72modeler Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 (edited) Thought some of you Phantom Phans might like these! I remember when we visited a longtime family friend stationed at MacDill in'63, they were just getting them. Got to see them and hear that wonderful J-79 wail when we were out in the gulf fishing. I think the grey/white scheme with the TAC shield on the fin was beautiful. Hasegawa released a special boxing with these markings a while back, IIRC. (I bet @Old Viper Tester has better photos in his collection!) Mike https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/mcdonnell-f-110a-spectre/ Edited November 21, 2019 by 72modeler added text 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBayKid Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 Since the F-110A designation went away in October of 1962 when the joint DoD nomenclature system came into effect, all of the aircraft that were called F-110As were actually borrowed F4H-1s (F-4B after 10.62). The first F-4C wasn’t delivered until sometime in 1963, and they were all called F-4Cs from the outset. Great photos in that linked page! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBayKid Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 I knew I remembered reading this somewhere - and I found it! Great information on the F-110A/F-4B/F-4C saga: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/f4_7.html 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Viper Tester Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 18 hours ago, 72modeler said: (I bet @Old Viper Tester has better photos in his collection!) I appreciate the confidence, but my images don't go back that far😀. As NorthBay Kid and the wire-up in the link noted, these early aircraft were F-4B/F4H-1. They even carried the abbreviated Navy Bureau Number in the same location as the early Navy Phantoms. When they did eventually get USAF serial numbers they got the "buzz numbers" applied as well. I especially like the belly location of the buzz numbers, which seemed to be unique to VooDoos and Phantoms. Sven AKA Old Viper Tester 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 2 minutes ago, Old Viper Tester said: I especially like the belly location of the buzz numbers, which seemed to be unique to VooDoos and Phantoms. Thanks for taking the time to reply, Keith; IIRC the old Aurora F-110A kit had no buzz numbers on the decal sheet, as I built one and gave to our friend who was stationed there; wishing now I had asked my Dad to take color slides of them when we were at MacDill, but I wasn't into collecting references and building accurate models until so much later...20/20 hindsight and all that! Mike https://boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Boxart-Collection/AURORA/MILITARY-AIRCRAFT/JET/Aurora-F-110-Phantom 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 There were 2 aircraft marked up as F-110A 149405 and 149406. These were borrowed for trials and were F-4B's. There followed a batch of F-4B's on loan to the USAF which went to the training unit (4450th Wing rings a bell). When the F-4C's came off the line these were returned. The first F-4C actually arrived before the designation change and was the only USAF standard F-110A, the designation lasting only days. And the rest is history, as they say. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBayKid Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 6 hours ago, Rhino said: There were 2 aircraft marked up as F-110A 149405 and 149406. These were borrowed for trials and were F-4B's. There followed a batch of F-4B's on loan to the USAF which went to the training unit (4450th Wing rings a bell). When the F-4C's came off the line these were returned. The first F-4C actually arrived before the designation change and was the only USAF standard F-110A, the designation lasting only days. And the rest is history, as they say. The first F-4C was delivered to the USAF in May of 1963, some months after the designation change took place in September 1962. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 "Buzz No' and 'USAF' under the engines is interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomppa B Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 On 11/20/2019 at 11:46 PM, 72modeler said: Thought some of you Phantom Phans might like these! I remember when we visited a longtime family friend stationed at MacDill in'63, they were just getting them. Got to see them and hear that wonderful J-79 wail when we were out in the gulf fishing. I think the grey/white scheme with the TAC shield on the fin was beautiful. Hasegawa released a special boxing with these markings a while back, IIRC. (I bet @Old Viper Tester has better photos in his collection!) Mike https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/mcdonnell-f-110a-spectre/ Very nice photos with the F-110 on a snowy runway On one photo it is quite clear that the anti-glare panel is green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 @72modeler Mike if you want to build one, some accurate plans may be handy John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 24, 2019 Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 Thanks, John- I have saved these...but, it doesn't look anything like a B-57! You actually have references for something other than Canberras? I AM impressed! 😜 Mike 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 (edited) 2 minutes ago, 72modeler said: Thanks, John- I have saved these...but, it doesn't look anything like a B-57! You actually have references for something other than Canberras? I AM impressed! 😜 Mike I have the odd bit of stuff here and there Mike 🙂 I think I have some photos of it too. John Edited November 24, 2019 by canberra kid Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 @72modeler Mike, a few more bits and bob's John 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 Those photos of FJ406 are beautiful! Noticed the different placement, size, and style of the buzz numbers between the two photos. The green antiglare is also a nice touch of color/ Thanks for sharing these, John. Mike @Old Viper Tester and @NorthBayKid, In the photos of 149406, I don't see any evidence of the bulged fairings or fatter tires fitted to the USAF F-4C's. Am I right in guessing that because -405 and -406 were actually "borrowed" F-4B's, they had the narrow wheels and tires fitted to the Navy versions? Do you know if they were retrofitted with the larger units, or were they given back to the Navy? Am I correct that all "genuine" F-4C's would have the blisters and larger wheels? Want to do FJ-406 as she is in the color photos, especially with the green antiglare, but want to get it right! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBayKid Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 (edited) Those two *were* F-4Bs. The F-4C was the first variant to have the bulged wing and wide tyres, and the first F-4Cs were still on the assembly line when when the two borrowed F-4Bs were being evaluated and photographed. The USAF had no interest in keeping F-4Bs. They were returned to the Navy as soon as the F-4Cs started to be delivered in late 1963 Edited November 27, 2019 by NorthBayKid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 They were indeed borrowed F-4Bs which went back to the Navy. They turned up at Bentwaters on demo on 14 June 1962. I have a photo showing one landing, with the carrier lights on the nosewheel door. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 As this one got the deeper wheel well's? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 Just now, canberra kid said: As this one got the deeper wheel well's? John Pretty sure that's an RF-4C so it would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 4 minutes ago, iainpeden said: Pretty sure that's an RF-4C so it would. Yep- IIRC, all RF-4C's got the bulged fairings and fatter wheels/tires. Nice photo, John! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 5 minutes ago, iainpeden said: Pretty sure that's an RF-4C so it would. Yes just realised, it has a much longer nose. John 1 minute ago, 72modeler said: Yep- IIRC, all RF-4C's got the bulged fairings and fatter wheels/tires. Nice photo, John! Mike Thanks Mike, not as hot on Phantoms as I am on Canberra's John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 And you can see the bulge on the port wing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberra kid Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 This would be the RF.4 then. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBayKid Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 The only Phantoms with skinny tyres and flat wings were the F4H-1/F-4A, the F-4B, and most RF-4Bs. All others had the fat tyres and bulged wings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 1 hour ago, canberra kid said: This would be the RF.4 then. John 62-1220 which started on the production line as an F-4B (so probably did have the narrow tires), was converted on the line to become the YRF-4C, then converted again (initially with a gun sticking out of the front camera port) to a YF-4E and then went on to test a boran rudder and then got fitted with canards for fly-by-wire tests. I think she is now at the USAF museum. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creepy Pete Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 5 minutes ago, iainpeden said: (so probably did have the narrow tires) It did, you can see it here: https://www.deviantart.com/fighterman35/art/YRF-4C-62-12200-8-Augus-1963-593216591 Also note that it still has the light installed for the refueling probe, and those camera windows are just for show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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