Chargers Last MiG: 1/48th Academy F-4B Phantom II
In 2012 Academy delivered the first new-tool 1/48th scale Phantom seen in decades, finally besting the Hasegawa as "King". Not surprisingly the Academy 1/48th scale F-4B Phantom II improves on some of the shortcomings of all the other Phantom kits, at the time, with better details everywhere you look, and a vast assortment of weapons.
More recently additional high-quality Phantoms have come to market in 1/48th. The best F-4B kit would now go to Tamiya. Zoukei-Mura and Meng Model have released new tool F-4 kits (but not the B) which look very promising as well. So many Phantoms & schemes so little space and time!
I selected VF-161 "Chargers" / "Rock River" 102 for my build here, whos crew (LT Victor Kovalesski & LTJG James Wise) had the distinction of earning the last MiG kill for the USN in the Vietnam war (12 January 1973).
You can see more in-depth detail of this build with additional photos at: https://www.flypastrush.com/post/chargers-last-mig-1-48th-academy-f-4b-phantom-ii
Thanks for looking & good luck on your next build.
Nice one. You gathering a nice collection.
Thanks Vic (@vicbalshaw) Yes the collection is still growing 🙂
Excellent Phantom!
Thanks Spiros (@fiveten) - Still need a few more varieties in the collection 😉
Very nice. Well done.
Thanks Ben (@popeofchillitown) That Academy kit is a good mix of cost vs detail.
Well done! Always like the hangar settings.
Thanks Gary (@gwskat) The Hangar is definitely the Home of the Collection now.
Absolutely amazing, @flypastrush
A great looking Phantom II, not only because of the Academy improvements but definitely because of your skills.
Thanks a lot John (@johnb) Thankfully not a lot went sideways or otherwise on that build. I even managed to improve my metals on the exhaust areas. I like the Academy F-4 kit as it is reasonably priced here in Canada, (about half the cost of Tamiya or ZM kits) with a good amount of detail. So, albeit with a bit more patience, it can be built up into a great looking display model... If I just wanted one, I would probably splurge for the better kits, but as it is, I seem to have become one of the many Phantom Phanatics and have about 20... with more intended F-4 builds in the future!
Phabulous looking Phantom!
But no 'shocker' really - its a Phantom.
Thanks George (@georgeswork) Yes I seem to have developed quite the affinity for the Phantom and somehow have nearly 20 of them in my collection 🙂 More to come as there are so many nice & varied schemes!
https://www.flypastrush.com/post/the-completed-build-list
I love all things Phantom - have 2 on the bench now. This is really nice.
Yeah Greg, (@gkittinger) haven't built a Phantom in a bit however there is always another in the stash that I should get to at some point (so many great schemes!). Looking forward to seeing your Phantom builds.