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"I'd say that modeling is just one half of the hobby, and iModeler is the other 50%." @richardms
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I noticed that the US insignia has the point of the star facing towards the rear of the wing on the closest F-4. In other words the star is on backwards.
Yes I have done this before too.
Cool picture. !
A few other things are also wrong. It looks like McDonell Douglas has the rivets spaced out incorrectly, on the afterburner turkey feathers, and possibly a few of the panel lines on the high speed wobble washers are off by a few MM’s.
When I compared this photo to my Revell Monogram F-4, (using a calibrated micrometer of course), it’s blatantly obvious. If you’ve ever been close enough to the real thing you will know how the flush head puttied rivets will fade into oblivion when you get more than 20 or so scale feet away from it. This is something that Eduard has down to a science with the new 1/48 Spitfires, according to those who know.
I think that McDonnell Douglas also got the profile of the drop tank off a little too. Maybe the Air Force used the wrong shade of green on the SEA camouflage pattern ? But it’s so hard to tell since this picture is in Black and White. You know how those fly boys can be.
A little modeling humor there. 😉
These are early F-4Cs, that originally arrived in SEA in the grey/white scheme with the big stars, "US Air Force" and "USAF" on them, the "hi viz" scheme. They were painted in the SEA camo on the upper surfaces "in the field" (i.e., at the bases), with white sprayed over the star and the USAF on the lower wings (if you look carefully, you can see the large star painted over not so thoroughly). Then the national insignia DECALS were applied. I bet we could mess it up, too, applying a fairly-largish decal over our heads. Just forget for a moment which way you're facing, which would be easy to do under a wing (even easy to do if you're applying it with the wing folded). It's another example that most of the things we modelers sweat over, the guys with the 1:1s don't even think about.
For those who may be interested, Fundekals is bringing out some F-4C decals that will allow you to do these early planes. Jennings Heilig is working with several guys who were there, including my friend Colonel Ralph Wetterhahn, who was "Olds 02" back in the day.
Just did that last week, but unlike myself staring at the above photo, I actually noticed and changed it before the decal solution kicked in. (It is why I never use a powerful solution like Solvaset first.)
Robert,
Werner’s Wings has a magnificent set of decals for the Vietnam era Phantoms. I have the 48-13 set, which covered Steve Ritchie, Chappie James and many others. There are no less than 12 Phantoms depicted on this set. It’s nothing short of spectacular. This set is probably the most well researched set of decals I have ever ran across.
I know that recently you asked about me building some F-4’s. There will be a few Phantoms coming up soon in the Iron Werks pipeline. I might even include Showtime 100, and Col. Robin Olds with his “Skat”.
With you being a former Phantom phixer, I’ll let you know when I’m ready to start this project. I might have to ask you for some advice using your F-4 expertise on occasion if you don’t mind. Thanks in advance buddy.
You humble me. I'll readily help where I can.
Awesome news, and I sincerely appreciate this. Thanks again my friend.
Well, if you think about it, the way the stars and bars are canted one of the points on the star is facing forward! 😀 (It did take me a few minutes to spot it though.)
Nice - now I don't feel like a complete buffoon!
I have a feeling this is an former F-4B (NAVY/MARINE), beside big star bar shadow under the wing, this Phantom still carry NAVY/MARINE pylon.?
The first F-4C's the USAF acquired were painted in the grey/white scheme, and had the Navy style inboard pylons, some of these when they got to Vietnam were camouflaged in the field, With less then the best quality control. @pnguyen. There first Phantoms were actually Navy F-4B's which they used to train on, returning them as they got their F-4C's.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.