Furball Decals 48-089: USMC Rhinos Pt.3

The ever-popular F-4 Phantom has been well-served by decal makers, this being one of over a dozen Phantom sheets now released by Furball Aero Design. Among all the Air Force and Navy schemes provided, USMC F-4s haven’t been neglected. This is the third Furball sheet dedicated to Marines Phantoms, featuring ten aircraft in post-Vietnam War service. Most of these aircraft are depicted at the time they were in CONUS at various air stations, but a few were serving abroad on carrier decks.

Represented are:

• VMFA-321 “Hell’s Angels,” F-4N BuNo. 152307, NAF Andrews, 1978

• VMFA-314 “Black Knights,” F-4N BuNo. 152237, MCAS El Toro, 1973

• VMFA-314 “Black Knights,” F-4N BuNo. 150640, MCAS El Toro, 1978

• VMFA-531 “Grey Ghosts,” F-4N BuNo. 152233, MCAS Cherry Point, 1978

• VMFAT-101, “Sharpshooters,” F-4N BuNo. 150630, MCAS Yuma, 1977

• VMFA-531 “Grey Ghosts,” F-4N BuNo. 153050, USS Coral Sea, 1979

• VMFA-531 “Grey Ghosts,” F-4N BuNo. 153023, USS Coral Sea, 1979

• VMFA-323 “Death Rattlers,” F-4N BuNo. 153889, USS Coral Sea, 1979

• VMFA-451 “Warlords,” F-4J BuNo. 153889, MCAS Beaufort, 1978

• VMFA-333 “Shamrocks,” F-4J BuNo. 155511, USS Nimitz, 1975

Most of these are decked out in the typical light gull grey over gloss white scheme seen on US Navy and Marines aircraft in the 60s and 70s, but a few are totally grey, top and bottom. For the VMFA-531 and -323 jets, one may also paint the large identification stripe on the starboard wing that they wore for a brief time during Operation Eagle Claw. The instruction sheet provides color callouts and dimensions of the stripes, which cover the wing national insignia.

The instructions make no mention of a specific F-4 kit, but because they offer the F-4N and J out of the box, Academy’s kits are good candidates using these decals. Zoukei-Mura offers an F-4J, but one would want to make sure the stripe decals for the VMFA-451 and -333 options fit to the dimensions. Tamiya currently only offers an F-4B in 1/48 scale, but it can be made as an F-4N thanks to Hypersonic Models’ conversion kit. This is an intriguing option, since most of the F-4Ns on this sheet appear to have decals that would fit regardless of kit used.

As always, Furball Decals are among the best in the business. They are immaculately designed with incredible detail and accuracy, and this sheet is no exception. Since they are printed by the peerless Cartograph, you should have no problem applying them with ease to your next Leatherneck Spook.

 Hans Gertje

November 2025

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