1/48 Italeri F-4 Phantom II

by Jason Cooper

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The RAAF leased 24 new build McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom II aircraft from the U.S. in 1969 as a stop gap measure until the delivery of the delayed F111C. At this time the RAAF operated the F4E in the long range strike role with No.1 Squadron until delivery was taken of the F111 in 1973, when the F4's were reluctantly returned to the U.S.

This is the Italeri kit which I believe to be a re-boxing of the old Escii kit. It provided a somewhat challenging build and a resin cockpit and intake / afterburner set would really enhance it. I however was happy building it mostly from the box with only minor modifications and additions to more accurately represent an aircraft in RAAF service.

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All of the molded on blade aerials on the fuselage and probes on the tail were removed & replaced with items that were scratch built from styrene strip and brass tube and rod, these new items being located in the correct positions from photos. The ID light on the tail was also scribed in at the correct location. I cut out the engine blow in doors on the underside and fixed them in the open position as all of the photos I was working with showed these were usually open on parked aircraft. The kit seats are terrible and after much searching a compromise was made and after market seats for an F15 that were modified and painted to represent the phantom seats and installed with the canopy closed. Not ideal but a vast improvement on the kit items.

I found the "Mottys aircraft picture pages" site helpful as it contains a large number of photos of Aussie Phantoms. Also the F4 Walk around pages on ARC were a tremendous help in the building, detailing and painting of this kit. Thank you ARC.

The model was finished using a matte black pre-shade under the final camouflage colours. All painting was airbrushed with Humbrol enamels and metalcote paints. Weathering was undertaken on an Tamiya acrylic gloss coat with lamp black artist oil washes for the panel lines and raw umber and lamp black artists oils for streaking & leaks which seemed so common on these aircraft. other streaking and toning was done with pastel chalks, with only very subtle chipping done with a 6B pencil around the cockpit area. This was all sealed in with a coat of Testors Dullcote.

The kit markings were used and represent aircraft 05 tail number 69-0305 of No.1 Squadron Royal Australian Air force based at Amberley A.B. in Queensland.

I really enjoyed building this kit as it is an Aussie bird and as such will take pride of place on my display shelf.

Jason 

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Photos and text © by Jason Cooper