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This
Phantom started life out as a Revell-Monogram F-4J, but ended up as a RAF
Phantom FG.1. Having bought several models of this kit over the years I just
wanted to do something different and the end result is what you see before you.
Basically
RM’s version of the famous Phantom is very good even by today’s standard.
The kit features raised panel lines and the fit is very good, especially around
the wing to fuselage area. As I mentioned earlier this kit is an F-4J of the US
navy during the Vietnam War, so the ordnance dates back to that era. What you
get is two pairs of sidewinders and a set of bombs. The sidewinders are a bit
plane looking, the bombs don’t look that bad and the under wing pylon is very
nicely detailed. Also found in the box is a complete set of fuel tanks. The
cockpit is not that bad, but could be improved with a replacement cockpit set.
As
always I started off with the cockpit, fiddled around a bit to try and make it
resemble a British Phantom. I cut the tip of the tail and added plastic sheet to
make the RHAW Pod. Plastic off cuts were used to make the blade aerials found on
the tail.
Because
the British Phantoms used the Spey engines, the kit exhausts needed to be
changed. I made them from plastic tubing. They were cut and reshaped to resemble
the Spey engines exhaust. Plastic card was also added between upper and lower
fuselage joints to give that ‘enlarged’ look.
One
final modification was done to the nose cone, which was slightly sanded to give
the appearance of a British Phantom.
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The
decals used were from Xtra Decal, sheet no. X002-48. This sheet allows you to
build two aircraft with full stencils. You have the choice of building a Phantom
from 111Sqn (I chose this one) of from 43 Sqn.
The
plane was painted using Tamiya paints except for the black spine; Humborol was
used for this area. The main colours used were Barley Gray, Light Aircraft Gray
Medium Sea Gray and Satin Black. As can be seen I did not weather the model, I
just sprayed a few coats of Dullcote and left it at that.
Perhaps
not the most accurate looking model of a RAF Phantom, but overall I was
satisfied with the end result and the project was fun to do.
Lawrence
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