I'm working on a navy F-4B phantom and I was wondering,do all f-4's have a flat finish? Does the navy phantoms have a gloss finish? HELP! What a dilemma! Any idea?

Navt Phantoms were painted with a gloss finish, but it very quickly weathered into a semi-gloss or even flat. By the end of a cruise, the aircraft would look pretty battered, touched-up and patchy. Paint it whichwever way you like and you won't be wrong.

I concur with Jess on this one

but do not forget that these things are made from high quality metal plates. Even without finish or paint these plates have a kind of metal "shine" to them.

I have seen quite a few battered jets on airshows with very faded colors and stains and grease all over them. Still, with some sunshine, they look quite glossy and not dull like AFV can be

I personally would try to find a pic of the plane I'm building or planes that were in the general area that my build was dispatched to.that would give you an idea of what to do.

Salt spray will corrode uncoated aluminium in days, so naval aircraft will never have any unpainted aluminium showing. It also turns the glossiest paint flat within a month or two, which is why you will always be able to find a sailor with a paint brush in hand.