1/48 Academy F-4J Phantom

[Stikpusher]

She's looking mean all in black.

Now just apply a gloss coat and a playboy bunny on the tail...

[Medicman71]

[Stikpusher]

I’m sure that such markings would be verboten in today’s military.

[Medicman71]

Kinda sad that the glory days of bright colored Navy jets is gone.

[Stikpusher]

I understand the reasons for the switch to TPS compared to the old schemes. But the Navy still does special bright marking one off schemes like the VX-4 one... but I imagine the days of the playboy rabbit on any military equipment are long past in today’s military.
I wonder if we will see some special red white & blue schemes in 2026 like we had in 1976...

[Medicman71]

About three months ago, even the CAG jets were ordered to remove all color. It was so sudden that even navy brass were shocked.

[Stikpusher]

I’d take that as a sign that they are getting serious about having to fight peer or near peer adversaries... the air arms have been safe outside small arms and MANPADS range for the past 20 years. No aerial opposition since the opening nights of Allied Force in 1999. Time to look warlike again.

[Medicman71]

I agree. But VFA-103 and VFA-151 had just painted the color on their CAG jets and almost right away the color came off. Makes you wonder what they're getting set up for (Iran maybe).

[Stikpusher]

I’d say that they are the most likely foe on the horizon. Especially with all the incidents in the straits there over the past couple months. Back to the 80’s and the tanker wars...

[Medicman71]