Hey Folks,

I'm planning to cobble together a West German F-4F and managed to get the Peddinghaus decal set. The set is for JG-74 Molders and includes the a/c number 38+28. Could someone decipher how this numbering system works?

I can't figure if the numbers indicate wing or squadron or what. Not much info to be found on the web re modern Luftwaffe a/c codes. Thanks.

Hello Joe,

Maybe good plan to get an email out to this guy:
Harald Hensel from Hahen.
Mail to : https://shop.strato.de/epages/64625185.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/64625185/Categories/ContactForm
He's German and makes the most perfect Decal sheets for Modern German Luftwaffe, including your F-4F's.
I have sone sources too, will check this weekend.

Kind regards,

Robert Jan

That is very nice. I actually have the same plan, in 1/72 scale. I am going to try to make a well worn grey plane.

Looking forward to see yours .



Jelger

This guy from The Netherlands has a very straight answer to your question and describes where the birds went as from 1973.

http://www.f-4.nl/f4_17.html

JG = Jagt Geschwader = Interceptors
JBG = Jagt Bomber Geschwader = Bombers

There is some history to the names given to the JG & JBG's.
Richthofen you will probably know from WW1, Molders links to WW2. Excellent Pilots with a big role in the development of the Modern German Luftwaffe.


Kind regards,

Robert Jan

Maybe a little sad, but interesting:
http://aviation.watergeek.eu/f4f-panel.html

Joe,
very nice idea, love that bird!

The system's like that:

Between 1971 and 1976 (with 88 RF-4E and 175 F-4F) 275 phantom weapon systems were introduced into the Air Force and equipped 6 squadrons. These squadrons formed the backbone of the Bundeswehr for air reconnaissance, conventional air attack and flying air defense for quite some time. The RF-4E Phantom II carried the tactical marks 35 + 01 to 35 + 88. For the F-4F use the registrations 37 + 01 to 38 + 75. First No. shows the type of a/c, second is the unit number.

have also a look here (in german).

Th mas

Robert,

Thanks for the links, great stuff. I was way over-thinking the numbers; they're BUNOs. Lol, I though they were some sort of squadron/wing code.

Jelger, I'm going 1/72 also. I'm being a bit of a bone-head thought; I'm modifying Hasegawa's F-4K/M. I'll post some build pictures in here and you can jump on board if you want. I'd be interested in comparing notes.

-Cheers

You're letting yourself in for an absolute ton of heartache by attempting to convert a Spey 'Toom into a J-79 version. You'll need to narrow pretty much the entire fuselage from intakes to exhausts.

May I humbly recommend that you find yourself an F-4E kit and purchase it using the savings from the headache medicines you won't have to buy?

Yeah, I'm starting to see the folly. I may just do that and use this one as a practice airframe.