I was at the hobby shop the other day and was getting stuff to make figures with when I happened upon a 1/48 Revell F-4J Phantom II. It was priced for $13 and I just couldn't pass it up. I'm a huge Nam fan and I always loved the look of this thing. This is my first "real" model aircraft. I have done some snap together stuff and pre-painted things when I was younger, but not something like this. I'm use to doing armor, figures, and dioramas, but not aircraft. I want to just build this kit right out of the box and just have fun with it, but I wanted to know if there is anything I should know about this kit before I start building it? I know enough about models to know that instructions can be misleading. Also, it comes with two figures (1 standing and 1 sitting) and I want them both sitting. Do you guys have any suggestions on a good sitting figure I could buy for this? Also, any tips on applying decals would be of help (I never was too good at that).

That kit is great just OOB. Really and truly you dont want to mess with it unless your really into re-scribing or AM parts for aircraft.

For decals I just apply a little Future where the decal is going to be placed and then apply it over the decal when it is on the a/c. This is to make sure there is no "silvering" or the decal comes off over the years.