1/32 Tamiya F-4E

by John McCormick

--------------------

 

This F-4E depicts the plane flown by Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue when they scored their 3rd and 4th Mig kills in July of '72.  In order to display the plane with the correct load out and markings, I had to do a little scratch building, use some aftermarket kits, and do some serious scrounging on the ARC forums for decals.  However, it was well worth the effort, and I am very pleased with the end results.

I used the Black Box cockpit set, which is a considerable upgrade to the kit's cockpit parts.  I understand that the ejection seats are actually modeled after the Navy's version, but they were just too nice not to use.  Other aftermarket sets include Eduard F-4E interior and exterior photo etched sets, AMS FOD covers, and CAM exhausts and afterburners.  The CAM exhaust cans had so many air bubbles in them that I considered using them as Swiss cheese, and I can see myself replacing them one day.  However, they are an upgrade to the undersized kit exhausts.   

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

The centerline fuel tank is from the Revell/Monogram F-4E kit, and it was modified in a similar fashion to the one I used on my RF-4C kit.  The AIM-9J's are from Cutting Edge.  It's quite possible that Ritchie and DeBellevue were armed with AIM-9E's, as the J version of the Sidewinder would have been quite new in July of '72.  However, the kit's AIM-9E's are not very accurate, so I went with the J versions.  The ALQ-101 was scratch built using parts of an AGM-88 HARM missile from the Trumpeter A-7D kit, along with pieces from the ALQ-119 pod that's included in the Revell/Monogram F-4 kits.  Thanks to Harold and mrvark for their blueprint drawings of the pod!  Other modifications include opening the gun breach door in order to display some of the beautiful gun details included with the kit.

 
The markings for the plane were pieced together using various decals graciously donated by (in no particular order) Zactoman, johncrow, and maverick728470.  Thank you all for your assistance!  Additionally, I used Icarus stencils, which add a great deal of detail, particularly on a model of this large scale.
 
This is the fifth 1/32 scale F-4 that I've built in SEA camo during the past five years, and my hope is that I'm getting better with each model! 

John McCormick

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by John McCormick