F-4J (UK) Phantom

[Shaun]

Just finished the main painting on my F-4J.

Xtracolor used for the main colours, there was a surprising amount of masking needed for this scheme

Shaun

Edited June 28, 2012 by Shaun

[ghaynes]

Looking good Shaun! Mine's been a work in progress since I bought in 1996!

Regards.

Graham

Just finished the main painting on my F-4J.

Xtracolor used for the main colours, there was a surprising amount of masking needed for this scheme

Shaun

Edited July 14, 2012 by ghaynes

[Shaun]

Looking good Shaun! Mine's been a work in progress since I bought in 1996!

Regards.

Graham

Thanks Graham, just need to find the next push to move it along a bit more.

Shaun.

[cardiff guy]

had am go at this subject myself thanks all for the heads up on the colour.

[SimonR]

Hi Phantom guys, Can I add this to the list of questions?

I have just bought a 1/48 Italeri F-4S, Eduard F-4S/J etch and 74 sqn xtradecals, naturally I am going to build it as a F-4J(UK).

So are there any external differences between the S & J(UK) that I should be aware of?

cheers

Simon

[Dr Evil]

When the J's were refurbished they were officially brought up to 'S' standard except the fitting of leading edge slats, i.e. they retained the J's hard wing. Piccies above show this. Any other differences will be extremely minor and will need doing to a J as well as an S base kit, such as the small periscope fitted for the back seater.

I haven't seen the Italeri kit, but IIRC their 48th F-4E is a hard wing, it might be possible to switch the wings to produce a slatted E and a J(UK)? If you do bear in mind the E didn't have catapult recesses but (ex) Navy birds did so they'll need grinding out on the donor E wing and filling in on the slatted wing going on your E. Additionally, the wing fence on the S is longer, so will need shortening for an E (if Italeri got this right, of course)

Edited November 17, 2012 by Dr Evil

[SimonR]

Thanks Dr. Much appreciated.

Didn't give the wings a thought, just looking at the kit now and not sure if will be possible to convert the kit to fixed leading edge. Looks like I may have to hunt down a E!

cheers

Simon

[Dr Evil]

No probs.

There's an E here which the boxtop & markings options suggest is a hardwing although I can't vouch for the plastic. I also assume the wings are interchangable with the Italeri S. Maybe someone else has both the E and S boxings and can confirm for you?

http://www.kingkit.co.uk/product_detail.php?prodID=7336

[keefr22]

The reason Dr. E doesn't have an Italeri E is because he gave it to me!! Well, I assume that the Italeri E is the same plastic as the Esci kit he passed onto me. So, that's the first of the assumptions. If it is the same, then it has a hard wing. Unfortunately I don't have an Italeri S, but I do have an Esci C/D. The wings in the E are exactly the same as the C/D. So, assumption 2, if Esci just modified the C/D wing for the J & S kits (& indeed that it is the Esci kit in a different box), then they should fit. Hopefully someone with the Italeri kits will happen along, otherwise that's the best I can offer. And there's a whole lot of assumptions there....!!

keef

Edited November 17, 2012 by keefr22

[Dr Evil]

Cheers Cuddles, I'd forgotten I'd even owned that kit!

[SimonR]

Thanks again guys, got a 'E' on my watch on ebay, if I fail with that may go for thekingkit one.

Doing a 1/48 74 sdn Airfix Lightning at the moment so the Phantom is a xmas hols project.

cheers

Simon

[SimonR]

Just got my mitts on an italeri E, for the record wings are basically identical except the E wing doesn't have the recesses underneath for the missiles. But only need to swap the upper surfaces by the look of it. So barring a few minor mods I should have no trouble doing the F-4J (UK) now!

Thanks again for all the help chaps.

cheers

Simon

[The Velociweiler]

Circa late 1984, were the F-4J (UK)'s using Sparrow or Skyflash operationally? Both?

[The Velociweiler]

Circa late 1984, were the F-4J (UK)'s using Sparrow or Skyflash operationally? Both?

Anyone?...

[Dr Evil]

Skyflash would have been the operational choice although it's possible they loosed off a few Sparrows on APC to use up the remaining stocks.

[zipper]

A bit of a silly question really as I know the J(UK) was ex US Navy aircraft, but wanted to check anyway. I have the Tamiya Marine kit and looking at aftermarket for it from Eduard, do I go for the F-4 Exhaust Nozzles USN Late 632011 or USAF Late as I can't see any difference from the images on the Eduard site.

Many thanks

[Dr Evil]

The USN boxing is correct for a J(UK) as the compressor bullet fairing differs from those used on USAF F-4E/G's.

[SimonR]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the advice on converting the Italeri F-4S to a J(UK) , for anyone who's interested this is how I got on with it!

Italeri F-4J(UK)

cheers

Simon

[Procopius]

In the Xtradecal 74 Squadron set, what's with the T I G E R S Q N code letters? I don't see where or if they went on a Phantom.

[keefr22]

In the Xtradecal 74 Squadron set, what's with the T I G E R S Q N code letters? I don't see where or if they went on a Phantom.

They were on the fin...

[Shaun]

In the Xtradecal 74 Squadron set, what's with the T I G E R S Q N code letters? I don't see where or if they went on a Phantom.

They where the individual aircraft codes, carried on the tail and nose gear door.

"Tango" being the bosses bird with larger markings and a penant under the cockpit.

Shaun.

[Procopius]

Ah-ha! Well don't I feel clever. Thank you, gentlemen.

[Shaun]

Hannants now offer the 74sqn History sheet in two parts-

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X48080A

This set still has the incorrect coloured tigers head on the nose markings though!

Shaun

[Patrick Martin]

Going back to the original colour topic .... all will be revealed in Vol2 of the British Phantom to be released at Telford in November.

The overhauled aircraft were painted at NARF North Island in a glossy three-grey finish which attempted to match RAF specifications. The Barley Grey substitute for upper surfaces was close in appearance to Flint Gray and the Medium Sea Grey substitute for the inner upper wings was close to Neutral Grey, while the Light Aircraft Grey substitute for the lower surfaces was close to Light Gull Grey. Nine aircraft had an odd appearance, with the upper colour having a blue-turquoise tint. One oddity was ZE355/F904 ....

This was the result of a primer paint specification being misunderstood by the Mexican manufacturers. In the USA and on arrival in the UK, all carried a NARF F numbers starting with 901 on the forward facing nose gear door.

The colours were difficult to distinguish in less than ideal sunny conditions. All 15 had a dual coloured radome, with a horizontal grey division line on the lower portion of the radome. All aircraft were later repainted in the UK during deep maintenance with the standard primer and colours common to the FG.1 and FGR.2 three-grey air defence finish.

Pat Martin

[ghaynes]

Is this info from the book you mention?

Not all of the F-4J(UK)s were re-painted in standard RAF colours. Most weren't re-painted in fact.

Regards.

Graham

Going back to the original colour topic .... all will be revealed in Vol2 of the British Phantom to be released at Telford in November.

The overhauled aircraft were painted at NARF North Island in a glossy three-grey finish which attempted to match RAF specifications. The Barley Grey substitute for upper surfaces was close in appearance to Flint Gray and the Medium Sea Grey substitute for the inner upper wings was close to Neutral Grey, while the Light Aircraft Grey substitute for the lower surfaces was close to Light Gull Grey. Nine aircraft had an odd appearance, with the upper colour having a blue-turquoise tint. One oddity was ZE355/F904 ....

This was the result of a primer paint specification being misunderstood by the Mexican manufacturers. In the USA and on arrival in the UK, all carried a NARF F numbers starting with 901 on the forward facing nose gear door.

The colours were difficult to distinguish in less than ideal sunny conditions. All 15 had a dual coloured radome, with a horizontal grey division line on the lower portion of the radome. All aircraft were later repainted in the UK during deep maintenance with the standard primer and colours common to the FG.1 and FGR.2 three-grey air defence finish.

Pat Martin