eng Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Having bought the 2 Double Ugly books on the British Phantoms by Patrick Martin last week I'm now wondering about kits and decals for RAF Phantoms. I've got one each of the Fujimi FG.1 and FGR.2, and I know the old Matchbox kit sometimes pops up on FleaBay now and again, but is there any other kits of the British Spey Phantoms in 1/72? I went through my stash of ModelDecal sheets this evening and there's a couple I fancy. I've also got 2 Hasegawa Phantoms in 1/48, a boxing of the Black Mike kit and a 111 Sqn FG.1 with the black spine/fin, but my other question is does anyone produce any additional decal sheets for the FG.1? I've found the Airdoc, Almark/Aeromaster sheets but these seem to be aimed at the FGR.2. Rgds, Eng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 See here on an early Britmodeller thread which discusses the Frog/Hasegawa 1970's vintage kit. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/21306-frog-172-phantom-fg1fgr2/ It appears to be of curiosity value only though. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 You can get fujimi or matchbox, all the other 1/72 kits pretending to be Spey powered Phantoms are something else. Or to be more accurate, you can get 2 slightly different fujimi kits (the moulds were improved at a certain point) and 2 slightly different Matchbox kits (again the moulds were modified at some point with the shape of the front fuselage slightly improved and the tail RWR added). There have been a number of 1/48 decal sheet aimed at FAA FG.1s, the Model Alliance "Senior Service Phantom" had many, Aeromaster had one FAA subject in each of their "Smokers" series. If you prefer RAF FG.1s, Xtradecal had a few in their earliest sheets: X001-48 had 43 and 111 Sqn in grey/green while sheet X002-48 had aircrafts from the same units in air defence grey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 In 1/72 you should stick with the Fujimi kits. You definitely won't be happy with the others if you like those. In 1/48 your only real option is the Hasegawa kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 The Matchbox one is appalling. Very heavy panel lines, a complete front fuselage that looks like it has been sat on and 2 strange horizontal bits at the bottom front of the fin that just should not be there. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. The only game in town, in 1/72, for the FG1 and FGR2 are the Fujimi ones. I have 31 made - having examples of all the RAF squadrons and 11 of XV470 alone -in all the schemes she wore through her career - and 10 in the loft to do. 1/48 Hasegawa - or the Revell boxing if you can get it. Decals - Modeldecal for 1/72 or Almark for the 1/48 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Iain, I don't suppose you could be troubled for a group photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 pm me an email address and I'll send a few - can't be bothered with photobucket/flikr etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Try www.postimg.cc Ian. It's dead easy (much easier than PB or Flickr). And it's free. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Try www.postimg.cc Ian. It's dead easy (much easier than PB or Flickr). And it's free. I had never heard of postimage.org, so thought I would give it a go. As Jennings says, it is very quick and simple, but the file size limit seems to be 5mb, which is quite small for modern image files. (Sorry for the hijack.) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) No image you're putting onto a discussion forum board should be anywhere *close* to 5mb. If it is, it's a huge waste of bandwidth. The good thing about postimg.cc is that the more you use it, the more space you get. I'm not aware of any 5mb file size limit. I've certainly uploaded a lot of stuff that was many, many times that big. J Edited March 25, 2014 by Jennings Heilig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Hey folks thanks very much for the info, to be honest you've pretty much confirmed what I thought. I can't believe that such an iconic aircraft is so poorly covered in terms of RAF offerings. Wonder what the chances are of Airfix producing two beautifully moulded new tool Phantoms?! Now I'm going to put my neck on the line here and ask a question that may well get me shot! Fujimi's FGR.2 has the rounded fin top without the RWR, but some of the aircraft I fancy modelling are FGR.2s WITH the RWR. Could the Fujimi kit of the FG.1 be used instead but modifying the nose leg to FGR.2 style? The only other obvious mod I could see that would need to be done would be to remove the slotted section of the stabs, ensuring the bridle hooks area's are filled and some antenna differences. Am I missing anything obvious? Come on Airfix, give us some nice new Phantoms please. Rgds Eng 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 No it's a sensible question for somebody not obsessed with the F-4. Initially, Fujimi produced 4 different British Phantoms and labelled them as follows: F-4K - Royal Navy with the original rounded fin top. F-4M - RAF with the original rounded fintop Phantom FG1 - Royal Navy with the square top RWR fin top Phantom FGR2 - RAF with the square top RWR fin top. F-4k&M were the McDonnel Douglas labels for the 2 versions; FG1 and FGR2 the Britiish system so a clever way of showing the difference. The F-4M and FGR2 moulds were improved with added detail but I'm not sure about the 2 Royal Navy ones. Without checking the stash in the loft I Know that the 2 Navy ones included an extended nose gear and suspect they had the same non-extended leg as the RAF ones. Just depends how much of a perfectionist you are. I'll try to get some pictures of my collection posted this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Come on Airfix, give us some nice new Phantoms please. Rgds Eng I'm with you there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks, I'm of the opinion that these will sit on my shelves in the house and won't see any competition tables so I guess I could live with an FG.1 dressed as an FGR.2. I'd happily compromise on the changes necessary, just doing the major and easier changes I think. Thanks again for your help, and I'd love to see some pic's of your builds. Rgds, Eng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Don't forget that 43 and 111 used the fg1 and they have some great schemes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Ps let me know if you are short of markings I have stacks of spares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Martin Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I think you will find the only RAF Phantoms that had the slotted tail planes were 'YF-4M' XT852 and XT853. If memory serves, you will find four photos in your Double Ugly book Vol.1. PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westie7 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 (edited) IIRC the auxiliary inlet doors on some of the fujimi releases are in the wrong position http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/models.php Edited March 25, 2014 by Westie7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 That was fixed on the revised versions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV571 Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 For the various Fujimi versions you might find this useful: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234951298-since-we-are-on-the-topichow-is-the-172-fujimi-fg1/ For other Spey Phantom kits, there were also the Revell attempts: in 1/72 they reboxed their F-4B as an F-4K. Be warned that in 1/48 they issued their ancient F-4J as a 767NAS 'F-4K' and a 111 Sqn 'F-4M' - the only British bits were the markings. The Revell kit to look out for has a red tailed 56 Sqn jet on the box art - this is the Hasegawa beauty in disguise. Tamiya also did a FG.1 in 1/100 which I believe Revell also released. I think it's another collectors only example since the wing and engine bulges aren't right. The only other decals I know of that haven't been mentioned are the 1/48 Maintrack Clearfix sheet D483 which covered all the British units. These were applied to the aircraft then wetted to release the carrier film. I think that there might also have been a 1/72 version. There was also an ESCI sheet in 1/72 for the 700P FG.1 XT859 with the British Spook on the tail. I think you will find the only RAF Phantoms that had the slotted tail planes were 'YF-4M' XT852 and XT853. If memory serves, you will find four photos in your Double Ugly book Vol.1. PM Don't forget XV420 : http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234957664-f4k-phantom-tailplane/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eng Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 Don't forget that 43 and 111 used the fg1 and they have some great schemes. Ps let me know if you are short of markings I have stacks of spares. Iainpeden - thanks for the offer, I have managed to get quite a few of the old Modeldecal sheets. It is specifically 43 and 111 Sqn I'm interested in, and some of the OCU aircraft that were based at Leuchars. Patrick Martin - if these Double Ugly books are your creation, you've done an incredible job, I haven't been able to tear myself away from these in the week I've had them. Wonderful, best books I've bought in ages. XV571 - thanks for the link above, I think I'll be sticking to the Fujimi kits for the few builds I have in mind, all the info here points to them being the best way to go. Thanks to everyone else for there input, you can always rely on BM to come up with the answers! Rgds, Eng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Some other stickies worth a mention. There were some 1/72 low viz markings in a SAM sheet many years ago. Richard Caruana also did a downloadable sheet which was connected to a magazine (I forget which). Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardiff guy Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 here are some of the different fujimi offerings and the last one I built. Glenn. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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