The legendary F-4
Phantom II really needs no historical introduction here, its history has been
well documented in the annals of aviation history, and in the skies of Vietnam
and the Middle East; where it has proven itself time and again in the capable
hands of pilots and WSOs/RIOs the world over. This particular aircraft is
an F-4E "Kurnass" (Sledgehammer) of the Israeli Defense Force/Air
Force, assigned to the "Bat" Squadron. Its markings and armament
configuration are indicative of an aircraft from 1982, for the SEAD (Suppression
of Enemy Air Defenses) role, assigned to attack Syrian SAM sites in the Bekaa
Valley during the "Operation Peace For Galilee". Number
"109" has two AGM-78 Standard Anti-Radiation missiles; two Mk. 84
2,000 lb. LDGP bombs; an AIM-9L Sidewinder missile for defense; as well as an
ALQ-119 ECM pod; and a 600 gallon centerline fuel tank.
I have always been
rather enthusiastic about the Phantom, and wanted to build a superdetailed model
of one. After many years of reading about the F-4 in Israeli Air Force
service, and the great things that they accomplished with the "Rhino",
I decided that my F-4 had to be an IDF/AF aircraft. I wanted to build one
adorned with kill markings (number 109 has seven Egyptian kill roundels on it),
and received a photo via e-mail from Mr. Ra'anan Weiss (thanks Ra'anan), of
number 109. I bought the Hasegawa kit and started "going to
town".
Click on
images below to see larger images
Here are the major
highlights of the modifications, . . .I replaced the kit cockpit with the old
KMC cockpit set designed for this kit; this included the canopy rails and sill
detail. The artificial engine intake "walls" were removed and I
installed intake trunks and GE J-79 fan blades from Seamless Suckers. The
exhaust nozzles and "burner" cans are from High Flight. The
"sleeve" for the IFR probe, as well as the Sparrow bay pylon and
missile adapter, are from Eagle Designs; the IFR probe itself is scratch-built,
and the probe head is taken from an old Monogram F-104C IFR probe. Decals
are from Cutting Edge, various lights from M.V. Lenses, the kit spine antennae
were replace with P.E. blades from True Details. The weapons are from
various Hasegawa Weapons Sets; and other numerous items were scratch-built, such
as the plumbing in the nose and main gear wells, some other cockpit
"add-ons", the open gun gas vent door, and the pitot tube, among other
things.
Paints are Model
Master Enamels, sprayed with a Paasche Millenium double-action airbrush.
Weathering was kept modest, as in most photos that I have seen, the Israelis do
a great job of cleaning and maintaining their aircraft. Good ol' reliable
Future acrylic polish was used to prep the aircraft for decal application, and
later to prep the aircraft for weathering.
One little
interesting historical footnote that I would like to add is this: during
the war in Vietnam, when USAF Capt. Steve Ritchie and his WSO Capt. Charles
DeBellevue transitioned from the F-4D to the F-4E; they achieved two air-to-air
kills while Flying USAF F-4E number 67-0362 in 1972. This SAME AIRCRAFT
was one of between 36-40 F-4s that were hastily transferred to Israel under
"Operation Nickel Grass" during the Yom Kippur War of October 1973!
This aircraft survived the war, and served for years afterwards, . . .a truly
long-lived Phantom.
As a final note,
this model is dedicated to all F-4 pilots, aircrews, and ground personnel,
regardless of their nationality, who flew and maintained one of the finest
combat aircraft ever created. And last, but not least, I would like to
thank my friend J.C. Bahr for photographing my F-4, and rendering assistance
with posting this article on ARC, thanks J.C.!
Allen
Click on
images below to see larger images
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