Not too many sheets out there for the RF-4 Phantom in 1/48 so it was nice to see this initial offering from Eagle Strike. It is designed to fit the Hasegawa kit, but I'm sure that if you wished to use the old Testors/Italeri version, that it would work well there. I should caution the builder that as the Hasegawa kit is currently boxed, you cannot build the RF-4B. This is because all but the last dozen or so RF-4Bs had the same wing and wheels as the F-4B/N in that they were 'flat' and without the bulge for the wider wheels that were fitted to USAF aircraft. Generally speaking, unless the serial number of the aircraft is 157xxx, then it has the unbulged F-4B wings.

First option is RF-4C 65-0876 'Snoopy's War' with the 11 TRS, 432 TRW in 1969. This is in the standard SEA camouflage and sports a blue fin tip.

The RF-4B is 153110 from VMFP-3 in 1982. It has the early low viz scheme of overall FS 16440 Light Gull Grey with toned down markings. I should mention that is is quite possible that the tail code on the right side of the plane is NF for the USS Midway. I have photographic evidence of this being done on other cruises so it may have been standard practice.

The third scheme is also from the 11 TFS/432 TRW in 1969. In this case 65-0908 is names 'Lil Bee' with the proper nose art.

All of these aircraft have a polished metal intake lip. Sufficient insignia and some data markings for all three options.

May2005

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