Sheet:

Eagle Strike 48-044: F-4G Phantom II

Units: 561 FS

Price

$9.00

Reviewer:

Chris Ishmael

        While the heyday of the F-4 has long since passed, it still remains a very popular modeling subject, as evident by the steady introduction of aftermarket decals.

      This sheet covers 4 of the last active duty F-4Gs before the types retirement & subsequent drone conversion (oh, the horror!).  All are in the Hill Gray II scheme. 

      The instruction sheet is in full color, showing a left side profile of each, plus some smaller views to highlight particularities of certain aircraft.

      The content of the decal sheet in interesting, as all the major squadron markings, national insignia, serial number, armament blocks, & formation lights for all 4 aircraft are provided.  The Air Combat Command badges on the tail are 2 piece decals, consisting of a base having the white and yellow areas, & an overlay with the blue & red colors.

      All 4 aircraft, as expected, have almost identical markings, but there are differences.  The uppermost a/c on the instruction sheet is the COs a/c, with "561 FS" replacing the standard serial number markings.  By this time, this unit had lost its instantaneously recognizable "WW" tail code to an F-16 unit, being replaced by the "WA" tail code, standing for "Weapons Academics".  The tail code on this a/c is slightly larger than the rest, & has a thin black shadowing.  Modelers should make note that there is a left & right tail code decal, as the black shadowing is on different sides of each decal.  This a/c also is the only one to carry the wing badge on the intake.  The other three carry the squadron badge in the same position on the intakes. 

     The second a/c carries a "Wild Weasel" character with the infamous “YGBSM” acronym on the splitter plate, along with 8 HARM launch markings.  Also, the squadron badge is incorporated into the black & yellow checkered tail band.

 

      The third a/c carries a "Super Wild Weasel” character on its splitter plate, along with 4 HARM launch markings.  This tail band has no squadron badge in it, but it is on the intake. 

     The final a/c has the famous Phantom Spook on its splitter plate, 4 HARM launches, and the tail band that incorporates the squadron badge, & the squadron badge is also on the intakes.

 

      Overall, a good sheet for a popular model.  Recommended to my phellow Phantom Phreaks.

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