Tamiya 78009 - 1:350 US Navy Aircraft Set No 2

Plastic model set of US Navy carrier aircraft and helicopters No. 2 in 1:350 scale — a supplement for carrier models

Tamiya 78009 is the second set of US Navy carrier aircraft in 1:350 scale, intended to complement a carrier model. This time the emphasis falls on the support and specialist types that in practice determine what the whole task group can do: airborne early warning and electronic warfare aircraft and helicopters, alongside the classic F-4S Phantom II fighter.

The set contains ten aircraft: four F-4S Phantom II, two EA-6B Prowler, two E-2C Hawkeye and two SH-3H Sea King helicopters. It comes from 1985 tooling. This is not a ship model — the contents are meant to populate the flight deck and hangar of a 1:350 carrier model.

What is in the box:

• Plastic sprues with ten US Navy carrier aircraft
• 4 x F-4S Phantom II
• 2 x EA-6B Prowler
• 2 x E-2C Hawkeye
• 2 x SH-3H Sea King (helicopters)
• Waterslide decal sheet for aircraft markings
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:350
• Catalogue number: 78009
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Contents: ten carrier aircraft (fixed wing and helicopters)
• Tooling: 1985
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: the kit does not include cement, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Assembly:

Each aircraft is made up of only a handful of parts, so the build goes quickly and is well within reach of beginners. The parts are small — precision tweezers help, as does cutting the components free with a sharp knife and carefully cleaning up the sprue gate marks, since at this scale any excess plastic shows on the silhouette.

US Navy schemes of the 1980s are dominated by greys and white: grey upper surfaces with white undersides, with the support types often in uniform matt grey. Painting and marking the aircraft before fixing them to the deck is recommended — that is when a brush can still reach everywhere. Decals go on best over a gloss coat, which limits decal silvering; paint references are given in the instructions.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in several sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Decal setting solution

About the aircraft — the support element of a US Navy carrier air wing:

The F-4S Phantom II was the last carrier version of the famous twin-engined, two-seat fighter, upgraded with a strengthened airframe and leading-edge slats that improved manoeuvrability. Through the 1980s the Phantom served aboard carriers alongside the incoming F-14 and F/A-18, closing out a long career in naval aviation.

The EA-6B Prowler, developed from the A-6 Intruder, was a four-crew electronic warfare aircraft. It jammed enemy radars and shielded strike packages — without its support, attacking a defended target would have been far riskier. The E-2C Hawkeye, instantly recognisable thanks to the large rotating radar antenna above the fuselage, served as the carrier's airborne early warning and control aircraft. It detected threats at long range and directed the fighters, acting as the eyes of the entire carrier group.

SH-3H Sea King helicopters flew anti-submarine missions, patrolled around the task group and stood plane-guard duty, ready to recover aircrew from the water during flight operations. Together these four types complete the picture of a 1980s US Navy carrier deck with the aircraft that made the air wing work.

Aircraft types included:

• McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II — carrier-based multirole fighter, crew of two (4 pieces)
• Grumman EA-6B Prowler — carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, crew of four (2 pieces)
• Grumman E-2C Hawkeye — carrier-based airborne early warning and control aircraft (2 pieces)
• Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King — carrier-based anti-submarine and search-and-rescue helicopter (2 pieces)

About the manufacturer — Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. It began in the timber trade, moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s and released its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. The brand is known for precise moulds and excellent part fit, which makes its kits a popular choice for beginners and experienced modellers alike. Alongside armour and aircraft, Tamiya offers a broad range of warship models, including 1:350 and 1:700 scales, as well as supplementary sets such as carrier aircraft for carrier models. Tamiya instructions are clear and consistently illustrated, which helps considerably when working with small parts. The company also produces a full line of modelling supplies: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today Tamiya is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.