SPA Modeler

Got me some parts for the upcoming Phantom madness that's planned for autumn.



There are:

• Eduard Super Fabric RBF Flags

• Eduard Super Fabric F-4J Seat Belts

• Eduard Brassin F-4J/S Radar System

• Aerobonus US Navy Wing Pylons

• Aerobonus US Navy Triple Ejector Rack TER-7

The TER-7 racks will find their way under a 'B' along with a bunch of Mk.82 bombs.
The following pics show the 'J' on that I'm planning to throw most of the AM stuff at (F-4J-41-MV; VF-114 Aardvarks, Commander Air Group of Attack Carrier Air Wing Eleven, between November 6, 1970 and July 17, 1971).
Can you tell me what she's wearing under her belly and wings and how the specific terms are?

Fuel drop tank but not sure how many gallons. Rex would be the one to ask.

Looks like the standard F-4 centerline tank (375 gallon?), plus a pair of AIM-7s in the rear wells, and some AIM-9D/G Sidewinders on the inboard pylons. Standard escort/CAP load out in that time frame.

Since there were only 1,000 AIM-9Ds produced, that is most likely a -9G (approx 2,000) or even a -9H (approx 7,000) on the inner pylon.

The Sparrows would be AIM-7E-2 by that time.

Centerline tank is the 600 gallon. (the three wing tank types were all 370 gallon)

Note that there are no pylons on the outerwing in the second photo.

Hasegawa Weapons have both of the missiles, if using someone's kit missiles and you want good decals and paint guides, then Wolfpak decals have/had the missile decals. ( http://millcreekconsultants.com/WolfPak_home.html , Mark's stuff is top notch)

oops, just saw the 1/48,,,,,,,so Mark's decal sheet would only work for the painting instructions. But, he gets right down to the colors of the plastic plugs in the tail of any missile that used them before firing.

Two Bobs decals also makes missile decals in 1/48.

http://www.twobobs.net/index.html

Have a look there for a set covering the proper version of the Sidewinder.

http://www.twobobs.net/contents/en-us/p354.html

Rex, is that the HiPeg gun pod on the centerline, or a Vulcan pod? I really can not tell myself.

my money would be on a HiPeg.

We kept them wayyy longer than we should have. The nicest description I have heard for them was "bullet spray gun" (the others involved the word Vibrator)

I don't believe the Naval forces Phantoms were ever actually cleared for either of the Vulcan Pods.

I looked at the highest resolution that pic would go,,,,,,,and I think I see the "snout" of a HiPeg, vs the round shroud that goes around both Vulcan barrel sets.

The 5" rocket pairs seem to indicate that the photo was taken during the Vietnam era, when the HiPeg was still "believed in".

The Brits mounted the Vulcan pod on their F-4J (UK)



And I could swear that I had read somewhere about the Marine Corps mounting Vulcan pods on their Phantoms at some point of Vietnam. But that could be mistaken for the Hipeg like in that photo. Supposedly that photo is taken in Chu Lai in 1969. Definitely a ground attack load out of Hipeg and Zunis.

Yes, the British needed the wiring changed on their F-4J(UK)s to match the rest of their Phantom fleet's wiring. (during the remanufacturing process) I suppose they had too many of the three Vulcan pod types in inventory, and needed to be able to use them on their "substitute Phantoms" as well. Remember their FG 1 and FGR 2s were actually hybrid aircraft, a mixture of F-4J and F-4C features. And the FGR 2 had Vulcan capability built in by McD.

I've looked through the USN's Dash-Ones again,,,,,,,,I don't find any reference to the Vulcan being an accepted option. Always just the HiPeg. Well, and that other little USN specific gun pod (twin .50 cal). (not the SUU-11 mini pod of the USAF)

The wiring bundles is the determining factor,,,,,,any F-4 could have anything bolted on,,,,,,,,but, to use it, the wiring has to be there. (Remember that RF-4C with Red bombs loaded, it couldn't drop them, just carry them around) That is the reason for the rounded F-4D and later USAF pylon,,,,,,that "pylon hump" held more wiring bundles.

Right, right. I do recall part of the tale of Operation Bolo was having to get the F-4s wired to carry the ECM pods that the F-105s were carrying to complete that portion of the deception. Prior to Bolo, USAF Phantoms had not been carrying ECM pods. It was done in a rushed manner and the ground crews were able to get the wiring done rapidly and successfully while the supply types scrounged up the required number and type of pods needed. The results of those unsung gents helped make Bolo the huge success that it turned out to be.