up to 6 Mk 82s, but only 3 Mk 83 1000 lbs (I think). Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Thanks, folks! Ben, so you're figuring it's a pair of thousand-pounders on each side? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
revellmania Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Hi Andrew, Yes, I'd figure it was 2 x 1000 pounders on each of the TERs (though we can't see the load out on the left TER). My memory's failing me, :wacko:, but I did come across some photos of Navy aircraft carrying TERs with 1000 pounder loadouts. Btw, thanks for posting this great shot of the VF-84 F-4. I'm very much a Jolly Rogers fan too! :P Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCOUT712 Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Its only one MK-83 on the forwarward lower MER rack. What looks like the second is actually the nose gear. SCOUT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I'm guessing that is a single Mk83. Chappie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Wow....well, if it's only a single, then why even bother with the MER? Even a TER would be a waste of drag and resources, wouldn't it? Why not just attach it directly to the pylon instead of using a huge MER? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 >>> Clicky #1 <<< Humminahummina...! :D I DEINITELY want to try that loadout, someday!!!! P.S. That one looks like an early prototype. Short, pointed, nose. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fox One Decals Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Wow....well, if it's only a single, then why even bother with the MER? Even a TER would be a waste of drag and resources, wouldn't it? Why not just attach it directly to the pylon instead of using a huge MER? It's because a lot of the time once they got the MERs or TERs loaded, checked out and working correctly it was just easier to leave them on all the time. Remember that sometimes an air wing flew 2 or 3 alpha strikes a day and it just wasn't practical to take these things on and off constantly. At least, that's what I was told by former Navy crew guys... FWIW Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
revellmania Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 On closer look, yes Chappie's right. My previous answer is incorrect. I've managed to nail down the photo reference F-4s with Mk 83s on TERs (2 on each TER). Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Oooh! Perfect shot! Shows everything I wondered about, including keeping the adaptor on the pylon itself! Yep, just might have to rebuild my "B" with this loadout.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 On closer look, yes Chappie's right. My previous answer is incorrect. I've managed to nail down the photo reference F-4s with Mk 83s on TERs (2 on each TER). Sorry to nitpick, but you mean MERs, not TERs? :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Now that all that's been settled better than I had hoped, I now wonder if I should opt for 2 or 4 Sidewinders; wasn't much of an air threat yet in 1965 when the top photo was taken, but ya never know.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SCOUT712 Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 I'd go with 2 AIM-9's. All the pics I have only show 2 Winders on the outboard rails. 2 or 4 LAU-7's is your choice but mostly the launch rails were only attached on the outboard side of the inboard wing pylon Sometimes the 2 AIM-9's were carried on one wing pylon while on the other inboard wing an AIM-7D was attached. But remember to use AIM-9B's the AIM-9D only came into service in 1967. SCOUT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Sweet, never noticed an absence of any rails; guess I kinda assumed it was 4-or-nothing. Think I've just about got this one sorted out! Anyone got four Mk-83's from the Hase set (1/72) they'd like to trade for something in any of the other sets? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Andrew, you're in luck, mate! I've got a couple of those Hase kits, and the 1000lb Mk.83 doesn't interest me as much as the Mk.82s I've ravaged from the kits. If you can wait til this evening, I'll take inventory and see if I have all 4 you need, or maybe just 2-3 (I honestly can't recall right now). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 27, 2007 Author Share Posted November 27, 2007 Fantastic, thanks Mark! I'll see what I've got in the other sets...not sure I've got any 82's left, although I might. I've also got various AIM-9's, LGB's, and targeting pods from the most recent sets; just that the Tomcat bits are already gone. Pretty much anything else is game, though. :o Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gene K Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Nice picture, Ben. I'll bet those two didn't have very far to go to deliver their bombs - what with no tanks. Andrew, Remember this interesting thread? I never was able to convince those thread participants that the AF and Navy outer PYLONS were the same, but that the Navy had an ADAPTER bolted on (hence the difference in appearance between the AF and Navy "pylons"). At any rate, note that if you hang the MK-83 on your model's outboard pylons, the MER is shifted aft (as opposed to a MK-82 load where the MER is shifted forward). The picture above is a great ref as to the aft position. In the fwd shift, the end of the MER extends just a little aft of the end of the pylon. Now - at what angle will you cant the outboard pylon outboard??? As an aside, I've looked at many pictures of Navy Phantoms, and sometimes a TER (as opposed to a MER) is carried on the outboards. However, I've only seen MERs on AF outer pylons - in fact, I can't find any allowable loads in the -34 Weapons Manual with TERs on the outboards. Anyone know the reason? Gene K Quote Link to post Share on other sites
revellmania Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Quote "Sorry to nitpick, but you mean MERs, not TERs?" Hi Mark, yes I meant to type MERs... the midnight hour with whwn I was online turned the M into a T <_< Hi Gene, thanks! The photo was taken from Wings of Fame, where there was a section dedicated to Navy Phantoms in Vietnam. I think these 2 VF-21 birds are providing CAS in close proximity to the ground troopers, as I noticed the Phantoms did not even carry any air-to-air loads, and this probably explains why they did not carry drop tanks. Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Huey Gunner Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 (edited) Wow....well, if it's only a single, then why even bother with the MER? Even a TER would be a waste of drag and resources, wouldn't it? Why not just attach it directly to the pylon instead of using a huge MER?Because the pylon was a 30 inch suspension lugs while the mers/ters were 14 inch, which what almost all freefall ordnance required.Mk 84's were (I believe) 30 inch lugs. Edited November 28, 2007 by Huey Gunner Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Huey Gunner Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hi Gene, thanks! The photo was taken from Wings of Fame, where there was a section dedicated to Navy Phantoms in Vietnam. I think these 2 VF-21 birds are providing CAS in close proximity to the ground troopers, as I noticed the Phantoms did not even carry any air-to-air loads, and this probably explains why they did not carry drop tanks.Ben Or they were at Fallon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark M. Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 (edited) Andrew, you're in luck! Not only are we "good," we're "golden!" I've got 2 boxes with a full 6 per box, total 12! I can easily send you 4 and not miss 'em <_< EDIT: Will put it into a PM... Edited November 28, 2007 by Mark M. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sundowner Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 Wow....well, if it's only a single, then why even bother with the MER? Even a TER would be a waste of drag and resources, wouldn't it? Why not just attach it directly to the pylon instead of using a huge MER? Andrew , I am not sure , but for political reasons they weren't allowed to bomb that many targets but still they had to fly their missions , can somebody help me out with this ??? Henk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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