I will need to take the 201 decals I have and make a 4, make the correct BuNo, and then I am not sure about the names on the canopy rails, but other than that straight forward build. I plan to throw some resin and PE at it. I like the weathering on this jet. If you look at the first picture of 204 bombing over Vietnam you can see some yellowish smudging. This is most likely yellow primer, and if you look at the second picture it looks as if the paint work has been complete. And just like models, matching grey paint is hard! Hmmm for some reason the first pic ended up being the second once I posted, either way you can see the difference.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Centerline drop tanks on 111 aircraft seem to mostly have a red tip, I haven't seen these markings on other ones in the squadron. Assuming things were the same in the 60s and 70s as they were in my time (1986 - 2012) drop tanks were more often than not in a pool owned by the squadron and would be swapped out on occasion depending on load out or if the tank needed maintenance. And here is my VF 84 Phantom, I had to cobble the markings from several sheets when I built it. Of course Eduard put out a kit with these markings and extras about the time I finished it up!

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

From what I have seen MK 82s (low drag like the ones on mine) are the standard loadout for Navy Phantoms during Vietnam. The only Navy aircraft I have seen from the era that carried WWII bombs were Skyraiders, and I think I recall seeing a picture of A-4s with them, but that would have been rare, WWII bombs had a blunt nose that would have severely slowed a jet down. Now Marine Phantoms carried a larger range of ordinance and some colorful schemes as well, so if a variety of weapons are what you want maybe look to a USMC Phantom. Here is a great Naval Aviation blog that has a ton on Phantoms

http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/search?q=phantoms

No problem and yes keep weathering subtle. While there are certainly examples of Naval aircraft from Vietnam all the way to the current era having extreme weathering, in my experience it is rare, and one of the most often overdone techniques I see used on US Naval Aircraft. Naval aircraft are washed every 14 days and go through a 28 day corrosion cycle, part of which is painting as necessary (limited when out to sea). Also the Plane Captains spend a good deal of their time cleaning polishing and wiping down their birds. On "my" E-2C Hawkeye, Bear Ace 601, I tried to keep her spotless as I could given the environment, she had my name on the nose landing gear door and therefore reflected my standards. My experience was that all PCs share the same trait, including anger when someone gets hand prints and such on "their" bird!

Great choice - my favorite scheme on a naval Phantom - and I'm contemplating making this one my 2nd F-4 (although in 1/72)! Can't wait to see it done!