The second new sheet for the nautical F-4 includes two more aircraft. Again, the Hasegawa kit is recommended for both the F-4J and F-4N. However, Fujimi does very nice, though not quite as complex F-4s and Monogram's F-4J is also quite nice if you don't mind raised panel lines.

The VMFA-232 aircraft is in its bicentennial scheme. One needs to paint the fin overall white in this case, an easy enough job for this Light Gull Grey over White camo scheme. Fin tips are red and radome is white, as is typical of most Navy/USMC F-4s.

The QF-4N will require a Hasegawa F-4N kit with a few small mods for the data link antennas and nose camera. This aircraft is one of the few Navy twin stick F-4s and so will need not only a proper Navy back cockpit, but also complete flight controls. Overall Light Gull Grey with International Orange bits on nose, wing tips, fin and stabs. The paint is faded or patched on this and really, all the other QF-4s.

Complete insignia and data markings for both planes. I'd double up the wing insignia on the QF-4 as orange bleeds through white rather easily. Fortunately, Aeromaster has provided an extra set of insignia and data markings. Not sure if it was a glitch, but it is appreciated.

 Best way to prevent bleed-through, is to paint white before putting on the insignia. This can be done by painting the area white, putting on a decal, painting over it, and then pulling up the decal. You can also cut a mask to shape and use that. Either method would prevent the inevitable bleed through.

July 2005

Review sheet courtesy .Thanks for your support

As I did with the earlier sheet, here are some photos of the planes in question. Fortunately, I do have shots of these exact planes so you can use these for additional reference, should you wish.

You may have noticed that the QF-4 is not only rather faded, but there are sections of the fin that have been repainted or have leaked hydraulic fluid from the base of the rudder. Otherwise, it has two seats in it and one of several shark mouth radomes attached. It was not uncommon to replace these specially painted radomes if the plane was being sent to its demise.

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