Fujimi 1/72 F-4C/D Phantom II

The F-4C was the firsst USAF variant of the Phantom II. It was basically a Navy F-4B with some minor modifications to meet USAF requirements. Those included wider, lower pressure main wheels, which required a small hump in the upper wing and gear door to clear the wider tires. There was also some equipment differences, but for all intents and purposes, it was the same. Both variants went to ANG and Reserve units after the F-4E started to replace them in regular USAF units. They also served well into the 1980s. Interestingly, neither were converted to drones a fate that befell later versions.

The first really well done F-4s in 1/72 were the Monogram versions of the C/D and J. Sure, Revell, Hasegawa and Frog, among others, had done Phantoms in this scale, but they were lacking in detail and many of them had shape issues. Not unbuildable, but not that well done either. The Fujimi series was the first semi-modern, engraved panel line series and while later overtaken by kits from Hasegawa and Fine Molds, when they arrived on the scene in 1984 were most welcomed by modelers. I know that I built at least ten of the various boxings of this kit and it still makes into a very nice model.

Let us look at some of the positives and not so positives about the kit. First thing one builds is the interior. This is fairly basic as 1/72 jets goes and relies on decals for both the main instrument panels and the side consoles. No raised detail as on the Monogram kits. The seats are generic MB Mk.4 shapes with no real detail. The interior fits atop the lower forward fuselage section that includes the nose gear well. This is then trapped between the two fuselage halves. This is the second release and as with all the initial releases, the interior has issues when it comes to how it fits in the fuselage. Later boxings added bulkheads behind the pilot and RIO that this lacks and it does help. Oddly no one every produced a resin aftermarket interior, which would have sold very well.

With the halves together the intakes, which have no real trunking, are installed. Wings are next. These are the hard wings before the additional maneuvering slats were installed. Tailplanes appear to be slotted, a feature that helped low speed handling. They also have the triangular reinforcement, a feature that may have to be removed if doing an earlier camouflage scheme. The kit also has a single piece canopy, which for me is not a big deal, but some like open canopies.

The kit does have wing inserts for the spot where on Navy planes there is a cat strop hookup. The wings also have holes opened for all the various external fuel tanks so if not using all three, they will have to be filled. Landing gear is well done. For the main gear, the builder will need to cut apart the separate doors. The kit provides wing fuel tanks as well as the proper USAF style pylons for the Sidewinders. Sparrows are also included and like the Sidewinders are not very detailed.

Instructions in my kit are in Japanese and English, the well done drawings are a good building guide. Especially if you have built a lot of these. Colors have Gunze paint numbers. The sheet provides options for two aircraft. One is the box art plane from 44TFS/18TFW, the other is from the 199 FIS, Hawaii ANG. Both are in standard SEA camouflage and both sport kill markings on the splitter plate. The decals are past their 'use by' date, but may still be viable despite some yellowing. I'd also test a marking not used to ensure they are still good. Fortunately there is no problem finding aftermarket sheets for this if you wish to go that route. 

If you want a fairly quick build and don't have a ton of money to spend, I can recommend looking for one of these Fujimi kits either at a show or various on-line auctions as those people on e-bay are asking ridiculous prices for the kit. I managed to pick up this kit and several others for $10 each in an auction.

February 2025

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