I should know this, but can anyone tell me the external differences between the F-4J and F-4C? I would like to convert the Hasegawa F-4J to a F-4C. Thanks.

. . . would be the burner cans (short ones on the C as it had earlier type J79s, J models had later types with can that had longer "turkey feather" blades), and the C usually carried the under-radome infrared seeker housing, although I'm not sure the seeker was actually in there; could have been some other gizmo at that point. The C also had the AF boom-style refueling receptacle on the spine behind the canopies; the Navy types did not, but had a swing-out probe just outside the right side of the rear canopy. I think that is outlined on the Hase kit; not sure whether the kit has the receptacle on the spine outlined. Probably several other small detail changes as well.

Inside, the rear cockpit of the Navy birds was significantly different as it had no controls and there was no right console. I can't recall if the 1/48 Hase kit has this correct in their J kit, but you might want to check and correct that, too.

At least some C's had a wooden plug in the front end! Perhaps it was a cellulose detector?

Other differences:

C had an unslotted stabilator

Different main wheels

Different nose gear forward door

No cat hooks under the wing roots on the C

F-4C needs:
shorter exhaust
different cockpit
different wheels
Sensor under the nose
Unslotted stabilizers
Remove the triangular plate on the stabilizers
Remove the bumps on the top of wings right above the landing gear struts
USAF style inner wing pylons
Very early F-4C models had the USN inner wing pylons
Different nose gear door
Different style refueling doors
F-4C/D has the refueling door on the top of fuselage behind cockpit
F-4J has the refueling door on the right side of the cockpit next to the back seater

You will need to kitbash the Hasegawa F-4C/D kit and F-4J kit to get all the parts you need.

This may be too late, but I spent three years working on RF-4Cs and was on top of the wings too many times to count! One of the main differences between the Navy and AF Phantoms was that the latter all had a large raised
area on the wing next to the fuselage because the AF versions had a much thicker wheel/tire so the top of the wheel well had to be placed higher. Streamlined but it was there and is very noticeable
when looking down on AF F-4s. Just saying.......................

the J had the same thing- the F-4B did not have the thickened root, so you're half-right.

bob

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ever since you first posted that and talked about it on here, and I went and looked at Drendal's old sideviews,,,,,,I have added that to my list of things to do when building 1/72 Phantoms

none of the 1/72 scale models address it,,,and I figure even if the "dimension is too small to care about",,,,,that curve in the lip at the top is worth the few swipes with the file, just on its own,,,,once you pointed it out, I can instantly see the "curve or no curve" in any Phantom pic of that area, now

besides, it only adds one more thing to the long list of building the "shake and bake Hasegawa" kits, lol



Rex

one from each squadron??,,"geeez Rex, how many display cases will that take up?"

http://hangardeckview.blogspot.com/

My idea is the Monogram Pro modeler early E hard wing kit without the early kits raised panel lines and un slatted wing so no rescribing needed......Mate that with a shorter nose and the correct burner cans

Given the vagaries of the shapes of the nose area on the Hasegawa F-4E (which in many ways is utterly wrong), I wouldn't bet that it would be an easy surgery to put a pug nose on it.