Hi Randy,

You've probably seen our preview announcements of the new Cutting Edge 1/32 F-4B/N airframe conversions sets. These sets are designed to fit the Tamiya F-4 kits and will not fit the Revell F-4 series of kits.

Well, I'm VERY pleased to say that you can finally get them! Yes, we've got all our molds made and decent quantities produced, so you can now go to our website, meteorprod.com, and order them right now! (But see the alert at the end of this article!)

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Simple, really.

In the F-4 survey I ran several months ago, nearly every one of you told me that you don't want to buy any more parts than necessary to convert whichever Tamiya F-4 kit (F-4C/D or F-4J) into a F-4B or F-4N. You don't need another radome if you're starting from the F-4C/D kit, for example. If you're starting from the F-4J kit, you don't need the Navy-style pylons.

So, I listened to you and we've created the three sets described below (with more coming soon!). You'll want the basic airframe set, which applies to BOTH the F-4C/D AND the F-4J starting point kits, and you'll want whichever set contains ONLY the additional parts you'll need for the your basic kit (F-4C/D OR F-4J).

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CEC32180 F-4B/N Airframe Basic Conversion Set for Tamiya (starting from F-4C/D or F-4J)

Wings

• Flat right upper inboard wing with main landing gear mounting point stiffener bulges (bulges are easy to remove for earlier versions before the bulges were installed)
• Right MLG bay front wall
• Right MLG bay aft wall
• Right lower wing triangular flat insert
• Right lower wing flat insert abaft of the MLG bay
• Right flat speed brake
• Right flat MLG inner door
• Right flat MLG outer door

• Flat left upper inboard wing with MLG mounting point stiffener bulges (bulges are easy to remove for earlier versions before the bulges were installed)
• Left MLG bay front wall
• Left MLG bay aft wall
• Left lower wing triangular flat insert
• Left lower wing flat insert abaft of the MLG bay
• Left flat speed brake
• Left flat MLG inner door
• Left flat MLG inner door

• Thin main wheels & nose wheels (2 each)

• AN/ALQ-126 ECM radomes for lower wings (later aircraft only)

The "Flat" Wing

As you already know, the wings of the F-4B/N were "flat" because of the thin main landing gear tires. From the F-4C--on (as modeled in all versions of the Tamiya F-4 kits), the wider MLG tires required a substantial bulge in both the top and bottom surfaces of the wings to accommodate the larger tires. The underside bulges extend across the lower wing surface and continue onto the main landing gear doors and the speed brakes.

Your Cutting Edge Airframe Basic Conversion Set includes completely new cast resin inboard top wings. These are not merely Tamiya parts with the bulge removed, but completely new wing tops that we created to precisely fit the Tamiya lower wing part.

This is both good news and not good news (see below). To prevent shrinkage on such large parts, we have had to implement special (and time-consuming, and expensive) processes and procedures to ensure you receive a resin wing part that fits right every time. We've worked very hard to make this work right for you, and frankly, we're pretty proud of the results.

Our conversion set also provides you with detailed, "flat" doors for the MLG and speed brakes, and "flat" resin insert parts for the most difficult bulged areas of the bottom wing itself. You can see from the photo below that these are straightforward to install, as you cut along existing Tamiya panel lines.

Note, however, there is only a small bulged area of the lower wing just aft and inboard of the speed brake well on each side that we do NOT provide a replacement part for (see the hatched area in the photo above). Why? It's not very "humped" to begin with and I decided it was actually less work for you to sand this area flat than cut it out and replace it with a resin insert. Again, this is the "hatched" area in the photo.

I have confidence in your ability to handle this small area on your own. We've taken care of the major problem areas; you are well able to fix this one small area yourself.

The Thin Wheels

We all know the F-4B/N had much thinner main wheel tires than all subsequent Phantoms. Yes, we've given you these wheel units, and also included separate resin nose wheels since many of you do not like to use vinyl model tires.

I am very lucky to have a McDonnell Douglas technical document (thanks to Dave Rider) giving exact tire sizes for the various Phantom versions. Do you think we used it to get our F-4B tires the correct size? Duh!

The Landing Gear Attachment Point Fairings

You'll also note in the parts photo the obvious wing-top curved fairings directly over the main landing gear attachment points. This was part of a major F-4B upgrade program that included drooped flaps, slotted stabilators, and the much-upgraded main landing gear.

These improvements were implemented on the production line from Block 25, and retrofitted to most Block 25 and earlier aircraft as time and circumstances permitted. Aircraft in this configuration were first delivered to the Navy in April 1966, but of course not all aircraft were modified, and even those that were, were not necessarily quickly modified. However, by late 1971 or early 1972 it would have been rare to see a F-4B without these modifications, except perhaps in RAGs or Marine reserve units.

The landing gear upgrade portion of this program resulted from the main landing gear struts beginning to punch up through the wing tops during hard carrier landings fairly early in the F-4B's service life.

To prevent this heart-stopping (and aircraft life ending) event, the Navy directed MCAIR to design MUCH beefier main landing gear struts and mounting brackets. These much stronger struts worked very well, but they had to cut a hole, literally, in the top wing surface to allow the new assembly to sit in the proper position.

The bulged fairings you see on our parts faithfully reproduce the original. I am indebted to Alan Howarth, Fotios Rouch, and Jim Rotramel for providing considerable information about this modification, and am especially indebted to Bill Spidle for measuring and photographing the fairings so we could get them exactly right.

Please note especially that the fairing does not "fair" into the wing top surface particularly well! This is modeled correctly on our part, so don't go back and try to smooth it into the wing! This fairing plate was almost primitive in its attachment to the top wing, although I've seen several museum Phantoms with so many coats of paint that it begins to almost look "faired in."

Now, if you're modeling one of the early F-4Bs without this humped fairing over the MLG attachment point, you'll have to sand the bump off our resin wing. This is pretty trivial, and much easier than trying to get a separately molded resin fairing placed in the exact position and alignment on the wing top. We took care of the difficult part; it's easy for you to undo if you need to.

A Note For All Of Us

For those 1/48 modelers who are reading this, you'll note the fairing we've done is considerably different from the domed, racetrack-shaped fairing provided in the original Hasegawa F-4B kit and continued into their F-4N series of kits. Yes-we will provide the properly shaped fairing in the Cutting Edge 1/48 F-4B/N conversion as well!

Since I'm talking about wing modifications in this section, I'll mention the under-wing AN/ALQ-126 ECM antennas. These are precisely the same as on the F-4J. (More about this in the section below-you'll want to read this important information.)

Fuselage

• Late under-nose IR seeker with horn antenna
• AN/ALQ-126 Shoulder ECM antennas (L/R)
• Fin cap with AN/APR-32 RHAW leading edge antenna and AN/APR-25/27 trailing edge antenna (see below)
• Plain fin cap without RHAW

ECM: The Nose And Tail

Alan Howarth has made an intense study of these issues, and he notes that beginning in 1966 some F-4Bs were fitted with the AN/APR-32 RHAW, which included a horn antenna on the leading edge of the fin cap and the horn-shaped addition to the bottom of the standard IR seeker fairing fitted under the radome.

These antenna fairings have frequently been misidentified as a part of the AN/APR-30 system in many publications, but the APR-30 was installed in the F-4G Wild Weasel only.

The APR-32 leading edge antenna was probably initially applied alone, without a fin cap trailing edge antenna. Photos of this configuration are rare, to say the least, because the AN/APR-25 "flat football" style trailing edge antenna was soon installed on most F-4Bs. The trailing edge antenna has also been frequently misidentified as part of the AN/APR-30 system.

If the leading edge AN/APR-32 antenna was already installed, it was normally not removed and remained on the jet until the end of its service life (even if it was later converted to F-4N configuration).

Whew! If you followed all that, you're a better man than I, Gunga Din. Anyway, we've provided the proper antenna shapes in this set. The shape of this APR-32 leading edge antenna is pretty complex, and we've put quite a bit of time into getting it right for you. (For you 1/48 guys, this antenna is represented in a very simplified form in the Hasegawa F-4B and F-4N kits-and yes, we'll give you a new fin cap with the proper shape.)

ECM: The Shoulder Antennas

An irrefutable identification point of the F-4B/N is the AN/ALQ-126 horn antennas with LONG raceways mounted on the upper shoulders of the engine air intakes of later aircraft.

These antennas are the same as on the F- 4J, and mounted in the same location, but due to cable routing issues the large external wiring raceways are MUCH longer, extending almost all the way back to the panel line that separates the intake from the main fuselage.

"Wait! Dave! You're Wrong! These long AN/ALQ-126 antennas were only on the F-4N, so they're an infallible identification point of the F-4N!"

Ah, Grasshopper, not so fast! In fact, this upgraded ECM was not specifically part of the F-4N upgrade program, per se, and some late F-4Bs are documented as receiving this ECM fit. Conversely, some early F-4Ns can be seen in photos without the AN/ALQ-126 fit.

Although I've never seen it mentioned in reviews (perhaps I missed it), the horn antennas at the leading edge of the Tamiya parts have the wrong shape. Simple reference to photos will show you that the antenna itself (not the raceway) was wedge-shaped, and not shaped like the head of a golf club as in the Tamiya kit. We've corrected this shape for the parts we're supplying you.

I already noted in the "Wings" section above that I'm also giving you the AN/ALQ-126 antennas mounted under the wing.

But--OK. It's GENERALLY true that if you see the long AN/ALQ-126 antennas on the intake shoulders you're looking at a F-4N, but NOT ALWAYS. It's amazing the details you learn when you have friends like Alan Howarth who've lived and breathed this kind of thing for years! (Thanks again, Alan!)

Finally, since neither the F-4C/D kit nor F-4J kit includes a "plain" fin cap (no RHAW antenna), I've included a plain cap in this conversion set for the early F-4Bs.

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• Rear fuselage vents above nozzles

Another part I'm throwing in as a Special FREE BONUS with this basic conversion set, since they are NOT purely and specifically part of the F-4B/N conversion, corrects the small vent on each side just above the exhaust nozzles. Please note that these vents need to be corrected on ALL Tamiya F-4 kits, regardless of the version.

We've known from the first day the Tamiya kit hit the street that these vents were the wrong size, shape, angle, and location. Interestingly, Revell got the size, angle, and shape right on in their 1/32 F-4 series, and was off the correct location by only about three scale inches, which is no big deal (if you're building a Revell kit, of course, which has other problems).

We've corrected these vent panels for the Tamiya kit and are providing you as a Special FREE BONUS with new, triangular resin inserts that fit along existing panel lines in the Tamiya kit. Here's a photo that shows one of the panels in place (along with the rear fuselage extension parts needed only when you start from the F-4J and included in set CEC32187).

At this point, we do NOT plan to release these small but important parts as a separate set.

This wraps up the basic parts you need whether you're starting with a Tamiya F-4C/D or a Tamiya F-4J. These next two sets are specifically designed to provide you with ONLY the extra parts you'll need for the specific Tamiya kit you're starting from.

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One of the most frequently asked questions we've gotten over the last few weeks is: "Should I start from the F-4C/D or the F-4J?"

For some of you, the answer is easy: whichever one you have available. Our sets give you the freedom to start from either!

However, the question above comes from modelers who already have both kits, or need to buy one anyway and don't know which makes more sense.

Well, if you simply look at the sets below, you'll see that there are fewer additional parts necessary to convert the Tamiya F-4J back to the F-4B/N. The F-4J kit also has the "Navy-style" rear cockpit with no aft right side console, so that may be attractive to you if you're planning to use the Tamiya cockpit instead of our upcoming F-4B or F-4N superdetailed resin cockpits.

You'll also need J70-GE-8 engine nozzles, which will be available in a Cutting Edge superdetailed version in about two weeks.

Finally, but for only a very short time, our F-4J additional parts set is priced lower than our F-4C/D additional parts set-but read the alert at the end of this article for very important information on this issue.

Starting from the F-4C/D kit, you will have the correct engine nozzles right in the Tamiya box, which will not be an advantage if you plan to use our Superdetailed J70-GE-8 Nozzles set coming in about two weeks.

The F-4C/D kit has the right radome, and correct "early" IR sensor included in the box. However, as an Air Force variant, it will require a bunch of "Navy-style" parts as detailed below.

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CEC32185 F-4B/N Airframe Conversion from Tamiya F-4C/D (also REQUIRES CEC32180)

Wings

• Catapult hooks and bays
• Navy-style pylons
• ECM radomes for lower wings (later aircraft only)

Luckily, all the wing conversion parts we give you in this set are extremely easy to build, and in fact are direct replacements for existing kit parts.

Fuselage

• Navy refueling probe, bay, door
• Slotted stabilators without reinforcing plates
• Drag chute door
• Nose gear main door & clear resin lights

Most of these fuselage conversion parts are extremely easy to build, and as with the wing conversion parts, are direct replacements for existing kit parts.

The only difficult conversion parts, and they're only moderately difficult, are the Slotted Stabilators. As originally built, up through Block 25, the F-4B had Unslotted Stabilators, and these are included in the Tamiya F-4C/D kit and may be used as-is (except for removing the stiffener and battle damage repair plates). Note that Block 26 and higher F-4Bs left the factory with Slotted Stabilators.

However, late in its service life nearly all Block 25 and earlier F-4Bs received Slotted Stabilators to significantly reduce landing approach speeds-a very important issue during carrier landings. All F-4Ns had the Slotted Stabilators (as did, of course, all F-4Js).

If you're modeling a B/N with the slotted stabilators, you'll need to remove the existing Tamiya kit stabilators from their mounting/rotation structure and glue the Slotted Stabilators in their place. (BTW, I recommend you use 5-Minute Epoxy for this procedure rather than superglue).

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CEC32187 F-4B/N Airframe Conversion from Tamiya F-4J (also REQUIRES CEC32180)

Wings

• Rear lower wing/fuselage extensions for the J79-GE-8 nozzles

The Tamiya F-4J lower wing and rear fuselage is designed to accept the later, larger-diameter J79-GE-10 engine nozzles, so to properly fit the earlier J79-GE-8 nozzles you'll need to extend the lower wing and fuselage sides in this area.

No big deal. Our resin parts easily and quickly solve this problem. You don't even have to make any cuts on the fuselage, although you've got four simple cuts along existing panel lines on the lower wing part.

Fuselage

• Radome for IR seeker assemblies (yes, the radome above is a resin casting!)
• IR seeker with early AAA-4 seeker
• Unslotted stabilators
• Rear fuselage extensions for early engine nozzles for J79-GE-8 nozzles

Since the F-4J dispensed with the chin IR seeker and housing, you'll need an earlier-style radome that had a slightly different shape and will accept the IR seeker housing.

To ensure you receive an accurately shaped and sized replacement radome from us, we've had to adopt some special moldmaking and casting processes and procedures. This is quite time-consuming and expensive, and it will have an effect on the pricing of this set in the very near future-see below for very important information on this issue.

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Some of you who contacted us apparently didn't read all the way to the end of my prerelease emails and missed the fact that we are currently preparing a set of superdetailed J79-GE-8 engine nozzles that will fit the F-4B/C/D/N Phantoms. These nozzles are NOT included in our airframe detailing sets as nearly all of you who responded to our F-4 survey told us you didn't want to buy any more parts than you actually need to build your own F-4B (or F-4N) from whichever Tamiya F-4 kit you choose to use as the basis of your conversion.

(BTW, our separate nozzles set will include a FREE added bonus: the small triangular fuselage plates directly over the nozzles with the correctly sized and angled exhaust vents. This area has always been wrong on the Tamiya F-4 kits and we've heard no end of requests that we fix it. Well, we have! And, these two small parts will be included in the superdetailed nozzles kit when we release it.)

Stay tuned for more information on the release of this set in the next couple of weeks.

And, before my fellow 1/48 guys bite my head off, YES, the 1/48 F-4B/N conversion for the Hasegawa "late" (engraved panel lines) F-4J kit is two to three weeks behind the release of the 1/32 kits!

Also for modelers of both 1/48 & 1/32: YES, we are working on quite a few decal markings sets for the F-4B and F-4N. We're following the guidance you all gave us in our F-4 online survey a few months ago. It will be a while before our decals are ready, and a bit later we'll let you know what the subjects are and when they'll be released.

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I owe it to you to give you advance warning of a significant price increase coming soon for these sets. While I expect we will be able to produce these sets for a while, you can get them now at the prices advertised on our website, or considerably more later.

When I put them up on the website last Friday, I set the prices without consulting my Production Supervisor. This morning when Nic saw the prices I had set, she nearly killed me (yes, our Production Supervisor is a lady and she's doing a great job! Please email us to thank her if you agree).

Well, it turns out-and I should have foreseen this--that the special molds, molding and casting processes and procedures, and time required to make the parts included in these sets is very much higher than required in our normal sets. As I've described above, we are going to great lengths to ensure you get parts that are very accurate and actually fit your model.

My butt may be duly kicked, but rather than immediately raise the prices to where they should be right now, we'll hold the lower prices I set on our website last Friday-BUT ONLY FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

At midnight, Thursday, May 24th, 2007, US Eastern Daylight Time, the prices for these three sets will rise to the prices shown here:

If you want to snag these sets at the current, lower prices, your order must be entered into our system no later than midnight, Thursday, May 24th, 2007.

You can click on any of the photos above and be taken to a larger version of the image and the ordering page on our website for that set.

Jump directly to our website by clicking our logo here:

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OK, I'm tired and need sleep, so Meteor's signing off for the night. Before I go, I want to tell you how much I really appreciate your business, and I hope we're living up to your expectations.

Good night, good luck and good modeling!

Sincerely

Dave

DAVID H. KLAUS
President
Meteor Productions, Inc.

p.s.

Remember, the prices on these sets go up substantially at midnight, Thursday, May 24th, 2007, US Eastern Daylight Time. To snag them at the lower prices, your order must be entered in our system no later than that time.

Meteor Productions, Inc.
Tel: 703/440-8720
FAX: 703/440-8724
Email: Support
Web Site: meteorprod.com

Snail Mail:
7401 Fullerton Rd, Suite H
Springfield, VA 22153 USA