SimWorks Studios F-4B Phantom II

**SiR_RiPPER** · December 8th, 2014, 10:00

A look on the new VC textures NAS3 is working on right now!

And the APQ-72 following a drone in Track mode. RADAR visuals are still work in progress.

**Ian Warren** · December 8th, 2014, 10:10

Looking Great Alex

I've still yet to get the TACPAC

**Naruto-kun** · December 8th, 2014, 10:12

Looking good!

**YoYo** · December 8th, 2014, 10:22

I like this:

**Corvette99** · December 8th, 2014, 16:05

Can't wait to get a Navy F-4 for FSX . Which one will get here first ?

**SiR_RiPPER** · January 26th, 2015, 11:10

Hello again!

Later this week we'll be uploading an interception video showing the very basics of the F-4's RADAR operation. The early AIM-7s were quite unreliable, and it shows in TacPack. We're coding TP functionality as well as the aircraft itself right now, so more will come as we progress.

**Gene K** · January 26th, 2015, 12:59

Originally Posted by SiR_RiPPER

Later this week we'll be uploading an interception video ....

Outstanding - I REALLY am looking forward to getting this model!!! Lots of hard work from talented people evident.

A trivial, not very important question: Will the seat height be adjustable - that back seater appears to barely be peeking over the rails?

Gene K

**SiR_RiPPER** · January 26th, 2015, 14:42

Originally Posted by Gene K

Outstanding - I REALLY am looking forward to getting this model!!! Lots of hard work from talented people evident.

A trivial, not very important question: Will the seat height be adjustable - that back seater appears to barely be peeking over the rails?

Gene K

We haven't planned anything about adjusting the seat height. According to our pictures, though, the backseater didn't enjoy great visibility from his seat. His posture in the model is slightly slouched as well.

**SiR_RiPPER** · February 1st, 2015, 15:48

A quick video showing the current state of the RADAR and firing AIM-7s.
Got a kill with the third Sparrow as the previous two malfucntioned.

RADAR and textures are work in progress, sounds are from Nigel Richard's freeware set, used until our set is good to go.

**Gene K** · February 1st, 2015, 16:33

Originally Posted by SiR_RiPPER

A quick video showing the current state of the RADAR

Outstanding!!! (again)

Gene K

***Navy Chief*** · February 1st, 2015, 18:07

Originally Posted by SiR_RiPPER

We haven't planned anything about adjusting the seat height. According to our pictures, though, the backseater didn't enjoy great visibility from his seat. His posture in the model is slightly slouched as well.

Although it has been almost 40 yrs since I worked on F-4s, I do know there was a seat height adjustment motor on those seats. One big reason for the adjustment capability was so the RIO could raise/lower the seat bucket to so he could reach the upper ejection handle (Face Curtain) properly. I was lucky enough to have gotten 6 backseat rides, while at Pax River (5 in a "J" model, and 1 in a "B"). Buno of the F-4B was 152298. I don't recall the visibility being very limited from the rear seat, but again, it's been many years. One doesn't forget the thrill though!!! NC

**Gene K** · February 1st, 2015, 19:07

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

... I do know there was a seat height adjustment motor on those seats.

Plenty of height adjustment in both front and back seat. Visibility in the back seat was no problem except forward where the front seat and instruments were in the way (made back seat landings a challenge). Most back seaters rode with helmets almost touching top of canopy, but during refueling lowered down to be able to crank their heads to more easily see the boom, calling out the position of the green meatball relative to where the boom exited the shroud. However, never heard of adjusting the seat to facilitate reaching the ejection rings (which I believe are fixed to the seat, riding up and down with it).

Pretty special that you got six rides in the pit!

Gene K

***Navy Chief*** · February 1st, 2015, 19:13

Originally Posted by Gene K

Plenty of height adjustment in both front and back seat. Visibility in the back seat was no problem except forward where the front seat and instruments were in the way (made back seat landings a challenge). Most back seaters rode with helmets almost touching top of canopy, but during refueling lowered down to be able to crank their heads to more easily see the boom, calling out the position of the green meatball relative to where the boom exited the shroud. However, never heard of adjusting the seat to facilitate reaching the ejection rings (which I believe are fixed to the seat, riding up and down with it).

Pretty special that you got six rides in the pit!

Gene K

Oh yes, I DO remember by helmet touching the canopy glass at times! And especially when the pilot would put the aircraft in a hard bank..... NC

Did a few spin tests in a T-2C, and REALLY got slammed around.

**TuFun** · February 1st, 2015, 19:46

Was a bucket puller many years ago. The face curtain was fixed on the chute box above the pilots head. On the bucket is a D-ring between the pilots legs in the event he can't reach the face curtain in certain g effects. I still have an Actuator Override Pin that attaches to the rails.

***Navy Chief*** · February 2nd, 2015, 05:21

Cool, TuFun!

As long as we are having Show and Tell, remember these? (Had it on my key chain for years)

Which came out of these?

**SiR_RiPPER** · February 2nd, 2015, 10:00

Please tell me one of you has the entire seat!

**TuFun** · February 2nd, 2015, 10:46

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

Cool, TuFun!

As long as we are having Show and Tell, remember these? (Had it on my key chain for years)

Changed a many of those and thrusters, rocket packs, pancake charges, etc.! Fired a couple of the initiators off of a B-52 seats. The B-52 blew up on the runway and team had to disarmed the two seats that were left in the aircraft. The other four seats melted to a blob. Didn't think of saving the firing pins.

The Martin Baker seats in the F-4 were built as components making it easy to remove with the canopy installed. Once the seat was disarmed, the personnel chute, survival kit, bucket, then rails were removed while standing in the cockpit, and last the catapult gun. This is simplified but a few other steps not mentioned like disconnecting trip rods, brass knob, etc.

Looking forward to more F-4's in the stable!!!

**TuFun** · February 2nd, 2015, 10:48

Originally Posted by SiR_RiPPER

Please tell me one of you has the entire seat!

I have looked into it a while back, but at $15,000! The only thing I see missing is the (white) rocket pack that attaches below the bucket.

http://uncrate.com/stuff/boeing-f-4-...ejection-seat/

***Navy Chief*** · February 2nd, 2015, 11:12

Yep, can't afford one. And even if I could, I wouldn't spend my cash on it. Many, many years ago, ESCAPAC seats were affordable, especially when the USN retrofitted their A-7s with updated NACES seats. Boy, that was a waste of taxpayers money. The SLUFs were already being sent to the boneyard, the ESCAPAC was a proven performer. But at the time, I wasn't thinking of getting my own surplus ejection seat. Heck, I was sick of working on them! The Martin Baker seat was heavy. I have no doubt my neck is messed up today, as a result of lifting buckets (with rocket motor) out of a Phantom cockpit by myself (against regs of course). But back then, we did a lot of stuff that would never happen today (leastwise I doubt it.). NC

***Navy Chief*** · February 2nd, 2015, 11:15

Originally Posted by TuFun

I have looked into it a while back, but at $15,000! The only thing I see missing is the (white) rocket pack that attaches below the bucket.

http://uncrate.com/stuff/boeing-f-4-...ejection-seat/

This one is more affordable:

http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=EJSS

**Ian Warren** · February 2nd, 2015, 11:37

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

This one is more affordable:

http://www.flighthelmet.com/mm5/merc...gory_Code=EJSS

Now that is the ultimate Flight simmers PC seat ever ...

**TuFun** · February 2nd, 2015, 11:43

Originally Posted by Navy Chief

Yep, can't afford one. And even if I could, I wouldn't spend my cash on it. Many, many years ago, ESCAPAC seats were affordable, especially when the USN retrofitted their A-7s with updated NACES seats. Boy, that was a waste of taxpayers money. The SLUFs were already being sent to the boneyard, the ESCAPAC was a proven performer. But at the time, I wasn't thinking of getting my own surplus ejection seat. Heck, I was sick of working on them! The Martin Baker seat was heavy. I have no doubt my neck is messed up today, as a result of lifting buckets (with rocket motor) out of a Phantom cockpit by myself (against regs of course). But back then, we did a lot of stuff that would never happen today (leastwise I doubt it.). NC

Yep, back problems with me lifting the buckets by the handles over the sill. The rails were top heavy and at times trying to lift the rails past the top of the catapult was a struggle. The other way was to grab the rod on the back of the bucket while straddling the sills and raising it. The F-4 shops has about 20+ team members to cover 24hrs shifts, with the B-52, four team members. I have never removed B-52 seats. Only raised them in maintenance position by crane which was twice that I can remember.