F-4J to F-4C

I was looking around a bit and found that this website points out some of the differences and reviews conversion kits.

Why not just save all the hassle and bid for this F-4C kit on ebay ?

Might cost you a pretty penny though ... but it might be worth it considering.

Chris

The Hasegawa C/D kits, including this one, have raised panel lines. He wants to convert a -J instead because the -J kit has recessed panel lines.

Dave

I don't see why it couldn't be done. The main differences are as follows.

The F-4J has the navy probe-and-drogue IFR system, while the F-4C has the air-force system. Therefore, fill in the door to the probe bay on the starboard side of the nose, just below the cockpit, and scribe the outline of the receptacle on the spine.

Because of the location of the IFR probe, the F-4J has no console on the starboard side of the rear cockpit. If you are using an aftermarket cockpit, this should already be addressed.

Fill in the catapult strop attachment points on the underside of the F-4J wings.

There is a noticeable fairing on the top surface of the F-4J wings, directly above the undercarriage leg. These will need to be removed.

The F-4C has shorter exhaust nozzles with a fuselage extension. Aires produce a set of resin nozzles for this version.

The inboard weapons pylons of the F-4C are of the rounded USAF style, while those of the F-4J are pointed USN style. The Sidewinder launchers are also different on the two types.

The front nose undercarriage bay door is a different style on the F-4C with a large, rectangular light aperture.

The F-4C has an IR seeker fairing under the nose.

Also, check your references as to the antenna fit on the fin tip. Some F-4Cs had a similar fit to the F-4J. Others had no antenna. Do not fit the ECM antennae on the intakes.

Hope this helps.

You're not referring to the difference between thick and thin wing Phantoms here, are you? Both the C and J are thick wing.

Rob

No... On all the naval F-4s (including the British ones, which were essentially re-engined F-4Js) there is a rectangular fairing directly above the location point for the main gear. It's only small but once you know it's there it is very noticeable.

Surely it's only a matter of time before Hasegawa reissues the F-4C as an updated moulding?

BTW Enzo, for someone who claims they never watch Dr Who you seem to know an awful lot about Sally Sparrow all of a sudden?

(kim)

That's *Doctor* Who!

:-D

When have I claimed that I never watch Doctor Who? I'm a big fan, although sadly I might reconsider my allegiance in the light of the recent news about Catherine Tate.

They haven't yet, and it's been a loooonnnggg time. They never reissued the B/N with recessed lines either.

Dave

I stand corrected. You crossposted some derisory comments about Torchwood to uk.media.tv.sf.drwho and compared it unfavourably to an American series which would lead the rest of to suppose you were not a fan of British sci-fi. In another thread in uk.rec.models.rail you sidestepped the subject of whether you watched it or not which is pretty peculiar for someone claims to be a big fan.

Won't we all?

(kim)

Ah... but Torchwood isn't exactly the best of British SF. ;-)

Well, I can be pretty peculiar at the best of times. :-) I don't recall that, but it was possibly during one of my off-periods with the show. I find that it can be so patchy that at times I'm not too sure why I watch it. There was the whole mid-season business with human Daleks and such nonsense that had me saying "well that was a bit meh!" after each episode. Then we had that utterly dire episode "42". I was seriously considering switching that one off. However, after that it picked up dramatically - until the final episode that is...

Am I bovvered? ;-)

(Actually, I am...)

There's always the Sarah-Jane Adventures to look forward to.

(kim)

They are intended for kids, yet I have an odd feeling that they'll be better than Torchwood.

Have you seen this Dead Ringers version of Torchwood?

(kim)

The F-4C usually had the chin pod (aka "donkey dick"), but to my knowledge NEVER had the IR seeker fitted. Some F-4Cs early in the Vietnam war (notably the ones used in Operation Bolo if info I recently read about Robin Olds and that mission is correct) had slick radomes with no chin pod at all. I know there was some experimentation with mounting a strike camera in the chin pod, but it was ineffective and never installed widespread in the F-4C fleet. Quickly in the early days of the F-4C's use in Vietnam the pod was adapted for RHAW antennas mounted internally inside a fiberglass cap at the leading tip of the chin pod. The reason this is important is that calling it an IR seeker implies a shiny lens of some sort on the tip of the pod. Modeling an F-4C like this would be incorrect. The fiberglass chin pod and its tip cover were painted with the same black Neoprene rubber as the rest of the radome, which started out glossy black but weathered to various stages of semi-gloss then flatter and flatter black and finally flat dark gray if it was allowed to weather long enough. Scott Wilson Comm-Nav Avionics Specialist F-4C 149TFG, Kelly AFB, 1980-1982 F-4E 35 CRS, George AFB, 1982-83 F-4E, 526TFS/AMU, Ramstein AB, Germany, 1983-86 C-130E, C-141B, McChord AFB, WA 1986-1991

Enzo gave a pretty good list of mods that need to be done to an F-4J kit to backdate it to an F-4C, but forgot an important one. The F-4J had slotted stabilators, the F-4C didn't. So you'll need to fill in the slots in the leading edges of the stabs for your F-4C. Scott Wilson

O. Therefore, fill in the door to the probe bay on the

Agh! How could I have missed that??? Thanks Scott.

I also believe that the F-4C didn't have the triangular strengthening plates on the stabilators, so they will have to be removed as well.

"USAF F-4 Phantom II Mig Killers, 1965-68" by Peter E Davies has lots of pictures of Bolo aircraft. They all have the chin pod. However, there is a picture of Old's aircraft 64-829 in December 67 that seems to have a modified chin pod. The rear of the pod seems to be extended and is very angular - but not the same as the chin pods carried by F-4Ds.

I have read that some early F-4Ds had a slick radome, but I've never seen a picture of one.

I've just checked through some photographic references. Some F-4Cs had the plates, others didn't.

Interesting...

shows what appears to be a slick-nosed F-4C without the stabilator strengthening plates.