What would be the best option for a 1/72nd scale Vietnam era (say around when Robin Olds was flying) USAF Vietnam era Phantom? And what would be the essential P/E and resin sets? I'm thinking of building it as a straight fighter, not a fighter bomber.

For the absolute last word in USAF Phantoms, you need to Kitbash the Hasegawa and Monogram kits. Having an actual Phantom driver to talk to while you're doing it can't hurt either.

The modelling world is holding its breath hoping that Academy will pantograph their 1/48 USAF kit down to 1/72 one of these days. They've already done the F-4J so it's only a matter of time...

Airfix just announced a new mould 1:72 Phantom at SMW.
No idea what version as I'm a prop man myself 😊

Won't be of much help as it's a British Fleet Air Arm Phantom. As different as you can get and still keep the phantom airframe.

Thanks all for the info.

Fujimi do pretty much all the major F-4 variants in 1/72. Their FGR.1/2 kits are still among the best kits I have ever seen. (Note to self, I must build them one day instead of letting them gather dust)
I do have a D knocking about somewhere and if I find it I'll get some pictures up in the next few days.
Vietnam War decals would be easy to find, although you will need to source weapons if you plan on kitting it out in the bombing role. Hasegawa do a few sets that will give you plenty of options.

Am I being too much of a pendant to think this thread is lost and should find it's way to Cold War?

So it was...