Hasegawa 1/48 F-4F Phantom By Gary Meinert

Background

The West German Air Force acquired 175 F-4F Phantoms, which entered service in 1974. The German F-4F Phantom was a simplified version of the USAF F-4E with some equipment and one of the fuel cells deleted. Originally considered an interim aircraft pending development of the MRCA (Multi Role Combat Aircraft, later, Tornado), the Phantom has had a long career in German service. Over the years, several updates with more modern avionics and weapons have made it a capable aircraft that is still flying today, although in diminished numbers.

In the 1970s, two F-4F wings were assigned to the interceptor role and two to the fighter-bomber role. One of the fighter-bomber units was JaboG 36, located at Rheine-Hopsten Air Base.

Introduction to my Model

The date is June 1977. Hopsten Phantom 37+77 taxis past the observer on a sunny day to begin its training mission. This Phantom wears the standard Norm 72 camouflage of the period: dark green and dark grey upper surfaces with silver underneath. The rampant white horse badge of JaboG 36 is prominently displayed on the forward fuselage.

The Plan

To celebrate the Phantom's 50th anniversary, I decided to convert one of my Hasegawa F-4E kits into an F-4F. Of the three paint schemes for the F-4F, the 1970s colorful splinter one is my favorite--and JaboG 36 is my favorite unit. AirDoc's release last year of decals for Norm 72 Phantoms made this project possible. I used AirDoc 48017 for the primary decals and AirDoc 149002 for the stencils. The comprehensive AirDoc decals make it possible to model any F-4F from any unit.

My plan was to build the model almost straight from the box and not use any aftermarket resin or photo-etch parts. I knew that I had to modify the horizontal stabilizers by filling in the unwanted leading edge slots and removing the other raised detail, but otherwise no other structural changes would be necessary--or,so I thought.

Improvements

In the mind of a modeler, one thing leads to another, and I ended up making additional changes and improvements. I wanted a closed canopy with the air crew inside, so I raided my Monogram Pro-Modeler F-4E kit(Hasegawa tooling) for the one-piece canopy. I installed sway braces for the inner pylons from the Hasegawa Weapons set C. I scratch-built (from styrene rod) the two tiny RHAW antennae on the parabrake housing. I also removed and later reattached the tail hook for a more realistic appearance. And I substituted MV lenses for the kit's landing lights.

Because my references showed the Phantoms taxiing with the flaps lowered, I decided to cut out and drop the flaps. Arrrgghh! This was the most difficult part of the project.

The Hasegawa F-4E kits are 1980s tooling, and while good in their day, they are getting long in the tooth. These kits have a number of shortcomings, including lack of realistic air intake tunnels, over-simplified exhaust nozzles, no separate, positionable control surfaces, and hollow air intake side plate parts that must be filled on the inside surfaces. There are also several nasty fit problems that the modeler has to deal with--the worst is the fit of the wing sub-assembly to the fuselage, where there are both gaps and steps.

Color Considerations

After researching my color references and checking them against my own color slide collection, I decided to go with IPMS Stockholm's suggested Humbrol colors for the upper surface colors: HU 27 Grey and HU 155 Olive Green. ( I am an enamel guy and I always like to use Humbrol paints anyway). I lightened the grey slightly by adding a bit of white, and I darkened the green by adding a little HU 108 Olive Drab. For the undersurface, I decided to use Testors Model Master Flat Aluminum enamel. Since this aluminum is very bright, I toned it down by mixing in small amounts of flat black and flat white.

For the natural metal areas of the rear fuselage and the horizontal stabilizers, I used a base color of Testors Metallizer Buffing Aluminum. I did not buff this, and I sealed it with a protective coat of Metallizer Sealer. The exhaust nozzles were painted with a base color of Metallizer Buffing Titanium--again, not buffed, but sealed. Later, I lightly sprayed a dark brown enamel wash over the nozzles and part of the stabilizers(applied heavily in the rear fuselage underside). I also used a flat clear coat on the leading edge of the stabilizers.

My MMP weathering powders came in handy, as I used them in selected areas of the stabilizers. I also used the powder to make smudges and streaks for some subtle weathering on the fuselage and wings. I had earlier accented the panel lines with my colored pencils.

Here is a color fun fact: the drop tanks and pylons were delivered from McDonnell Douglas in standard USAF colors of FS 34079 dark green and FS 36622 gray. They were usually not repainted in German colors during the period of Norm 72 markings. I used the appropriate Model Master enamels paints for these items.

Air Crew

The pilot and weapons system officer are USAF figures from the Hasegawa kit . I know that the German flight suits, vests, and helmets were not the same as their USAF counterparts, but it is not practical in 1/48th scale to try to deal with these differences, although I did shave off the raised rectangular visor track structures from the helmet tops. German Phantom air crew of this period had orange suits, green vests, and light -tan gloves, so I painted my figures accordingly.

I scratch-built the oxygen hoses for both figures, and I modified the back-seater with a turned head and a waving arm (a new hand was found and grafted on). I also made some simple tape shoulder harness straps for the seats and the figures.

Conclusion

This was a challenging but enjoyable build where I did not use any resin or photo-etch parts. And I did not get bogged down in super-detailing the cockpit(no need when it is closed). For all their faults, the Hasegawa 1/48th Phantom kits can still be the basis for attractive models. But I am definitely eager for a new generation of state-of-the-art 1/48th Phantoms.

This model is dedicated to the late Norbert Kropfl, a German aviation enthusiast who I traded color slides with back in the 1970s. Norbert's slide of 37+77 served as the principal reference for my model. Additional references include the Detail & Scale series and the AIRtime book: McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Spirit in the Skies.