Hobby 2000 72028 - 1:72 F-4D Phantom II - Vietnam Aces vol.2

Plastic model kit of the American McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II fighter in 1:72 scale

The F-4D was the Phantom version developed specifically for United States Air Force requirements, with reworked avionics and a new sighting system. It was on this type that the most successful American crew of the Vietnam War flew, and it was the F-4D that produced the USAF's first aces since the Korean War.

Hobby 2000 72028 is the second part of the series devoted to the aces of Vietnam. The kit is based on Hasegawa sprues, complemented by a new sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the glazing. The first option is F-4D 66-7463 of Capt Richard S. Ritchie and Capt Charles B. DeBellevue of the 555th TFS / 8th TFW at Ubon in 1972 – the crew whose names head the list of American aces of that war. The second is F-4D 66-6279 "Terrible Tyke" of the 497th TFS / 8th TFW, also at Ubon, in 1970.

What you will find in the box:

• Plastic sprues with airframe, cockpit and undercarriage parts
• Clear parts for the two-seat canopy glazing
• Parts for underwing stores and fuel tanks
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf covering two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72028
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Length of the finished model: approx. 247 mm
• Wingspan of the finished model: approx. 163 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Please note: the kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The model is large for 1:72 and quite involved – the two-seat cockpit, wheel bays and underwing stores mean plenty of work, but also a striking shape on the shelf. Both cockpits with their ejection seats are best completed before the fuselage is closed, and the nose should be weighted so that the finished model sits firmly on its nose gear leg.

Phantoms at Ubon at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s wore the South East Asia scheme: two greens and a tan on the upper surfaces over light grey undersides. Soft transitions between the patches are easiest to achieve with an airbrush at low pressure. Applying the decals over a gloss coat reduces the risk of silvering, and a satin varnish makes a suitable final finish. It is worth remembering the operational staining typical of these aircraft around the engine nozzles and along the lower fuselage – a light wash or subtle panel shading is enough to bring the airframe to life.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes or an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal setting solution to help the decals conform to the detail
• Modelling wash to emphasise the detail and panel lines

About the aircraft – McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II:

The McDonnell F-4 Phantom II began as a carrier-based interceptor for the US Navy, but its performance and load-carrying ability led the United States Air Force to adopt it as well in 1962. After the first land-based F-4C, largely an adaptation of the naval aircraft, the F-4D followed in 1965 – this time deliberately tailored to USAF requirements.

The changes centred on the electronics: a new radar, a modified bombing computer and an optical sight that improved accuracy against ground targets, along with integration of the AIM-4 Falcon missile. The F-4D retained the powerplant and airframe of its predecessor, including the absence of an internal gun – when needed, one was carried in an external pod. Later in the war, aircraft of this type were among the first to carry laser-guided bombs, which dramatically improved the effectiveness of strikes against bridges and other point targets in North Vietnam.

The year 1972 and the Linebacker campaign brought the most intense air fighting of the whole war. It was then that the F-4D crew of Capt Richard S. Ritchie and Capt Charles B. DeBellevue shot down five MiGs, becoming the first United States Air Force aces since the Korean War; with six victories DeBellevue became the highest-scoring American airman of the conflict. A total of 825 F-4Ds were built, and many served for decades afterwards, including with allied air forces.

Original aircraft specifications (F-4D Phantom II):

• Length: 17.76 m
• Wingspan: 11.71 m
• Height: 4.96 m
• Empty weight: approx. 12,700 kg
• Maximum take-off weight: approx. 28,000 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)
• Powerplant: two General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets of approx. 75 kN each with afterburner
• Maximum speed: approx. 2,350 km/h (about Mach 2.2)
• Service ceiling: approx. 18,000 m
• Armament: AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-4 Falcon guided missiles; conventional and laser-guided bombs totalling up to approx. 7,250 kg; gun carried only in an external pod
• Production: 825 F-4D aircraft (1965-1968)

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that builds its range around its own themed releases of plastic kits. Each box contains sprues from an established manufacturer – in this case Hasegawa sprues – combined with the company's own artwork, illustrated assembly instructions and a new decal sheet. The waterslide decals for the brand's kits are printed by Cartograf of Italy, valued in the industry for their thin carrier film and accurate colour registration. Most of the aircraft releases also include self-adhesive masks for the glazing, which makes painting the canopy frames considerably easier. Hobby 2000 selects its subjects around specific campaigns, units and pilots, and Polish themes appear regularly in the catalogue. Print runs are limited, so once a release sells out it rarely returns. For the modeller this means access to proven tooling in a boxing with carefully researched markings that are often hard to find elsewhere.