Gondor's Grumblings

[Captain Canada]

Glad to hear the cat is ok !



Famous last words eh ? Love it !

[Gondor]

So far this week with the arrival of the Hasegawa 1/48 F110-A I have been able to put some thought into a couple of build themes I have had going for several years at my usual glacial pace. F-4 Phantom family and the Century series "fighters".
Rereading several reference books I have found that the F-4A , post aircraft 18, are a close match to the later F-4B with the main visible difference being the Intakes and their ramps/splitter plates and the spoiler on the upper surfaces of the wings, perforated on the A but not on the B.
A search of the web has provided me with information on the intakes but so far I have not been able to find information on the pattern of the perforations. I am loathed to ask "Gaffer" from Tetley as I don't really think he would be able to help despite all he knows about perforations!
I know the F-4 theme build of mine is mainly real world, a few whiffs will get in, but has anyone got the information I need?

Gondor

[Gondor]

A bit further with my Za Rodina build, even started a thread in the Group Build section of the forum here! I'm looking forward to getting a few pictures taken and posted at the end of the week when hopefully I will have made some further progress.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

lol....nice reference to the tea master himself  Been a long time since those commercials were out over here !

What's the deal with the Phantom perforations ? On the spoilers or the intakes ?

[Thorvic]

What's the deal with the Phantom perforations ? On the spoilers or the intakes ?

The F-4H-1 or F-4A had perforated spoilers on the wings in true USN tradition they also had a variety of Intake revisions before the settled on the one that became standard for F-4 Phantom family.

I recommended "F-4 Phantom ' Spirit in the Skies'" to Gondor as a reference with drawings of the F-4A along with most of the other Phantom variants and a few project ones, so I think he may have sourced one for a reasonable price   

[Gondor]

What's the deal with the Phantom perforations ? On the spoilers or the intakes ?

The F-4H-1 or F-4A had perforated spoilers on the wings in true USN tradition they also had a variety of Intake revisions before the settled on the one that became standard for F-4 Phantom family.

I recommended "F-4 Phantom ' Spirit in the Skies'" to Gondor as a reference with drawings of the F-4A along with most of the other Phantom variants and a few project ones, so I think he may have sourced one for a reasonable price   

I purchased a second hand copy from Amazon for under £17 including P&P which is a lot less than some were wanting for a new copy at around £160

Hopefully it will arrive in the next day or so.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

I almost bought that when it first came out...seeing as I love Phantoms I still wished I would have ! Guess I should do a little second-hand looking myself !

[Gondor]

I almost bought that when it first came out...seeing as I love Phantoms I still wished I would have ! Guess I should do a little second-hand looking myself !

I usually look on ebay for second hand items, sometimes I find that Amazon is a good source for books as they have second hand books listed with the new ones.
As always, comparing prices including postage is always a good idea.

Gondor

[Gondor]

My copy of the World Air Power Journal's McDonnell F-4 Phantom Spirit in the Skies arrived today. It is what I needed and more. Lots of stuff in it that I had forgotten about from years past and a few proposals that I didn't know of or can't remember so several items worthy of whiffery as well as providing information for several real world builds especially as I now can tell the difference between an early F-4B, a late F-4B and an F-4N! that used to confuse the hell out of me! 

My thanks to Thorvic for telling me about this book.

Gondor

[Gondor]

I have been having a lazy day today for a change so I decided to go through my stash and list a few aircraft builds I have as "theme" builds. I have made a little progress in building some of the kits listed below but am making more progress in buying kits to cover all the variations within each theme.

First up 1/72 Hasegawa F-4 Phantoms for my F-4 Phantom theme build. UK versions excluded.

• F-4A (F4H-1F) Flew with VF-101 and VF-121 (needing decals)
• F-4B (early) I have one that I am building using markings from an early Modeldecal sheet, I also have a pair in a "CVW-19" box although I want to change the Carrier they are on before I build them
• RF-4B USMC
• F-4C USAF
• RF-4C USAF
• F-4D USAF
• F-4E HAF Upgraded version as in the SAM publications Modelling Datafile
• F-4E Israeli 1982 near the end of its service carrying AGM-78's
• F-4E Kurnass 2000 service aircraft with PW1120 engines
• F-4EJ JASDF
• F-4EJ Kai JASDF
• RF-4EF JASDF
• RF-4E JASDF
• RF-4E Iranian
• RF-4E Israeli
• F-4F Luftwaffe
• F-4G USN Converted F-4B for auto carrier landing and two way data link
• F-4G USAF
• F-4J USMC
• F-4S USN
• F-110A USAF

That's the list of the kits I have and what I intend the operators to be. I still have another F-4B to get for the later standard with added lumps. All real world other than the Kurnass 2000 and a couple to confuse the JMN's though, the F-4A and F-110A specifically although the RF-4EJ would get a few of them confused as well.
I do have a couple of the older Hasegawa F-4E's which I intend to use as whiffs, one Canadian and the other as an F-4X. Someone needs to drop an F-4E(S) nose into some silicone as these things are rearer than hen's teeth!

I also looked through my stash of 1/72 scale Hasegawa F-111's. These are for my F-111 theme build. no surprise there then!

• F-111A USAF as used in Vietnam (needs decals)
• F-111B USN VF-1 (Pete's Hanger Conversion using an F-111A)
• F-111C RAAF
• F-111D USAF
• F-111E USAF
• F-111F USAF
• F-111G RAAF
• F-111H USAF (FB-111A as a starting point)
• F-111K RAF (F-111A to be converted)
• FB-111A USAF
• EF-111A USAF (actually using a Monogram kit for this build, listed here for completeness)
• EF-111A RAAF whiff using Australian decals
• RF-111A USAF using an EF-111A kit as the basis without the EF parts

I am also thinking of doing a few more versions such as an RN F-111B and an white /grey FB-111A.

I do have other kits of the Phantom by ESCI, Revell and Fujimi but have decided not to list them here.

If nothing else, when I retire I have plenty to do 

Maybe another time I will check off a few of my other themed builds, Harrier, Jaguars, Spitfires, Lightening's.......

Gondor

[NARSES2]

If nothing else, when I retire I have plenty to do 

I operated the same sort of scheme during my last few years of gainfull employment.....it worked 

[Gondor]

Just won another 1/72 Hasegawa F-4E on ebay. I went for it as I realised that in Vietnam era colour scheme is was an iconic aircraft that most of us associate with that war, and I didn't have a kit put aside to depict that!

Gondor

[Gondor]

I don't think I will be buying much for the next few months, if ever at present. Just been speaking to the vet and the cost of my cat's medication is going to go up to £70 per month and could have to go higher! I am not a happy bunny

Gondor

[NARSES2]

Sorry to hear that mate. Our furry friends can get expensive but they do become part of the family.

Still on the up side you have a stash to dig into

[Captain Canada]

That's a huge list of Phantoms and 111's...but where are all the ones titled "RCN" and "RCAF" ?

Sorry to hear about the cost of meds going up.....maybe try the 'net and see if there are cheaper alternatives ?