This is my
model of an F-4G 69-7232 of the 561st FS when it was based out of Dhahran AB in
Saudi Arabia in 1994. It was a participant in "Operation
Southern Watch" (policing air activity over Iraq up to the 32nd
parallel). This aircraft sports not only a scoreboard on the splitter
plate but also the "Wild Weasel" mascot and abbreviation "YGBSM"
(Politely - You Got to be Kidding Me). attributed to a pilot’s reaction
to the mission brief back in the early SEAD days over North Vietnam.
Click on
images below to see larger images
This kit
was a milestone, as it is my 100th model built (and still in inventory E.g. not
“shot down” or given away) so I thought I should make it a significant
aircraft. I chose the venerable F-4... I don’t really have to
explain why do I..? Suffice to say the F-4 has seen action with many air
forces and has a lot of history behind it. This choice should make
“Phantom” happy (BTW - I have to give him credit here for supplying the USAF
insignia after I mistakenly damaged mine. – Thanks again and to all the great
ARC members in the community – especially Steve for bringing us together and
keeping us all inspired).
Hasegawa
makes a great F-4G kit however their decals do leave a lot to be desired (too
thick and silver far too easily).
The
‘hanger’ is my latest solution to ‘how can I photograph these replicas
decently?” I use to use a bristol board ‘sky’ backdrop, which looked
nice, however I damaged mine and can’t find a replacement. A little
white foam-board and some plastic beams and I-beams later and I have a good
start. A few fellow ARC modelers (E.g. Armin Knes) have built quite
sophisticated versions of hangers and I will most likely continue to enhance
mine. – Happy Modeling.
David Mielke
(VMFA314Knights)
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