Vagabond Decals

1/48 F-4 VF-84 "DEM BONES!" decal sheet

Product # 48-002 for $15.00

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Oct 25 2011

 

This new decal sheet is Part 1 of Vagabond Decals "Original Rhinos" series, featuring VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-4J and N Phantoms. Five aircraft are on this sheet, including the 1965 SEA War Cruise.  These decals are designed to fit the Hasegawa F-4B kit.

Special thanks goes to Paul Minert, AAHS.  

The 5 aircraft include some of the wild paint schemes worn by the adversary jets including one jet with cartoon artwork. 

  • F-4J Phantom BuNo. 151516 CVW-7 CAG Bird aboard USS Independence during the first War Cruise to WESTPAC/Viet Nam, May 10 -Dec 13 1965.  Plenty of mission markings on this jet.

  • F-4J Phantom BuNo. 153779 is an early F-4J flown with ballast in the nose instead of  radar while upgrading from F-4B at NAS Oceana, VA in the summer of 1969.

  • F-4N Phantom BuNo. 152253 is an early F-4J in USS Roosevelt markings.

  • F-4J Phantom BuNo. 155858 fully mission capable F-4J after returning from a Mediterranean cruise with CVW-6 on board USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) Jan 2 - July 27 1970.

  • F-4J Phantom BuNo. 157274 as flown by the Jolly Rogers during Air Wing 6's 1971 Med cruise on board FDR from Jan 29 to July 23 1971.

Click on images below to see larger images

The 3 pages of instructions are clear and include 4 color views of each aircraft.  The decals are beautifully printed on 2 decal sheets.  You get enough stencils and national insignia to build 2 of these jets.  Decals are printed by Microscale.

The F-4 Phantom is a legendary jet and this decal sheet captures the Phantoms with one of the best known and most loved Squadrons....VF-84 Jolly Rogers.  These 5 Phantoms are from the 60's and 70's when markings were hi-viz and more appealing to the eye.  If there was ever a reason to build a Phantom....this sheet is the best reason....VF-84 Phantoms......you can't top that.

I would like to thank Vagabond Decals for providing me with this review sample.

These decals are available directly from Vagabond Decals.  

Steve Bamford

      

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford