hi all,quick question , who makes the best1/72nd Phantom for the vietnam war.

Well, that's still a broad range of F-4s, as Vietnam era covers;
F-4B, RF-4B, F-4J, F-4C, RF-4C, F-4D, F-4E.

Overall, Hasegawa makes the Best F-4s in 72nd (and 48th), though for the F-4C/D, Monogram is a very close second.

Mike V

Thanks for that Mike Ive been looking at their kits,always wanted to build an F4.

You can also take a look at the Revell F 4F in 1/72 (kit # 04615)
It´s a great kit with very fine detail and fit is very good.
You can make a German F 4F or make a USAF F 4E Vietnam MIGCAP Phantom with and aftermarket decal set and the four AIM9B Sidewinders, four AIM7 Sparrows and the ECM Pod thtt comes with the kit.
Hasegawa F 4 Phantoms are great kits, but are more expensive and they don´t have any armament, so you´ll have to buy the Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons set of missiles or bombs.

HiCarlos, Many thanks for the info,Ive looked at the revell kit but not knowing anything about the Phanthom designation numbers I dissmissed it but after what you have told me I think I may get it.

Your Welcome John.
There's another one too.
I believe the second one is of the same quality , I supose that is the same kit with diferent decals.
Yoy will have to add the RHAW antena to the tail fin, but that is very simple.
Here are the boxes:





Highly recomended.

Regards
Carlos

I liked the Revell kit, but the nose profile is not right, especially compared to Hasegawa.

I'm not sure you can make a Vietnam Era E from the Revell F-4F kits OOTB, as I recall the Revell F-4Fs have the unslotted stabs.

Mike V

Hi John:

Thinking of the price of the kits I still think the better option for an F 4E is the Revell kit.
Fujimi also has a Vietnam F 4E but it has raised panel lines.

Slotted stabs are dificult to see, they are visible on the leading edge of the stabilisers as a raised lip on both the top and undersides.
Wings:
The F 4F Revell kit comes with slatted wings (very well detailed are the actuator covers on the underside of the wing that in the kit comes separeted from the wings, to be added) and the Hasegawa F 4E the same.
I understand that no F 4E with slatted wings never went to Vietnam war, all were hard wings F 4Es.

What you can do is:
1) take the F 4F Revell and do not glue the actuator covers (remember not to drill the holes for them as per instructions).
2) make the slotted stabs from scrath or ignore them.
3) In may opinion the diference in shape of the nose it´s not much noticeable, once finished I believe no one will see it, except Phantom expert.
4) Eagle Strike has a very nice set of decals for the USAF - F 4E in Vietnam (#72084) 68-313/JJ `Spunky VI'; 70-342/JJ `Easy Rockin Mama'. Both Korat Air Force Base 1969/70


I think that you´ll obtain a nice lookink Vietnam F 4E Phantom.

Slotted Stabs pic

Checking the F 4 Phantom II in action (Squadron Signal) I found a couple of pictures of F 4E Vietnam Phantoms (Here Come da Judge 34tn TFSq - and another one configured for a MIGCAP mission from the 421 TFSq) where the hard wings are clearly visible and as per the pics it seems they don´t have slotted stabs. Maybe some F4E in Vietnam didn´t have slotted stabs ?
Pages 36 & 37.

Tomorrow I´ll scan these pages and post them here.

Not sure that's true, though there might have been an one-off or something unsual in an F-4E configuration. There's no evidence I've seen of "unslotted" stab USAF F-4Es in Vietnam.




The slotted stabs are indeed visable, especially from above; a vantage point that most modelers will see the finished model. I would think a "key" detail like that souldn't be omiited, but that's up to the builder.

There were a few LE slated F-4Es in Vietnam. I have an uncle that was a Crew Chief in the 4th TFW, who was deployed to Vietnam with the F-4Es from part of 72, into 73.

Mike V

Hi guys,I do like a academic debate,now heres a Phantom newbie question if I go with the Hasegawa F4E what weapons set should I order I see theres a few of them, going on box illustration set 1 looks likely, just like to make sure though. .

Hi John:

In my opinion you should get these three sets, so you will be able to do any configuration of a Vietnam F 4E: Strike only, MICCAP - Strike, MIGCAP only. Pre or post ECM pods.

Weapons set # I: (all usable)
Mk. 81 Bomb x 12
Mk. 82 Bomb x 12
Mk. 83 Bomb x 6
Mk. 84 Bomb x 4
Mk. 82 Bomb with Fuse Extender x 6
Mk. 82 Snakeye x 6
M117 Bomb x 6
BLU-27 Napalm x 6
LAU-3 Rocket Launcher (with opt. fairings) x 6
LAU-10 Rocket Launcher (with opt. fairings) x 4
MER (Mulitple Ejector Rack) x 2
TER (Triple Ejector Rack) x 2

Weapons set # III: (not all usable)
AIM-9B Sidewinder x 4
AIM-9D Sidewinder x 4
AIM-9E Sidewinder x 4
AIM-9J Sidewinder x 4
AIM-9L Sidewinder x 8
AIM-7E Sparrow x 4
AMRAAM x 4
AIM-54 Phoenix x 6
AIM-4D Falcon x 4
AIM-4G Falcon x 4
GPU-5/A 30mm Gun Pod x 2
SUU-20 Dispenser x 2
AIM-9 Launcher (Air Force) x 2
AIM-9 Launcher (Navy) x 2

Weapons set # IV: (not all usable but ECM pods are fundamental)
AGM-12B Bullpup x 4
AGM-12C Bullpup x 2
AGM-45 Shrike x 2
AGM-62A Walleye x 2
AGM-65 Maverick x 6
AGM-78 Standard x 2
AGM-88 HARM x 2
ALQ-87 ECM Pod x 2
ALQ-101 ECM Pod x 2
ALQ-119 ECM Pod x 2
ALQ-131 ECM Pod x 2
Tow Target System x 2
LAU-34A x 2
LAU-77A x 2
LAU-88A x 2

Hi Carlos many thanks for the info thats quite a bewildering ordance list but like you say its all pick and mix. I do like the Vietnam era aircraft and intend doing a corsair and a F100 I have a F105G inthe stash and Tamyias Skyraider so I should be able to put all three weapon sets to good use.I was in my local hobby shop today and saw that Academy are releasing a F4B marines looks very interesting.

You´re welcome John.
In what scale is that Academy F 4B ? Is it now on the market ?

Regards
carlos

It's going to be 48th and is scheduled for 2011. Let's just hope they get this one right, as Academy's track recod is anything but good when it comes to the shape and profiles of Jet subjects.