Special Hobby FH-1 Phantom 'US Navy' (72332) - 1:72 Special Hobby

[Julien]

FH-1 Phantom 'US Navy' (72332)

1:72 Special Hobby

 

The FD later FH-1 Phantom from McDonnell has always suffered from the fact its older brother the F4H-1 (later F-4) Phantom II has stolen most of the limelight associated with the "Phantom" name. Originally designed and first flown during WWII the aircraft was straight winged. The Phantom was the first Jet to land on a US Aircraft Carrier, and the first jet to be used by the US Marine Corps. Only 62 were made but the design lead into the follow on aircraft from McDonnell the F2H Banshee. These aircraft would position McDonnell as an important supplier to eh US Military. McDonnell must have thought a lot of the Phantom to bring the name back for the F-4. 

 

The Kit

This is a new toolkit from Special Hobby. The kit arrives on three sprues of grey plastic, a clear spure, a small PE fret and a sheet of decals. Construction starts in the cockpit. The seat and instrument panel are made up with the panel as decal. PE belts are included for the seat. The cockpit floor also form the top of the front wheel well. The well sides are added along with the front and rear cockpit bulkheads. The cockpit can then be placed in the fuselage, the instructions recommend putting 3 grams of weight in the nose. 

 

 

Next up the engines and there trunking are built up. There are fan fronts and exhausts are added. Construction then moves to the wings. The main wheel wells must be built up ad added into the lower wing along with the intake trunking. The upper wings can then be added. The leading edge parts of the intake are then added. This is a nice touch so you don't have to clean up a seam in the intake area. 

 

 

The front landing gear is built up and added to the front along with the gear doors. This is then followed by the main units and their doors. The belly tank is then fitted along with the arrestor hook. To finish off the tail planes are added along with the engine exhausts and finally the canopy. 

 

 

 

Markings

There are printed by Cartograf so there will be no issues there.   You get 3 marking options with any colour you want as long as its Gloss Sea Blue! the markings, including extensive stencils are mainly white.

 

• R 112 - Bu 111778 VF-17A, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42, March 1949
• R 122 - Bu 111785 VF-17A, USS Saipan, May 1948
• R 101 - Bu 111799 VF-17A, USS Coral Sea, May 1948

 

 

 

Conclusion

It is great to see this over looked early jet now being injection moulded in 1/72.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

Wheels

If you want a liitle something else for you Phantom then through their CMK Line there is a set of resin replacement wheels available.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of