EF-4C and the fake pilot ER-142

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

hello, working up a skin for Spang EF-4Cs and noticed the weasel parts were missing

a look through the data ini reveals the following mssg

//er142 removed due to it's not fitting correctly at inner pylons & tailcone//

bringing it back it is as such

 

magic question is : is there a way to remove the pylons via hex editor?  it never was a strong suite of mine and is weaker from a few years of non use

alternate question is does anyone have the max file for the ER-142 "pilot", and would they be willing to post a new one sans Shrike racks?

really great resolution would be one of our modellers doing a new fake pilot model for this, but i dont want to push it too far there

any ideas?

[Wrench 10,019]

It never fit right, even in 1stGens. That's why I removed it.

Best way, would be a new, correctly spaced/sized unit. Or, a new EF-4C specific aircraft lod, with it built in

Pylons can be removed via the 'hide component trick'

[+Nyghtfall 2,225]

I may give a fakepilot a try, if noone else will. I would need the files though and infos on what you actually need.

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

3 hours ago, Nyghtfall said:

I may give a fakepilot a try, if noone else will. I would need the files though and infos on what you actually need.

thank you sir

give me about a day to gather stuff up, particularly close ups of the ER-142 antennae

Edited January 23 by daddyairplanes

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

8 hours ago, Wrench said:

Pylons can be removed via the 'hide component trick'

you mean these can be removed via remove component?

although i  probably should have specified Shrike launch rails. but it was closer to my bedtime than i usually post

as to fit,  really those launch rails are the biggest issue i see. placement on the rest seems fine,  although its an old model and could stand a touch up for sure

@Nyghtfall  thought that just occurred after first sip of coffee,  should make the launch rails seperate from the antennae farm.   then i could attach it as a weapon like i did for the Hound Dog pylons on the ODS B-52G (they were originally fake pilot too)

[Wrench 10,019]

Right! I meant the pylons on the bird. You can't remove them from the 142, as it's not an aircraft

[amariani 4,988]

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

where you get the functional LAU-34s?

[amariani 4,988]

On 1/26/2025 at 3:45 PM, daddyairplanes said:

where you get the functional LAU-34s?

I don't really remember what I did or where I got it from, but I had for a long time now. 

Just delete whatever you have installed and use this set.

EF-4C.7z

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

well its certainly better than the old

but liking the wip so far (even w/o rails)

i had just wished the Shrike rail was seperate from the antennae farm in yours

[Wrench 10,019]

well, yes, that would be ideal, right???

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

8 hours ago, Wrench said:

well, yes, that would be ideal, right???

we're workin on it.   you were invited ya know

biggie at the moment is the strike camera that was permanent in the port Sparrow well until they were deconverted and sent to Indiana.

and the rails..

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

a video i came across while researching other things on WWIV

 

[+CSomers611 46]

While you'll are working on the EF-4C, would you mind doing the EF-4D?! 

(E)F-4D Wild Weasel IV-B

There were two F-4Ds modified for the Wild Weasel mission under Project Wild Weasel IV-B. Both aircraft (65-657 and 65-660), were used to test the Bendix APS-107 Radar Homing and Warning (RHAW) system with an ER-142 panoramic receiver. Although the APS-107 gear was more sophisticated and accurate than the APR-25/-26 units and finally gave the (E)F-4 the ability to use the AGM-78 Standard ARM, it proved unreliable and erratic under combat conditions - at least for the Wild Weasel mission.

Several standard F-4Ds were used to test other programs relative to the Wild Weasel mission. One aircraft (65-0644) was used to test the AGM-78 Standard ARM missile, and several F-4Ds were used to perfect the AGM-65 Maverick missile.

(E)F-4D Wild Weasel V Test Platform

 At least two F-4Ds (66-7635 and 66-7647) were modified and equipped with the new McDonnell-Douglas designed APR-38 Warning and Attack System, the basis of the entire F-4G program. 

Originally, the F-4G program had originally been slated for installation in ninety F-4Ds, but the Air Force opted for the more modem F-4E.  This decision was made because the F-4E had much more internal volume available (especially once the gun was removed) and it was considered the cheaper option because the F-4E aircraft were much more up to date than the F-4Ds which would have to be brought up to the current state of the art. This was apparent in testing the (E)F-4D test aircraft which had to carry much of the electronics in a special canoe fairing which took the place of the port/forward missile launcher because of the lack of space.

The (E)F-4D Wild Weasel aircraft never progressed farther than a test platform for the Wild Weasel V electronics, so none entered active service in any USAF squadrons. 

Looking at them, I see somethings which carry overed to the F-4G Wild Weasel years later. 

I wonder if the Air Force had went with the EF-4D over the C, what might have been.

Edited Friday at 04:51 PM by CSomers611

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

no,  i wont be doing that one.

i would say get me a model and i'll do it, but then i might get surprised like i did with the EF-4C.

but im fairly certain that no one has a model of that one. sorry

as it is, i'll be calling the EF-4C done after the initial service introductions with the Indiana Air Guard

Edited Friday at 09:16 PM by daddyairplanes

[+Sundowner 4,892]

I did it years ago as a special request for some-one involved on the project.....it's on a really old model, buried on an old harddrive........somewhere.

[+CSomers611 46]

10 minutes ago, Sundowner said:

I did it years ago as a special request for some-one involved on the project.....it's on a really old model, buried on an old harddrive........somewhere.

I've always thought it would be cool to see one but I understand it's not a priority.

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

13 minutes ago, Sundowner said:

I did it years ago as a special request for some-one involved on the project.....it's on a really old model, buried on an old harddrive........somewhere.

shush you, i figured you might when i wrote but still

[Wrench 10,019]

All these years, one never knows what Ant has up his sleeve ...

[+CSomers611 46]

Question on this new EF-4C, will the skins from the old model still work?

[+daddyairplanes 10,734]

oh, no. no they wont.

the result when i tried just renaming texture and moving what i did on the stock C into there was...... hilarious

its as close to a TW C model as a Super Hornet is to a legacy Hornet irl (actually a good comparison i think)

Edited Saturday at 04:23 PM by daddyairplanes

[+CSomers611 46]

23 minutes ago, daddyairplanes said:

oh, no. no they wont.

the result when i tried just renaming texture and moving what i did on the stock C into there was...... hilarious

its as close to a TW C model as a Super Hornet is to a legacy Hornet irl (actually a good comparison i think)

Good to know, looking forward to it!