Mark Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hi all, I think most of us have seen this: The normal configuration seems to be 4 x AIM-9L and 4 x Aim-7 with tanks on the outer pylons and a SUU-23 on the centreline. But I am looking for alternative weapon loads for the British Phantoms. Something a little different, Matra Rockets pods or the 1000lb bombs would be good. If any of you could point me in the right direction for some good photographs, I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks, 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I have just had a look through the Phantom Squadrons book by Dick Ward published by Linewrights and there are a few in there with rocket pods and bombs mounted on TERs (or whatever the RAF equivalent is). I also looked through the Osprey Air Combat book on the Phantom F-4K and M but that shows mainly either empty inboard pylons or ones fitted with CBLS. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) The normal configuration you mention (4 Sidewinder and 4 Sparrow/Skyflash) was the one used by squadrons tasked with air defence duties. The first use of the Phantom in the RAF however was ground attack and recce with Nr. 2, 6, 14, 17, 31, 41 and 54 Squadron. 2 and 41 Sqn were the ones doing recce, If you want to represent an RAF aircraft with an AG load, you have to choose one of these units. Edited October 23, 2015 by Giorgio N 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 One thing to remember about the FG1's while in FAA use, they weren't configured to carry the SUU-23. It wasn't until they were in operation with the RAF that they were modded for the SUU gun. Duncan B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Keep a look out for practice bombs and travel pods. Not the most common of things on UK phantoms but there is the odd pic around. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 23, 2015 Author Share Posted October 23, 2015 Travel pod? Now that sounds interesting! Thanks for the replies guys, I'll have a look for the books mentioned and Duncan, thanks for that info! I'm doing a FGR.2 at the moment, but will be doing at least two FG.1s in the future. Does anyone have any idea where I can get the 1000 pounders, travel pods, TERs, Matra pods etc? I've had a look in the stash and the Airfix Jaguar comes with some rather bad looking 1000b bombs. I think that the Academy Hunter had the Matra rocket pods? I'll check that in a minute, but otherwise which 1/48 RAF model aircraft kits had any decent useable underslung stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 The normal configuration you mention (4 Sidewinder and 4 Sparrow/Skyflash) was the one used by squadrons tasked with air defence duties. The first use of the Phantom in the RAF however was ground attack and recce with Nr. 2, 6, 14, 17, 31, 41 and 54 Squadron. 2 and 41 Sqn were the ones doing recce, If you want to represent an RAF aircraft with an AG load, you have to choose one of these units. 54 Sqn also had a secondary recce role ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Is this a refueling pod? If so anther rare Phantom store https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=raf+phantom+bomb&client=ms-android-orange-gb&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAmoVChMIs8Pg3anZyAIVSmkUCh1V_wM3#imgrc=KrVGl44enPV_yM%3A And remember not all bombs are green... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Hi all, I think most of us have seen this: The normal configuration seems to be 4 x AIM-9L and 4 x Aim-7 with tanks on the outer pylons and a SUU-23 on the centreline. But I am looking for alternative weapon loads for the British Phantoms. Something a little different, Matra Rockets pods or the 1000lb bombs would be good. If any of you could point me in the right direction for some good photographs, I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks, Slight mistake in your description above, they are AIM 9G not L. The L model was only used post 1982. Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) Itty bitty bombs... Edited October 23, 2015 by dpm1did1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Practice 'winders... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driver66 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Is this a refueling pod? If so anther rare Phantom store https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=raf+phantom+bomb&client=ms-android-orange-gb&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAmoVChMIs8Pg3anZyAIVSmkUCh1V_wM3#imgrc=KrVGl44enPV_yM%3A And remember not all bombs are green... Not a refueling pod - baggage pod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Barely visible but that looks like a training Sparrow or Skyflash in the fwd port recess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Probably the rarest of all... Nothing! Just seems odd seeing a Phantom without any stores not even a tank or two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Knew I'd seen one somewhere... Travel pod - although admittedly I now see it's on an F3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) Not a refueling pod - baggage pod.Silly me. Looked at the flat end and not the turbineless nose. Unusual config though as most are very similar to a small drop tank (pretty much how they started!)Have seen refuelling pods on a Phantom although they were usually hanging off other winged things. (wether it was operational or not tho is another matter because very many things get hung off just for show or trials) Edited October 23, 2015 by dpm1did1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Ankther type of Travel pod, and by the looks of it stolen off the Yanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sten Ekedahl Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Hi all, I think most of us have seen this: The normal configuration seems to be 4 x AIM-9L and 4 x Aim-7 with tanks on the outer pylons and a SUU-23 on the centreline. But I am looking for alternative weapon loads for the British Phantoms. Something a little different, Matra Rockets pods or the 1000lb bombs would be good. If any of you could point me in the right direction for some good photographs, I'd really appreciate it. Many thanks, To my eye the load under the central fuselage is the EMI recce pod, and not the SUU-23 gun pod. After all, this is a 41 Sqn. aircraft so a recce pod is normal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 To my eye the load under the central fuselage is the EMI recce pod, and not the SUU-23 gun pod. Indeed, that is definitely an EMI. Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Ballast in the fwd Sparrow bays was very common as per one of the previous photos. Duncan B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Pix of a Jag carrying a practice bomb carrier are pretty easy to find, much less so a phantom. Note also the funny dummy in the stb fwd sparrow bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniperUK Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 For strike fit the Ferranti Strike Camera pod was usual in the port Sparrow bay , the ballast in the front bays was necessary to keep the CoG correct . The Srtike camera pod is the centre bit here looking like a wedge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm1did1 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) Nearly missed this as I was ignoring bomb & rocket loads, til I noticed only 3 sprogs! Strike cameras don't always face backwards, a pointless exercise when firing rockets. Note it's also a different design to the previous AM one posted by Sniper Edited October 24, 2015 by dpm1did1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Our ( 17 squadron ) FGR 2's normal fit would be wing tanks on the outboard stations, usually a TER on the port or starboard inboard pylon with a Matra M155 eighteen - shot rocket pod,and a CBLS practice bomb carrier on the other inboard pylon. The centreline was fitted with the SUU 23 gun pod, unless the a/c was going overseas ( Decimomannu, Cyprus, etc. ) in which case they were fitted with centreline tanks. The port fuselage station would carry the strike camera pod, and the starboard would have the dummy Sparrow " ballast " round. For QRA ( nuclear alert ) they would have two live Sparrows in the forward fuselage stations, wing tanks, and a "Special " weapon on the centreline. They would also carry the dummy nuclear shape in the final phases of Taceval exercises. HTH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Barely visible but that looks like a training Sparrow or Skyflash in the fwd port recess They would be ballast rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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