Phantom---a Changing of the Guard

Academy makes excellent kits!  I look forward to this build.

Toshi

Sweet. Love me a good Phantom Phix. 

Nuttin' like a Double Ugly to grace the shelves!

I think every aviation buff has a special place in their heart for the Phontom!

The old Monogram F-4 (with the bunny on the tail) was my first "REAL" model kit. I snuck of to the PX at Ft. Ord...had no idea where I was going or where the PX even was!!! I was only 6! I stopped at peoples houses and asked for directions along the way. I finally made it! Picked the F-4...I was so excited...I couldn't wait! Got up to the register and the girl wouldn't sell it to me, because I didn't have an ID card (had to be 10 to get that). I was sooo let down. I went to put it back on the shelf....there was an "Army man" looking at the models....I asked if I could give him my money and have him buy it for me...he obliged! I got in so much trouble when I got home. My model got stuck up on a shelf for two week before I could have my Dad help me with it. WORTH IT!!!

Also remember the F-4's taking off at Maxwell AFB (Alabama). Most of my soccer games were on the field that were at the end of the runway(a bit off to the side)....F-4's, A-4's, C-130's and A-10's were regulars....once in a while we might see C-141's, C-5's, F-15's, F-5's and a few others.

Phine.

I've built Hasegawa and Monogram's but Academy has the best F-4s in 1/48 hands down. They have excellent details right out of the box and tons of extra weapons that can arm up several other projects. I specially like how Academy eliminated the seam along the spine and the provided intake trunking.

I remember watching the F-4s taking off in pairs at Homestead AFB back in the mid 1970s. Quite a sight to see them lift off, put the gear up and shoot into the clouds in a matter of seconds.  

No W.I.P yet but I'm gathering up paints and such and practicing camo painting on my A-37 Dragonfly of the same era. I just had to show you the intimidating decal sheet from this elaborate kit. Looks like over 300 separate ones! Yikes!

Max

Yep, well over 300 stencils and markings. Took me about 4 evenings to complete.

Nice choice doing Robin Old's bird.  One of the Discovery channels had a program on him, along with the sucker punch he pulled on the MIG's.  Am doing the 1/32 Tamiya C/D offering as Ritche's ride.  It was still at Udorn, with it's stars when I was there.  After working on them for almost 3 years, I'm kind of partial to the old bent wing.

A beautiful kit, but the beige seems a little off to me - at least that what it looks to me in the first pic. It looks more yellowish than tan. Otherwise, it's a great looking kit.

I was thinking about buying the Academy RF-4C with the Luftwaffe option. If you enjoy the kit, I'll go and purchase it. I've never done a Phantom before 

Don't have an F-4C, but here's some photos of an F-4D for inspiration! 

http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/Donnyb17/library/HAM%20Museum%20-%20Tyler%20Texas?sort=2&page=1

PS> Oh, and if you're interested, here's a great thread about building an F-4C using a Monogram and Hasegawa kit.  It's loaded with great information about the Phantom (and lots of pics) from a former pilot and modeler.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992986-172-mcdd-f-4-c-phantom-ii-hasegawamonogram-kitbash-completed/

Hey GAF, I forgot to mention that all the parts are also included to make it an F-4D.

Max

7474

I was thinking about buying the Academy RF-4C with the Luftwaffe option. If you enjoy the kit, I'll go and purchase it. I've never done a Phantom before 

 

Academy has a recce Phantom?

I was wondering the same thing.  Right now they only list the "B", "C", and "J" in 1/48, and a couple of "J's" in 1/72.  Didn't see it on ebay either.

Phantom Collection Prototype:

Thinking about it I came up with list of subjects for a Phabulous Phantom Collection.

FH Phantom I

F3H-2 (Later F-3C)  Demon. USN precursor to Phantom II

F-4B in USN trim

RF-4B in USMC trim

F-4C in USAF SEA camo

RF-4C in USAF SEA camo

F-4D in USAF SEA camo (with AIM-4) 

F-4D in USAF SEA camo "Operation Bolo"

F-4E in IDF

F-4E in USAF 

F-4E(J) JASDF 1970s

F-4E(J) KAI-1 Low visibility 1990s upgrade package 

F-4F in Luftwaffe 1970s. (remember no AIM-7)

F-4K FAA (Phantom FG.1) HMS Ark Royal

F-4G USN (experimental) (optional)

F-4J USN 1970s

F-4J (RAF Phantom F.3) Falkland Islands

F-4N USN or USMC 1970s

F-4M (RAF Phantom FGR.2)

F-4S USS Midway late 1980s Low Visibility 

F-4F ICE (Luftwaffe) with AIM-120

F-4G USAF SEAD aircraft (Operation Desert Storm)

5000th Phantom II presentation aircraft. 

QF-4S or Q-F-4E remote target drone.

Blue Angles F-4

Thunder Birds F-4 

Optional:

RF-4E export recon version

Operators not mentioned previously:

Greece, Turkey, Republic of Korea, Iran, Australia, Egypt, and Spain.

Required:

Spooky must be visible on at least one aircraft. 

IIRC the old Revell 1/32 "E" (from the mid 90's) had a decal set with the 5000 paint job and "Spooky"

I'll be watching this one.  A Phantom is on my wish list.  It is one of the many aircraft that were flown in and out of our air force base.  Serving from 1982-1990.  One of my goals in my modeling life is to do at least one of every aircraft we had stationed here.

Keyda - PM sent.