Well, I went for another quick build while furloughed. I picked Hasegawa’s 1.72 F-4B kit, which is not a great choice for this type of build. Phantom kits are just fiddly, especially in 72nd. I also had issues with my paint (on me), and decals. Still, I finished in 10 days, and it shows. I love the Sundowner markings, though, the kit included markings for the bicentennial. This is my 18th Phantom, I’ve included a phamily photo of the 13 I have around still. In 72nd scale, I’ve built Hasegawa, Italeri, Fujimi, Monogram, Academy, even an old Revell kit (the SEA scheme on the second row). Maybe Z-M will show mercy and downsize their 48 scale kits for us.
Thanks, man! As far as a recommendation, Hasegawa would be the one. The fit isn’t any better, but availability and variety is the best. Details are good, lines are engraved, the shape is good, and the extra parts from other versions comes in handy. Be sure to glue the front halves to the rear halves before gluing the halves together. It solves a nasty step seam just behind the cockpit.
That is a mighty fine looking build. The Navy had so many good looking squadron markings on their F-4s during the full color era, but VF-111 with their shark mouths and sundown tails really has to take the prize for most striking.
And bravo on your Phantom collection there. But I don’t see any long nose types… RF, E, F, or G…
Very nice. And what a great collection. I’m in the middle of a 1/48 hasegawa f4j myself. Big Phantom Phan. Sundowners do have striking markings. Well done.
Thanks again, guys. I do have a few long noses in there, the three in the back left; sorry for the photo quality. The large one is a Marine RF-4B; I built it way back on 83! Then there’s a Testors RF-4E in Luftwaffe markings, and, crud, I built it in 85…the “E” is a Hasegawa kit in a farewell scheme from the Indiana ANG, that one is a recent build.
Outstanding Phantom. Appears to me you knocked it out of the park despite the issues you faced. 10 days? That’s an absolute fantasy for me. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous F-4’s with us.
I’m a big phantom fan. Used to work for McDonnell. My office was in the same building as the beginning of the Phantom line. When it was too hot to work outside in St. Louis summers, we’d stroll through the building and pass the line on our after lunch walk. Those airplanes were all handmade- one guy inside the fuselage with a bucking bar, another outside putting in and gunning the rivets. Later planes- F-15 and Harrier used a lot more modern materials and processes.
Thanks, guys! PJ, I think the Monogram Phantoms are the best detailed kits hands down. The only big downside is that they only did the J, and the C/D models. If anyone has the Accurate Miniatures reboxing of those molds, the front windscreens were short shot and don’t fit. Israeli E’s are cool, and then there are the Greek and Turkish birds, the Japanese EJ’s, and even the Iranian birds.
