F4 Phantom help please

[Bbdave]

My father was an armourer on 17sq phantoms at RAF Bruggen in 1970, I'd like to build a 1/48 model but have no idea which kit to get to best represent a 17sq aircraft.

Thanks for any help.

 

Dave

[iainpeden]

Dave

Hasegawa is the only kit available of the Spey engined Phantom (FGR.2) in 1.48th. It was also boxed by Revell. You will need to use the round top to the fin rather than the square RWR top and it shouldn't have the ILS aerials on the fin (stand to be corrected there!).

Hannants sell the decals in their Xtradecal range.

[Bbdave]

13 hours ago, iainpeden said:

Dave

Hasegawa is the only kit available of the Spey engined Phantom (FGR.2) in 1.48th. It was also boxed by Revell. You will need to use the round top to the fin rather than the square RWR top and it shouldn't have the ILS aerials on the fin (stand to be corrected there!).

Hannants sell the decals in their Xtradecal range.

 

What would the best 1/72 options be?

 

Dave

[Giorgio N]

19 minutes ago, Bbdave said:

 

What would the best 1/72 options be?

 

Dave

 

Fujimi or Airfix. Both kits have their pros and cons, many still prefer the older Fujimi kit but the Airfix one also has its strengths. 

All Airfix issues feature the original tail without RWR in the box, as needed for a 17 Sqn. machine. Fujimi issued different kits with or without RWR. Finding a Fujimi kit without RWR may not be easy while the Airfix kit should be easily available 

[iainpeden]

Personally I would say the Fujimi kit - although you would need to get the moulding with the rounded fin tip not the squared RWR fairing; not sure about decals but have a look at Hannants.

 

Some people think the newer Airfix one is better - and it's certainly got a better decal sheet (not sure if 17 is on it) but can be a difficult build and it had too far more inaccuracies and omissions than a modern LIDAR'd kit should have.

[Giorgio N]

Regarding 1/72 decals, the old Modeldecal sheet 94 had markings for all Germany based strike Phantom units, including 17 Sqn

There may be more recent stuff of course, both Xtradecal and Printscale did sheets for the Airfix kit, have to check if 17 was covered. I vaguely remember it was

[Bbdave]

OK so would the fujimi phantom 2 F-4M be correct? 

 

Dave

[iainpeden]

11 minutes ago, Bbdave said:

OK so would the fujimi phantom 2 F-4M be correct? 

 

Dave

If its the one with the grey/green camo Phantom on the box, yes.

You could also look for the Alcock and Brown boxing - although you'd need stencils as well as unit markings.

[Giorgio N]

My memory is not too bad... I was almost sure to have seen 17 Sqn markings in more recent decal sheets...

Xtradecal X72293

https://www.scalemates.com/it/kits/xtradecal-x72293-mcdonnell-douglas-fg1-fgr2-phantom--1121671

Printscale 72-280

https://www.super-hobby.it/products/F-4-Phantom-FGR.Mk-2-Part-1.html

[Dave Swindell]

This Xtradecal sheet has a 17sqn one at Bruggen 1973, which should be pretty much the same as the 1970 scheme

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72293?result-token=rWOVH

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/xtradecal-x72293-mcdonnell-douglas-fg1-fgr2-phantom--1121671

Alternatively there's this one which has 17 sqn phantoms at Bruggen in 72 & 75

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/ML72184?result-token=Udvap

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/model-alliance-ma-72184-raf-germany-pt-i--210793

[iainpeden]

@Bbdave

Kingkit have the 1/72 Fujimi Phantoms you need. H9 was the original boxing with H-20 being an improved one with additional detail.

[Starfighter]

On 9/29/2024 at 6:17 PM, Bbdave said:

My father was an armourer on 17sq phantoms at RAF Bruggen in 1970, I'd like to build a 1/48 model but have no idea which kit to get to best represent a 17sq aircraft.

Thanks for any help.

 

Dave

That's interesting, as I was an armourer on 17 sqdn. from 1971 -74, so I most probably worked with your father . . . Qhat was his name ? As regards to the. kit then Hasegawa's 1/48 Phantom is a good kit, but I've mot built any of the 1/72 models, so can't comment.

😊  

[Phantome]

15 hours ago, Bbdave said:

 

What would the best 1/72 options be?

 

Dave

There was a very extensive discussion on this a few weeks ago, conversation should still be on the first page of this forum (writing this on my phone so can't check link)

 

Nutshell: Fujimi seems to be the people's fave and I concur

[Bbdave]

10 hours ago, Starfighter said:

That's interesting, as I was an armourer on 17 sqdn. from 1971 -74, so I most probably worked with your father . . . Qhat was his name ? As regards to the. kit then Hasegawa's 1/48 Phantom is a good kit, but I've mot built any of the 1/72 models, so can't comment.

😊  

He was Roger Still, I got him to write down the sqns and aircraft he worked on a few years ago and I'd like to build an example from each sqn. The list includes Phantom, sabre, lightning,vulcan,vampire, hunter,javelin,gnat and Canberra.

Unfortunately dad passed a couple of years ago so I can no longer ask him.

  I think I'll be building 1/72 examples as there are quite a few.

 

Dave

Edited October 1, 2024 by Bbdave

[iainpeden]

Sounds like a great project and a fantastic way to remember your dad.

[Starfighter]

2 hours ago, Bbdave said:

He was Roger Still, I got him to write down the sqns and aircraft he worked on a few years ago and I'd like to build an example from each sqn. The list includes Phantom, sabre, lightning,vulcan,vampire, hunter,javelin,gnat and Canberra.

Unfortunately dad passed a couple of years ago so I can no longer ask him.

  I think I'll be building 1/72 examples as there are quite a few.

 

Dave

Sorry to hear about your Dad's passing, but I don't remember his name, so maybe he left before I arrived. Anyway, if you need any help on 17 squadron Phantoms just let me know 😊.

[Bbdave]

10 minutes ago, Starfighter said:

Sorry to hear about your Dad's passing, but I don't remember his name, so maybe he left before I arrived. Anyway, if you need any help on 17 squadron Phantoms just let me know 😊.

Thanks I know he left in 1973 I was there then we came back to Waddington/Scampton.

[tempestfan]

7 hours ago, Bbdave said:

He was Roger Still, I got him to write down the sqns and aircraft he worked on a few years ago and I'd like to build an example from each sqn. The list includes Phantom, sabre, lightning,vulcan,vampire, hunter,javelin,gnat and Canberra.

Unfortunately dad passed a couple of years ago so I can no longer ask him.

  I think I'll be building 1/72 examples as there are quite a few.

 

Dave

If you go for the Fujimi, @iainpeden gave you the kit numbers to look out for. The later kits have separate vinyl tires and the various supplementary air intake (?) flaps moulded open. Whether that justifies paying 8 quid more is for you to decide. Even though the Airfix is more accurate all round, the Fujimi is among my Top 5 kits.

[alhenderson]

I just scored the Alcock and Brown FGR.2 from Ebay for £20 which I was happy with.  There are a few on there at the moment, but prices vary considerably.  Model decal sheet 94 has markings for a 17 sqn machine in June 1974 and also has stencils for a camo phantom.

 

Al.

[tempestfan]

2 hours ago, alhenderson said:

I just scored the Alcock and Brown FGR.2 from Ebay for £20 which I was happy with.  There are a few on there at the moment, but prices vary considerably.  Model decal sheet 94 has markings for a 17 sqn machine in June 1974 and also has stencils for a camo phantom.

 

Al.

Bargain!

[alhenderson]

51 minutes ago, tempestfan said:

Bargain!

Indeed!  When I've seen them in shops they've been around £35 (still cheaper than Airfix I think?).  This one was in the wrong box, but I'm not building the box 🙂 

 

Al.

[Paul Thompson]

28 minutes ago, alhenderson said:

Indeed!  When I've seen them in shops they've been around £35 (still cheaper than Airfix I think?).  This one was in the wrong box, but I'm not building the box 🙂 

 

Al.

Current Airfix offering from Hannants is £34.99,  kit no. A06019A . Modeldecal sheet 94 is £4.99 from the same source.

 

Paul.

[John B]

On 10/1/2024 at 1:35 AM, Bbdave said:

He was Roger Still, I got him to write down the sqns and aircraft he worked on a few years ago and I'd like to build an example from each sqn. The list includes Phantom, sabre, lightning,vulcan,vampire, hunter,javelin,gnat and Canberra.

Unfortunately dad passed a couple of years ago so I can no longer ask him.

  I think I'll be building 1/72 examples as there are quite a few.

 

Dave

That is a loving tribute and nice way to record family history.  Future descendants can ask what the models represent and someone will tell them about your late father.

[Bbdave]

5 hours ago, Paul Thompson said:

Current Airfix offering from Hannants is £34.99,  kit no. A06019A . Modeldecal sheet 94 is £4.99 from the same source.

 

Paul.

I've managed to pick an Airfix one up for £25 and have decals ordered.