Nice to see some new Phantom sheets in 1/72. This particular set has markings on it for one F-4B and one QF-4N. Recommended kits are the Hasegawa versions. However, you do have an option to use the slightly less detailed Fujimi kits should you wish. They are a lot less fussy and though they may not be that easy to locate, they are generally less expensive than the Hasegawa versions. The drone mod requires a few additional antennas and some other minor mods, but nothing difficult.

First up is the VMFA-321 F-4B in what is called their Bicentennial scheme, but this lasted quite a bit longer than that event. They are also called the 'Hell's Angels' so I'm not sure where that 'Black Baron's' stuff as mentioned in the instructions came from. This aircraft is in the Light Gull Grey over White scheme with a blue fin and upper fuselage section. Putting on all those stars will be fun, the but the instructions give you a good idea of where everything goes.

The QF-4N is from the 1999 time frame and is in a somewhat weathered overall Light Gull Grey with International Orange nose, tail, stab and wing tips. You'll need to add some additional data link antennas to the airframe.

Common markings are provided for both aircraft.  and there even is an extra set in case you need it. I'd use the extra wing insignia for the QF-4 as that orange bleeds through rather easily. It is nice to see that Aeromaster didn't make the mistake of 'handing' the tail markings as Hasegawa did with their 1/48 QF-4N boxing.

July 2005

Review sheet courtesy .Thanks for your support

Now for a bit of additional stuff on these two planes. Allow me to preface that to become pedantic about camouflage is only asking for trouble. What I am showing you are not the exact aircraft as are on the sheet (as I have no images of them), but similar planes photographed at the same general time. I'll first go with the VMFA-321 aircraft.

This first image shows a 1974 picture of a representative aircraft. As you can see, the general markings are quite similar. The blue (in this case perhaps black) spine/fin is very much the same as the 'bicentennial' scheme. Note the white rudder.

Next are two photos of aircraft taken in January and March 1977. Note that the blue is relatively light compared to the old scheme. Also note that both aircraft have white rudders. While 292 could have had an all blue rudder, it would have been different from the 'norm' at this time. You can see that MARTD ANDREWS was on the left side and VMFA-321 on the right.You'll also notice that star size and placement is not identical on these planes. Close, but not exact. Only on the fin are the number and general placement the same.

Now for the QF-4N. These drones are not the 'dead in a year' types that the USAF flies. USN drones had an average life of around 5 years as they were used to test new equipment and to provide some form of 'aggressor' service for shipboard systems (among many other uses). They were expended as aerial targets, but not as readily as does the USAF.

This image was taken in October of 1999. The sheet scheme is also 1999, but obviously, the nose has been moved to a different airframe by the time this image was taken. This may provide an alternate for you as all the other markings are pretty well the same (aside from no pilot names on the canopy for the sheet aircraft). This aircraft also has a rear seat installed. When sent on NOLO missions, no seats were in the aircraft.  You'll also note that there is no blade antenna just forward of the fin on this aircraft.

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