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I have three weeks off from work, so what better way to spend those weeks than building a pair of F-4's. I will be building a very early F-4E, with the original gun fairing, non slatted wings, and not even formation lights, and a mid 80's F-4G in Euro 1 camo. Both are the 1/72 Hasegawa kit, which is, as you can see on the pic below, very modular. As of now, I could fit the wings of the E (white plastic) on the fuselage of the G, and it wouldn't matter. The E will be done as one based at Torrejon in Spain circa 1971, back when they didn't have a single tail code for the Wing yet, but each squadron had their own (TJ, TK and TL). The 401st TFW seems to be a bit forgotten, and their F-4E's even more so, since they only flew them for about 3 years before recieving short nosed ones. Luckily Wolfpak issued a sheet with an example from the 613th TFS in 1971. I ordered this sheet a couple days ago, but I think I already might change the subject a bit. The sheet is for F-4E 69-0275, which looked like this: https://www.sberg-movements.nl/afbeeldingen/1971/7473.jpg As you can see, the AF letters and the FY 69 are in black on the tail. Wolfpak did them in white. The other thing is my other build, which is F-4G 69-0280. This one also flew with the 613th TFS at Torrejon in 1971, as can be seen on this pic, taken at the same day as the previous one at Soesterberg AB here in NL: https://www.sberg-movements.nl/afbeeldingen/1971/4017.jpg This one does have the white AF and 69 on the tail. Now, I did look around in the stash a bit, and provided the size of the numbers matches the Wolfpak ones, I think I can do it as 280 instead. Which brings us to the other build. F-4G 69-0280. This one will be done in its final scheme of Euro 1, and in markings of the 23rd TFS of the 52nd TFW based at Spangdahlem in Germany. This one will also get Wolfpak decals. Ironically, this one crashed during a dog fight against an aggressor during a training mission at Zaragoza in Spain in 1984. So 69-0280 started its career in Spain, and ended it there as well. The pic below was taken by Scott R. Wilson just 5 days before its crash. So, like I said, these kits are very modular in design, which does make it easy to build multiple versions at once. The white plastic is from the Thunderbirds boxing of the F-4E, which is perfect for an early one. Only aftermarket used will be the decals, from Wolfpak as mentioned, and whatever else I need from various sheets I have.

The model I've always wanted to do. It's nice, it's old, but I always like the Phantom Italeri. I am pleased with the end result. Here's the picture.

Tactical Air Warfare Center Detachment 5 was stationed at George AFB operating three F-4G Wild Weasels alongside the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing and, later, the 35th TFW. The Det 5 mission was operational testing and tactics development for the Wild Weasels. S/n 69-7235, the test team flagship, 1992 Note the pod in the right forward missile well. In 1990 with shading on the tail characters and a 'deep' ALQ-131 in the left forward missile well. S/n 69-7206, 1992 In 1990, here with the AGM-88 carriage adapter and the pod under the intake appears to be grey and black rather than white and black 69-0277, 1992, without tail codes No clue what that fixture is in the rear cockpit, it covers the area behind the seat and extends forward to the front canopy frame Two days later and the fixture in the rear cockpit is gone In 1990, with tail codes Checkers on the fin tip fairing Det 5 emblem on left intake TAWC shield on the right intake and the pod. This one has the Set 5 Weasel on it instead of the checkerboard The Det 5 weasel Another pod. To my eyes this one does not look as blunt as the one with the weasel motif. The pod nose one showing the slant of the pylon and off-set of the carriage assembly allowing clearance from the nose gear door. I'm guessing the forward fairing houses the umbilicals. AGM-88 training round Thanks for looking Sven

Hi, Here's my latest completion, the venerable Hasegawa kit dressed up with an Aries resin cockpit, Master Model turned brass pitot and Xtradecals. Special thanks for Windy here who supplied the HARM (I only used 1 in the end Matt). Anyway hope it's of interest. ff