Two Bobs Aviation Graphics

 1/48 QF-4G Team Target Drones decal sheet

Product #48-050

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Aug 1 2003

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The QF-4 turned out to be a natural A/C to use as a drone once they were retired from active USAF/USN service.  Reliable, tough, and plentiful.....all the qualities that make a great drone!

These two aircraft are assigned to the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida.  Not your standard drone paint job on these two since they've been dressed up a little with some gloss paint for the Squadron Commander and the Wing Commander.  The finish on these two jets is impeccable and it's a shame they're living on borrowed time! 

This sheet has enough markings for two complete jets and the markings for the travel pods are also included.  

There are some minor airframe mods that the modeler will need to do to accurately portray a drone aircraft:

Wingtip and tail antennas - These are the small white cylindrical antennas.  They are used for missile scoring of near misses during missile shots.  Very easily replicated using plastic rod.

Command Destruct Housing - This is the housing at the port wing root.  This rectangular housing and glass panel is where the ground technician arms the command destruct on the aircraft when it is going up on an unmanned drone flight.  Easily replicated with some sheet styrene.

 

Remote Control Transponder - This is the doghouse radome housing on the spine of the aircraft.  This can be replicated easy enough with some sheet styrene.

A couple of more L-Band blade antennas and you're set!

These drones typically fly about 50 flight hours before they're made into artificial reefs over the Eglin Range.

Cockpit wise there is literally "0" difference between a line jet and a drone.  Bob Sanchez has assured me on this point, they're building them right down the street from him in Mojave, CA and he's seen them in work.

Another great option for the Hasegawa F-4G!!

The decals are all contained on one decal sheet.  You get enough stencils and National markings to build both F-4's featured on this sheet.  Decal quality is excellent and some of the more involved decals are two layer decals.  The instruction sheets are easy to follow and the different colors for the paint schemes are listed for 4 different brands of paint.  The bright orange colour is sure to be an eye grabber at shows after you build one of these Target Drones.  

There are some tiny bits you have to scratchbuild to make one of these planes, but the Two Bobs have included pics on the instruction sheets showing these mods.  I'd like to thank the Two Bobs for the review sample.

This sheet is available through http://www.twobobs.net/ and select US Hobby Shops.  Overseas customers can purchase these from Twobobs site or through Twobobs network of overseas distributors.  Remember, shipping is always FREE to US Customers at Twobobs!! 

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford