1⁄32Wild Weasel, SAM Killer
4
Comments
history
Starting in 1965 during the Vietnam War, the US Air Force discovered that SAMs (surface-to-air-missiles) were easier to destroy on the ground than hurtling into the air at several times the speed of sound. Known as Wild Weasel, a system of specially-armed fighter bombers was developed that combined radar-detecting electronics and special radar-seeking missiles intended to take out the SAM command & control center. The goal was to "blind" the site by knocking out the radar-directors, then send in conventional fighter bombers to destroy the now more or less harmless missiles on the ground.
The Model
The signature Wild Weasel air frame was the F4-G Phantom II, and fans of the Wild Weasel can now build two late versions in 1/32nd scale thanks to an updated Revell kit that combines the previously-released F4-E kit with new sprues replicating the electronics and load-outs specific to the Wild Weasel. The kit has a good shape and goes together well, though the supplied decals are dreadful and required quite a bit of patience and loving care. Detail is typical for a Revell kit, and so I chose to enhance the build with some after-market items mentioned below.
I added GT Resin's burner cans, Wild Weasel electronics & antennas, and the F4-G cockpit set. The detailing on all three is superb, and GT Resin even now offers seamless intakes (I chose to use intake covers on my build). The only scratch-building I had to do were the grab handles for the ejection seats, Other after-market products added to the build include Master pitot tube, ram jet intake & AOA (angle of attack) indicator set, SAC metal landing gear, AMS FOD red covers, and the two F4-E PE sets from Eduard.
Comments
Willy,
Six-foot peak! Hey, HEY!
Looks real man, great job. I love the Phantom with the asymmetrical stores (that's a big work for all of us!)
I'd love to see if in SEA camo, but ghost gray is cool.
I want to see those subs!
Bill B.
DEC 05, 2015 - 09:25 AM
Thanks, Bill. The SEO camo would likely be on the F4-C variant. GT Resin makes a conversion kit for that, but it's pricey and I believe a limited edition.
DEC 07, 2015 - 03:25 AM
Bill,
that's one mean looking F4-G in 1/32 scale. A most impressive build.
Joel
DEC 08, 2015 - 05:30 AM
Thank you, Joel. You never know with a kit how it's going to turn out.
JAN 06, 2016 - 03:43 AM
Copyright ©2021 by AeroScale. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely the views and opinions of the authors and/or contributors to this Web site and do not necessarily represent the views and/or opinions of AeroScale, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2015-12-04 19:54:13. Unique Reads: 10820