The Phantoms were beauties, to be sure. We had quite a few of the two seater version Skyraiders flying around Danang, that had been turned over to the ARVN air force. The little Viet pilots looked like fleas in those big recips!
When the TAC took over from the Air Defence Command (ADC was deactivated as the USAF reorged) Tyndall got in a batch of old ex-Vietnam War F-4B Phantoms - those things were junk! Spent most of their time as hangar queens. The sleek F-106 soldiered on til replaced by the F-15 Eagle in the early 80's.
I have been building a few models in the last few years. Got an F-15 Eagle in 1/48 scale I need to finish - just needs final painting and decals. Still have a 1/48 Blue Angels F-18 Hornet in the box.
Lately though, the internet and reloading takes up most of my free time. Need to stock up on some model kits for when I retire.
__________________ If you actually passed third grade English, let it show!
Adult Literacy is your friend.
I used to build models, but my eyes went bad, and the shop takes up most of my time. But Paul will make sure we have some of the flying heroes of Vietnam hanging out there to remind us where we've been!
Well I know it doesn't look like much but this one assembly has about 50 pieces to it and they are not the largest pieces in the world. you have to look at this as its actual size, about 1 square in or so, and realize that the instruments you see are about the size of a BB. Any way this is the result of 4 days work and I am going to repaint the seat again as I have the color wrong on the whole thing so off to the paint booth again..
When I was a plebe at the Zoo, one of our instructors was a Surface Warfare Officer who qualified for top watch aboard the USS Constellation. He told us this story about the Phantom, to explain the plane's nickname of "the Flying Brick."
One afternoon, the Connie was launching an air strike. A pilot and his backseater got in the airplane, looked at the gauges, found everything in the green, ran up the engines, saluted the catapult officer, and were shot off the bow. But instead of the usual slight-dip-and-rise as the bird found its wings, they went straight off and into a flat dropping glide.
The pilot slammed the throttle through the gate to war emergency power and dumped the ordnance. The Phantom finally stabilized about 10 feet off the water and started to climb at a rate of about 25 feet a minute. He declared an emergency and brought her around in the pattern and managed to land the airplane. When the airplane was parked, the bridge messenger was waiting for the pilot and his flight officer.
"Cap'n's compliments, and would you please join him in his cabin, sirs?"
When they got there, the plane captain, the squadron commander, the catapult officer and the CAG were standing at attention in front of the Captain's desk. They fell into line. The Old Man looked at them with an expression of absolute rage.
"On the handling of the emergency, my compliments, gentlemen. Now: would somebody explain to me how in the hell you managed to launch a Phantom off my flight deck WITH THE WINGS STILL FOLDED BACK AND LOCKED?"
I witnessed some pretty hairy emergency landings, but NEVER saw an airplane launched with folded wings! I did watch a Phantom land at Danang with it's main mounts shot to crap. The pilot got the front mount to lower, and eased it down onto the tarmac. Then he backed off the throttles and let ther tail come fown into the foam. Just as he came up to ourcontril tower the smoking left engine blew and the plane darted toward the revetments on the AF side. The pilot got the remaining engine shut down and the plane stopped just shy of the aircraft parked in the revetment. I watched as the canopy lifted, and the pilot jumped out on the wing and did a crazy dance. I guess he was happy to be on the ground in one piece! It was a Navy F4 that got diverted to the airbase because of all the damage, and the fella flying had an over abundance of skill.
I've often read of the occasional F8 Crusader launching with wings folded - the pilot's respose is to bank sharply to slap the wing tip down into place - well, that's the story anyways. It was also considered NOT the proper way to do it, but in that situation, one does what one must......
I did get to watch a young pilot on his first solo have an inflight emergency with his T-33A trainer at Tyndall. He could not get the landing gear down. He brought her in low and slow. Emergency trucks were rolling - there was no foam. We techs were lined up outside Hanger Three watching the show.
He set her down smoothly, a few sparks flew, and she slid to a stop. That bird had minimal damage - ventral light and antennas ground off. The sheet metal guys patched her up, we installed new bits, and she FCF'd within two weeks. ("Functional Check Flight")
That young Lieutenant did very well!
When I was a plebe at the Zoo, ..................................
"On the handling of the emergency, my compliments, gentlemen. Now: would somebody explain to me how in the hell you managed to launch a Phantom off my flight deck WITH THE WINGS STILL FOLDED BACK AND LOCKED?"
I remember reading about that incident years ago......
That's cool. I used to build models all of the time. I went to buy a couple of tanks to build for my two grandsons and I was shocked at how much they cost now.
I am right there with you. I love building model planes and ships, but the prices are outrageous, if you can find decent models locally. I have been after a particular one now for five years and the price is staying steady at $70. For $70, it better come with an actual pilot who tells me stories about what real ones were like!
__________________ "Ruin a liberal's day; recite historical fact." - found on a bumper sticker
Fleabay often has good prices on model kits that the owner has had sitting around still in the box unbuilt, and he loses interest or has no time for. You can also find the older out-of-production kits that we fondly remember from our younger days.
__________________ If you actually passed third grade English, let it show!
Adult Literacy is your friend.
well I got around to the wing assembly. Two sets of flaps, ailerons and a set of leading edge slats. I then assembled the aft fuselage and the forward fuselage half, the pit is in it and all most ready for the following steps. wings, elevons and landing gear.
use the zoom and you can see the lines on the IP gauges.
Paul T, you sure are bringing back some fond memories from my model building days.
I hope you will continue to show more pictures as the build continues.
Thanks.
I am right there with you. I love building model planes and ships, but the prices are outrageous, if you can find decent models locally. I have been after a particular one now for five years and the price is staying steady at $70. For $70, it better come with an actual pilot who tells me stories about what real ones were like!
What particular model are you after? I have several sources that I buy from, perhaps they have a better price.
22Likes
