1/48 USN F-4 Phantom II

1/48 USN F-4 Phantom II

See all my models at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98961263@N00/albums/72157603606379755

Photograpy:
Nikon D7500; Focus Stacking using Helicon Focus; Editing using LightRoom

Kit: Tamiya 121

Paint:

This is another great kit from Tamiya. It isn't perfect though and after having recently built the Zoukei Mura (ZM) and Meng kits, I'd have to say this Tamiya kit is better than the Meng but not quite as good as the ZM kit. The two main advantages that the ZM kit has is fit and decals. The Tamiya kit has a few minor fit issues: The small scoops aft of the nose, the intakes (which need some trimming to fit well, and the fuselage is a bit wide around the perimeter of the canopy causing a gap around part C24. Luckily part C24 can be used to bring the fuselage pieces in thus narrowing the cockpit which closes the gap and achieves a better fit with the canopy when closed. Now, maybe I made some kind of mistake causing the fit problem with C24 but I don't think so. As far as the decals go, Tamiya's decals go on very well and are robust but they are thick and need a lot of setting solution to settle down around complex shapes. They also obscure most panel line detail and there was some silvering. I'd recommend after market decals.

The kit does have some nice design features including a snap-on vertical tail (no glue required) and a perfectly seamless “cassette” housing the horizontal stabilizer attachment assembly. This cassette can be inserted for painting, then removed and re-installed with the stabilizer during final assembly. This allows the stabilizer to be left off until the very end aiding with masking, painting and weathering. Also, the way the seats snap in without glue is a very nice feature.

Of any of the three F-4 kits, only the Tamiya kit includes canopy masks so and A+ to Tamiya for that. However, they are not die cut (I know, I'm picking nits here) so I'll knock that down to an A-.

Another nit-picky improvement would be to include a poly cap system for attaching the fuel tanks like they employ in their F-16 kits.

While I've been a little hard on this kit but I have to admit that it is an absolutely fantastic kit that is a pleasure to build. I still prefer the ZM kit but they don't make a B model yet so if you want the B, Tamiya is currently your only choice.

Thanks for looking,

Richard

5 additional images. Click to enlarge.