Hobby Master Archive

One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.

McDonnell Douglas F-4 15232 was produced as a “B” variant originally serving as the VF-14 “Top Hatters” CAG aircraft. Prior to transferring to the VMFA-531 “Grey Ghosts” in 1976 152323 was upgraded to an “N” variant. In November 1979 VMFA-531 deployed to the Indian Ocean for a 102 day deployment on board the USS Coral Sea. After supporting the Iranian Crisis VMFA-531 returned to El Toro in June 1980. On May 29, 1984 the “Grey Ghosts” received new F/A-18 Hornets and the last Marine F-4N was retired in 1985.

F-4N Upgrades Applied To F-4B Structurally Upgraded Complete New Wiring New Electrical System F-4J Slotted Stabilator Inboard Leading-Edge Flaps Locked Shut New Counter-Measures Equipment Long Antenna Fairings On Upper Air Intake Specification of the F-4B Phantom II Number of “B” variant built for USN and USMC - 649 Engines - 2 x General Electric J79-GE-8A/-8B/-8C turbojets, 10,900 lb.s.t. dry, 17,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner Performance Maximum speed @ Sea level - 845 mph @ 48,000 ft - 1,485 mph Initial climb rate - 28,000 fpm Service ceiling - 62,000 ft Combat ceiling - 56,850 ft. Combat range Normal - 400 miles Maximum range - 2,300 miles with maximum fuel load Weights Empty - 28,000 pounds Gross - 44,600 pounds Combat - 38,500 pounds Maximum take-off - 54,600 pounds Dimensions Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in Wing area - 530 sq. ft Length - 58 ft 3.75 in Height - 16 ft 3 in Fuel Maximum fuel load Internal in fuselage - 1,358 U.S. Gallons Internal in wings - 630 U.S. Gallons Total external fuel load - 1,988 U.S. Gallons Maximum external fuel load In center-line tank under the fuselage - 600 U.S. Gallons In 2 x under-wing tanks - 740 U.S. Gallons Combined fuel load - 3,328 U.S. Gallons Armament 4 x AIM-7D or -7E Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles in under-fuselage recesses Inner under-wing pylons could each accommodate an additional Sparrow or a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared homing missiles In ground attack mode, could carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance on centerline pylon underneath the fuselage and on four under-wing hard-points

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA19014 McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom II 152323, VMFA-531 “Gray Ghosts”, USS Coral Sea

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 Canopies can be displayed open or closed Crew figures Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable