Yet another early Microscale/Superscale sheet. This time it is for USMC F-4 Phantom IIs. No specified kit is provided, but when this was released, there was little available other than the Airfix and very early Hasegawa F-4Js in 1/72. An F-4B would have to be cobbled together using the spares bin and some scratchbuilding. Since then, there are a lot more very nice kits on the market for this sheet. Monogram, Fujimi and Hasegawa all make fine F-4Js while the latter two make F-4Bs that can be used. All of these planes are in light gull grey over white with white control surfaces. All are USMC planes and the first two units definitely saw action in Vietnam as mud movers.

First and second are F-4Bs from VMFA-323 'Death Rattlers'. There are two different schemes provided, both with a goodly number of mission marks on the splitter plate. These guys would normally be armed with lots of bombs and probably no Sparrows. It is even questionable if they'd have carried Sidewinders as most of their missions were 'in country' were the NVAF rarely operated. The first plane has an off white radome while the second has a brown 'natural fibreglass' one.

Next is a VMFA-232 F-4J. This one has a black radome, but in all other means is very standard.

Same for the F-4B from VMFA-314. It has a brown radome as well, but is otherwise not as flamboyant as Phantoms could be.

Those interested in early USMC F-4 Phantoms will find this sheet quite useful, assuming you can locate one! Insignia will have to come from the kit or a supplemental sheet.

Review copy courtesy of my ever growing decal pile!

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