SaintsPhil Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 I've got a hasegawa F4F and it's got a couple of centre line fuel tanks in the kit, does anyone know if either of these are the US style 600 gal tank? As carried by the F4J(UK)? Thanks Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) AFAIK all Phantom belly tanks are 600 gallons. There was the original F-4 unique style used by everybody who ever flew F-4s, and then there was the later USAF F-15 style tank used from the late 1980s onward. The F-15 style tank had a parallel cylindrical shape in the middle, with symmetrical pointed ends and a fairly beefy "fin" on top at the aft end. The original F-4 style was a continuous curve from nose to tail. Pretty easy to tell the difference... I don't think the USN/USMC or RAF ever used the F-15 tanks. J Edited October 9, 2011 by Jennings Heilig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV571 Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 Hi Phil, If you have a 1/48 F-4F, you can use parts E8 and E9 for a F-4J(UK) (don't forget the little stabiliser fins E14/15). For a 1/72 Phantom, use parts P17, P18 and Q31/Q32 (for the fins). As Jennings says, the F-15 or HPC, style was not used on RAF or Naval Phantoms. HTH, Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 9, 2011 Author Share Posted October 9, 2011 Thanks, It's the 1/72 kit, but I think I know which is which as one has the fin and one doesn't! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 10, 2011 Share Posted October 10, 2011 To be pedantic, the F-15 style tanks are 610 gal. I have been through all my F-4J(UK) pics, and they seem to show either a 600 Gal centrline tank only, or Fletcher tanks under the wing, or no tanks of course. If anyone has any operational pics of a 3 tank configuration on an F-4J(UK) I would be interested to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted October 10, 2011 Author Share Posted October 10, 2011 That's all I've seen too! I had another look at my refs last night and I'm pretty sure the one I've got is the right one! Thanks again gents! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 They also carried the Gun pod on APC visits, but the fit seemed very rare back home. Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghb180658 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 They also carried the Gun pod on APC visits, but the fit seemed very rare back home.Shaun. The gun was a relatively rare fit on UK squadrons because it wasn't a NATO declared weapon system for the UK Air Defence Region (the extra tank was more use especially for long range QRA missions), whereas it was in 2 ATAF for the 2 RAFG Sqns (19 & 92). That's why they carried it as a normal training fit. However we trained all crews to ACE Forces Standards which required annual qualification in air-to-air gunnery hence we all got to go to Cyprus for an APC. As I recall 74 discovered there was little benefit in 3-tank fit on the J model as they could cruise much higher with the J79 compared to the Spey on FG1/FGR2s and they didn't have that much time on Southern QRA duties with the J. The US centreline tank was also a hard tank (6g) whereas the UK ones were ferry tanks (4g empty, 2.5g with fuel in), which is why they did a lot in Bravo fit, clean wing plus centreline tank only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 The gun was a relatively rare fit on UK squadrons because it wasn't a NATO declared weapon system for the UK Air Defence Region (the extra tank was more use especially for long range QRA missions), whereas it was in 2 ATAF for the 2 RAFG Sqns (19 & 92). That's why they carried it as a normal training fit. However we trained all crews to ACE Forces Standards which required annual qualification in air-to-air gunnery hence we all got to go to Cyprus for an APC.As I recall 74 discovered there was little benefit in 3-tank fit on the J model as they could cruise much higher with the J79 compared to the Spey on FG1/FGR2s and they didn't have that much time on Southern QRA duties with the J. The US centreline tank was also a hard tank (6g) whereas the UK ones were ferry tanks (4g empty, 2.5g with fuel in), which is why they did a lot in Bravo fit, clean wing plus centreline tank only. Thanks for the extra info, where you on 74 Sqn? Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghb180658 Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks for the extra info, where you on 74 Sqn?Shaun. No, never did a tour at Wattisham. 29, 92, 111, 64 (228 OCU) and was also the Phantom desk officer at HQ 11 Gp. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted October 15, 2011 Share Posted October 15, 2011 No, never did a tour at Wattisham. 29, 92, 111, 64 (228 OCU) and was also the Phantom desk officer at HQ 11 Gp. Geoff So you know the RAF Phantom quite well then! Shaun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghb180658 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 So you know the RAF Phantom quite well then!Shaun. Thirteen years and 2000 hours Followed by a tour on the F3 but my heart remains firmly with the Mighty Toom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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