Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1901 McDonnell-Douglas F- 4D Phantom II 432 TRW, 555th TFS, Vietnam, 1972, Steve Ritchie

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES

True 1/72 scale Professionally painted Great attention to detail All markings are Tampoed (pad applied) Option to display the model on a stand that is provided Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions Loads of optional armament has been provided Canopy can be displayed open or closed Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable In 1972 during his second tour of the Vietnam War Steve Ritchie was assigned to the famed 555th “Triple Nickel” Tactical Fighter Squadron. Flying an F-4D with his RIO Capt. Charles DeBellevue he shot down 5 Migs making him the only USAF jet fighter pilot Ace in the Vietnam War. By the end of his tour Ritchie had flown 339 combat- missions and logged 800 flight hours. Ritchie was awarded the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, ten DFC’s and 25 Air Medals. He retired from the USAF in 1999 as Brigadier General.

The F-4D was an improved “C” variant with most improvements being internal electronics and avionics. The F-4D entered operational service in April 1966 and joined the combat forces in Southeast Asia in May 1967. With the arrival of the “D” most of the “C” variant were reassigned to ground attack with the “D"s taking on the air-to-air interceptor role. In 1968 - 1969 a total of 825 “D” models were produced 793 for the USAF and 32 for the Iranian Air Force.

432nd TRW Motto: “Victory Through Science” Their mission - PROTECT THE FORCE - GET AND KILL MIGS !!!

Specifications McDonnell-Douglas F-4D Phantom II Type - Fighter Entered Operational Service - April 1966 Crew - 2 Dimensions Length - 62 ft. 10 in. (18.9 m) Height - 16 ft. 6 in. (5.03 m) Wingspan - 38 ft. 5 in. (11.71 m) Wing area - 530 sq ft. (49.23 sq m)

Weights Empty Weight - 28,276 lbs (12,823 kg) Gross Weight - 50,341 lbs (22,830 kg) Max Weight - 58,000 lbs (26,303 kg)

Powerplant Engines - 2 X General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets Thrust Dry - 11,870 lb. st With Afterburners - 17,900 lb. st Fuel load Total - 3,230 US gallons (12,226 l) Maximum internal Internal fuselage tanks - 1,260 gallons (4,769 l) Internal wing tanks - 630 gallons (2,384 l) Maximum external 600 US gallon (2,271 l) centerline tank + 2 - 370 US gallon (1,400 l) tanks under each wing on the outer pylons.

Performance Range - 1375 mi (2,214 km) Cruise Speed - 587 mph (945 kph) (510.81 kt) Max Speed @ 42,000 ft - 1,432 mph (2,304.5 kph) (12,801 m) (Mach 2.17) @ Sea Level - 826 mph (1,329.3 kph) (Mach 1.08) Landing speed - 165 mph (265.5 kph) Initial rate of climb - 40,100 fpm (12,222.5 m/min) Maximum rate of climb - 48,300 fpm (14,721.1 m/min) Ceiling - 59,400 ft (18,104 m) Combat range - 502 miles (807.9 km) Maximum range - 1,844 miles (2,967.6 km) with maximum external fuel.

Armament (4) Aim-7D or (4) Aim-7E Sparrow missiles semi-recessed on slots in the fuselage belly + up to (4) Aim-9 Sidewinder missiles on the inboard pylons or up to (18) x 750 lb (340 kg) bombs for a maximum offensive load of 16,000 lbs (7,257.48 kg)