Z-M's Latest Phantom - Wild Weasel IV

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Last week I received my pre-ordered Zoukei-Mura Phantom “F-4C Phantom II Wild Weasel IV”. The “Weasel” parts are confined to a single new sprue “Q”, which includes:

Wesel antennae for Nose (aft of radome, cheek inlets and drag chute door (only one subject)

Two AGM-45 Shrikes and LAU-34 launchers

EWO instrument panel

AN/ALQ-87 with adaptor for the forward starboard missile well

Strike camera for the forward port missile well

A full weapons loadout is possible using only kit parts.

I have one minor complaint: the strike camera isn’t a simple drop-in. It requires surgery to the lower fuselage/wing part, and the camera apertures are recesses in the plastic rather then having separate clear parts.

Similar to Z-M’s “F-4E Late” precut canopy masks are included.

Decals are provided for three aircraft;

64-0840 “Super Cocks Swiss Samlar” Korat RTAFB, Thailand 1972

63-7423 “Jail Bait” Korat RTAFAB, Thailand 1972

63-7467 (Unnamed) Spangdahelm 1975

I also have Speed Hunter Graphics decal sheet 48-019 “USAF C-Model Spooks” with three additional WWIV from Kotrat: “Brain Damage”, “Dick’s Peace Machine” and “Rub a Dub Dub”.

After comparing the camouflage pattern on the painting guide to the few photos I have been able to find it appears to be accurate. It also differs from the standard McDonnell factory finish.

This will be my next project after I complete my Academy F-4B in USMC Viet-Nam colors, currently being decaled.

2

I’ve never built one but the Zoukei-Mura kits that I’ve seen at shows and our club meetings have always looked very impressive. Good Luck with this build and I can’t wait to see some WIP photos.

3

I went to a hardware store this morning to buy a can of paint for some repainting work I need to do on my home. The gentleman working in the paint department had on a ballcap with an F4 Phantom logo. I commented that I liked his cap, which opened up a good conversation where he relayed some stories of his time piloting the Phantom during the Vietnam era. He talked about taking that bird up to Mach 2.5 for a very brief time, and another instance where he took it up high enough to flip over and see the entire North Carolina/Virginia coastline.

He was a good man to speak with. And it turned out he was a fellow Aggie, although he graduated about the time I was born.

2 Likes