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.

VF-111 “Sundowners” re-equipped with the F-4B Phantom II in early 1971. In November 1971 VF-111 returned to the Gulf of Tonkin onboard the USS Coral Sea where they spent 148 days. 29 F-4s were loaned to the USAF when they were planning to acquire the Phantom as their primary fighter. These aircraft had USAF tail numbers and FJ-170, FJ-171 etc. on the fuselage. One of these 29 was VF-111 NL200 151000 CAG given tail number 62-12184 FJ-184 and when the USAF acquired their F-4Cs these 29 aircraft were returned to the USN.

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 HA19021 McDonnell Douglas F-4B 200, VF-111 “Sundowners”, USS Coral Sea, 1970s

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