I always liked the F-4J but I would have to buy from Hong Kong. The 30th Anniversary kit is readily available in the US but I’d have to buy a separate set of Navy decals. Does anyone know if there are major differences between the two kits?
Isn’t the “30th Anniversary” kit an F-4E? If so, there are some quite significant diffences between that and an F-4J. It’s not simply a matter of applying Navy markings.
You are right. The 30th is the F-4E.
I have been looking for a 1/48 F-4J since returning to modeling a few months back, but can’t seem to find a kit in that scale anywhere. All the online stores (I frequent a half dozen or so) list the Hasegawa Showtime 100 kit, but none of them have had it for sale the whole time. Backordered blues. You mentioned buying one from Hong Kong … do you know of a kit other than the elusive Hasegawa offering?
Anyone know of a straight-up 1/48 F-4J kit available for actual purchase anywhere? I’d really appreciate a lead.
Holy Eye Gouging Batman! I just took alook on Ebay for 1/48F-4Js and the prices are thru the roof! Even the 1980s vintage Monogram F-4Js are fetching $40 and up… Even the 1970s vintage Revell F-4J (yikes) is inflated beyond worth… The ESCI F-4B/J (better than Revell but not Monogram) is the only affordably priced one on there…
Being an old fart, I didn’t think to check ebay at all. But now, having done so, I don’t think I’m imagining the paucity of 1/48 F-4J kits at reasonable retail prices. The one-and-only plane on my absolutly-must-build-it-several-times list, and I can’t find one in my scale or meager experience range.
I dont know a lot about Phantoms as I only have one in the stash, but wouldnt it be easier to convert the Royal Air Force/Royal Navy one to a J as they where based on it?
I don’t know if they are the same, or not. I thought that the RN flew both B and J variants, but I don’t know it for certain. Certainly something to look into. Thanks.
The biggest difference between the RN and USN Phantoms were the engines. The RN ones being powered by Rolls Royce Spey Turbofans with a different afterburner mounted in a slightly downwards to rear angle and having “beefier” air intakes. Not a simple conversion if the kit accurately reflects both changes. For years you could find the Revell/Monogram Showtime 100 or Black Bunny F-4Js for the proverbial “dime a dozen”. I wonder what happened? Well at the rate that Revell is re issuing the Monogram 1/48 jets, I suppose you wont have too long to wait to get one, two, or more. The next best option after that is the ESCI/ERTL/AMT issues of the F-4B/J kit. It actuallys is closer to an F-4J having the bulged tire wings, but it still includes the short burner cans and under nose IR sensor of the “B”. I have a couple of those in my stash. And Testors issued an F-4J/S kit that is not too bad with a little work that pops up on Ebay from time to time. If you really was to be sneaky, their F-4G Wild Weasel kit has the F-4J nose parts included… [^o)] Not the best Phantom out there, but if ya gotta have one now…
just some suggestions[whstl]
Thanks for the info on the RN Spooks. That’s a little more conversion than I think I’m ready for right now. I believe I’ll wait a little longer for the Hasegawa kit to re-stock. Everybody lists it as backordered-overdue, but it appears to still be in the HSG catalogue, if their website is any indication. I can wait a little longer, if I have to, I guess … [:(] … I don’t understand it, either. Come fall, I’ll be ready to go some other route if it hasn’t shown up yet. I surely do appreciate the suggested alternatives.
Stik the Testors F-4G kit is actually a 2 in 1 kit where you can build either the F-4E or the F-4G and I have that kit in the stash. I also have the Monogram F-4J. I also have the F-4B/N from Hasegawa.
In addition, I believe the RN F-4K (later redesignated FG-1) and RAF F-4M (FGR-2) may be slightly broader “across the hips” too because of the larger diameter of the Spey. I’m not sure that the thrust line is different, it’s just that the underside fairings are longer and deeper to accomodate the larger engines.
The F4-J(UK) would be a viable candidate though, as they were pretty much straight ex-USN F-4J’s refurbed and purchased by the RAF in the mid-80’s.
I ordered a Hasegawa 1/48 F-4J Showtime from hobbyeasy.com in Hong Kong. The total cost including registered air mail was about $50. It should arrive in a week. I’ve ordered 3 times from hobbyeasy before and always received excellent service. I don’t know when I’ll build it, but I just want it in my stash.
Yup I got one too. I have quite a few different F-4s in my stash. But no Hasegawa’s. Too expensive for me.
I also got both the Escii F-4E and the Escii RN FAA F-4J/S both in 1/48 scale. I don’t think I paid that much for my Hasegawa F-4B/N I think I paid $30 for it at the LHS I believe in 97 or 98. I mean heck the most I paid for a model at a Hobby shop was for the Trumpeter 1/350 scale USS Nimitz and that was $221.
Well if I ever see a Hasegawa 1/48 F-4 for an affordable price and I have the cash in hand I wont turn away…[whstl]
That’s an option for me. Thanks. The same vendor who told me in March he’d have them by the end of April is now telling me he’ll have them by the end of this month (in between, he said he didn’t know when or even if he was going to have any more). By this time next month, I may be getting mine in Hong Kong, too. I’d like two or three for my stash, so I can build them when I think my skills are up to making a decent build of it, which I hope is sooner rather than later.
Tried to, but couldn’t. Finally pulled the trigger on the Showtime 100 kit from the outfit in Hong Kong. All the Navy Phantom kits going OOP has me scared … Stash up, ladies and gents, before it’s too late! (Watch the skies! Watch the skies! [*-)])
I received a Hasegawa 1/48 F-4J Showtime from Hobbyeasy today. Delivery was fast, considering it cames from Hong Kong. This was the 2nd time I ordered from them.
Rant on:
All the kits I’ve received Hobbyeasy so far have not been shrinkwrapped. I want completely sealed kit in my stash.
Rant off.
That Testors F-4G is the only kit I have ever thrown in the trash.
I guess it is just me, but I never felt $40 for a Hasegawa F-4 was unreasonable. Tack on another $7 for True Details seats and it still isn’t bad.