Furball Aero-Design 48-030: Gunfighter Phantoms 2

Here is another superb set from Furball Aero-Design. This is their second sheets for Vietnam War F-4C/D aircraft assigned to either the 35th or 366th TFW based at Da Nang. In case some are wondering how you can have the same squadron in different wings it is because the wing designation changed All of the aircraft are in the standard SEA camouflage scheme with black radomes. There is no specific kit identified for this sheet (at least not one I could find), though it is probably designed for the recent Academy kit. No reason why this wouldn't fit the Hasegawa, Monogram or even the ESCI 1/48 kit as other than possibly the fuselage bands on some planes, nothing is of such a nature that it would fit only one kit.

These aircraft are all from the early use of the aircraft and so you'll see a few oddities from what is now the norm in terms of tail codes. For a period of time in the USAF, when the tail codes were first implemented, the first letter indicated the squadron within the wing and the second was an individual aircraft letter. This later gave way to overall wing tail codes. Some have no tail codes and some have the early serial displays.

There are eleven different markings options provided with the first one being coded BB and with the 390 TFS during 1967. This F-4C is named the 'blue max' and has four blue command stries around the fuselage.

Next is an AH coded  F-4D with the 389th TFW in 1968. This one has red tips to the wing tanks, stabs and the inner pylons. It also has a red fuselage stripe and is named 'the toot'.

Third is 'the silencer', an F-4D from the 480 TFS in 1968 and is coded CM. Blue tips to the stabs, wing tanks and pylons.

'William Lee' is coded BT and is from the 390 TFS in 1968. This F-4D has green on the tips of the stabs, wing tanks and pylons.

With a locally applied camo scheme that leaves the underside white, is a 480 TFS F-4C from 1967. This one has the earlier serial style and has USN inner pylons. It also carries one very large kill marking on the splitter.

The CR coded F-4D is named 'louise' and is with the 480 TFS in 1968. Green tips to pylons, stabs and wing tanks.

The F-4C with a road runner on the nose and three kill markings is with the 390 TFS in 1967. The kill markings are shown on both sides under the unit badge. This aircraft has a BQ tail code.

BK is an F-4C with the 390 TFS from 1966. It is named 'ms georgie girl' and carries a MiG kill marking and a red stripe around the aft of the radome.

AK is also an F-4C but with the 389 TFS in 1967. There are three MiG kill markings on both sides of the nose on this plane.

From the same unit is AH, an F-4C from 1967. This one carries two red stars on both sides though only officially credited with one kill.

Finally we have a 480 TFS F-4C coded CE from 1967. This is also a MiG killer and has a single star on both sides of the nose. Note that the last four options have the old style serial representation. 

The decals are superbly done by Cartograf and come with excellent markings and placement guides that show both sides and the top of each option. There is also a sheet that provides load-out information as well as a stencil placement guide. Common markings are available for two planes though you can probably also glean what you need from the donor kit.

December 2014

Review sheet courtesy of http://furballaero-design.com. You can get yours now at this link.

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