This is a rather old sheet from Superscale showing four different RF-4 Phantoms. All of them are in schemes that are in many ways more colorful than what they carried at the end of their careers. This is also a time when Superscale (actually Microscale at the time as it was before the split-up). was going to card material and a smaller size for the instructions. One result of this was that some of the instruction cards were cut short as was this one. Another is that the information on them was of such a small size as to be difficult to read.

Microscale and also Superscale were notorious for using the wrong variant of a plane on which to show decal placement. This is becoming less and less of a problem with decal instructions, but the wary will always take the aircraft drawings with a huge grain of salt when doing a kit.

Well, on to the aircraft.

The first one is the lone RF-4B of VMCJ-3. It is in the standard USN colors of light gull grey over white and has an all white tail for the markings. VMCJ-3 as well as the other Marine photo Phantom units eventually combined into one creating VMFP-3. It was one of the largest Phantom squadrons in existence with up to 36 aircraft at times.

Next is an RF-4C form the 363rd TRW. This and the other USAF Phantoms on the sheet are in the standard SEA scheme  of FS 34079, 34102, and 30219 over 36622.

The lone ANG bird is this green tailed version listed as the 163rd TRS of the Kentucky ANG. Unfortunately, the Kentucky ANG is the 165th TRS . What we actually have here is a plane from the 153rd TRS, Mississippi ANG. Obviously Don Garrett slipped up big time on this one!

Finally a specially painted plane from 'Royal Flush' in 1974. This 17 TRS bird has a nice red, white and black tail marking. You paint the tail white and use the supplied decal for the other two colors.

Typical of Microscale/Superscale sheets of the time, the printing is fair, but not great. The badges in particular are not very legible as compared to what is commonly available on today's decal sheets. However, any one of the schemes is very nice and will look super on your next small scale Phantom.

Review copy courtesy of me!

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