Hypersonic Models 1/48 F-4N Conversion

Hypersonic Models has been in the aftermarket model business for over a decade, primarily focusing on 1/48 detail and conversion parts for Cold War fighter aircraft. Here is a nifty F-4N conversion set for Tamiya’s recent F-4B. The F-4N was a remanufactured F-4B under Project Beeline, which added aerodynamic improvements, smokeless engines, new avionics and targeting systems, and electronic countermeasures equipment.

Visually, the F-4N’s distinguishing features were AN/ANQ-126 DECM antenna fairings on the sides of the air intakes. The Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) also had a new instrument panel. Other features included a rearview mirror on top of the RIO’s canopy, and depending on the aircraft, certain antenna fairings that were added, retained, or removed.

All changes necessary for making an F-4N are provided between the Tamiya kit and Hypersonic Models’ provided parts. The Hypersonic kit provides the two DECM fairings, the RIO instrument panel, a 3D printed rearview mirror, and a fincap with only the rear ECM fairing. If you plan to build an F-4N, you will definitely use the first three parts. For the fincap however, it depends on your references, as some F-4N’s retained the forward tail ECM fairing while others didn’t, even aircraft contemporaneously in the same unit. Hypersonic’s instructions helpfully remind the builder to check references on this part. As an example, here is an image of a QF-4N fin with the forward sensor.

On the Tamiya kit, there are prexisting attachment points for the DECM fairings, which would normally be removed if building an F-4B. If building the F-4N, you would attach the antennas with CA glue and fill in any gaps with putty.

The Tamiya kit also provides various antenna fairings on the underside of the fuselage. The F-4N had a different sensor suite than indicated in Tamiya’s F-4B instructions, so Hypersonic’s sheet tells you which ones to attach and how to paint.

There is nothing major here—absolutely no fuselage or parts cutting. The greatest challenge will probably be attaching the resin antennas with CA without smearing glue. The fincap and instrument panel are drop-fit. The parts are very finely molded/printed and go perfectly well with the Tamiya level of detail. The instrument panel and ECM fairings are rather delicate, so take care to remove them from castings. While handling the instrument panel, the lower right component snapped off, so I had to glue it back on and reinforce it with CA.

This is about as simple as a conversion kit comes. Hypersonic provides excellent parts and meticulous instructions. I highly recommend this set if you want to do something a little different with your Tamiya F-4B.

Hans Gertje

April 2026

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