Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1904 McDonnell-Douglas F- 4F Phantom II German JG 74 “MÖLDERS”

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINISHED MODEL

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 Crew figures Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic Highly collectable JG 74 badge

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, supersonic long-range all- weather fighter-bomber. The aircraft was designed as a USN Fleet defense aircraft and entered service in 1961. The F-4 soon became one of the few aircraft to be utilized by the USN, USAF and USMC. The Phantom could carry a varied payload and armament so it was well suited to do just about any job. Because of its large nose and ruggedness the F-4 earned the nickname “Rhino”, along with others that were less flattering. The F-4 went on to serve in no less than 11 other countries. Production ended in 1979 with 5,201 aircraft manufactured in 14 different versions.

The West German Government decided to buy the F-4F to replace their F-104s. The “F” version was basically an “E” with major components made in Germany. Between September 1973 and April 1976 175 F4Fs were delivered. Some aircraft went to equip Hunting Squadron “JG 74” MÖLDERS. Carrying on a tradition of honoring their war heroes, in 1973 the JG 74 Squadron received the name “MÖLDERS”. MÖLDERS was a WWII Ace with 101 victories when in November 1941 he died in a plane crash while a passenger on a He-111. In 2005 the German Defense Ministry decided that since MÖLDERS had been in the Condor Legion that took part in bombing of a Spanish town during the Spanish Civil War that he didn’t deserve to be honored and his name would no longer be associated with JG 74.

F-4F specifications Manufacturer: McDonnell-Douglas Type: Fighter/Ground Attack Crew: 2 Dimensions Height - 5.01 m Length - 19.40 m Wing Span - 11.70 m Weight Empty - 21,950 kg. Max T/O weight - 27,300 kg Performance Engines - 2 X J79-MTU-17A engines were built under license from General Electric by Motoren-und-Turbinenen-Union Munchen GmBH. Thrust - 5,308 kg (8,120 kg with A/B) Max speed - Mach 2.23 @ 12,500 m Initial Climb Rate - 41,000 ft/min (210 m/s)

Armament 4 x AIM-120A AMRAMM air-to-air Missiles The F-4F originally lacked the capability of carrying nuclear weapons and it could not carry or launch certain air-to-ground missiles such as the Maverick, Shrike, or Walleye. The design that finally emerged was 3300 pounds lighter than the stock F-4E. The number 7 fuselage fuel tank was removed and all Sparrow equipment was eliminated. The AN/APQ-120 radar was simplified, with no beacon search or constant wave illuminator being provided for Sparrow or Falcon missile launches. Although no in- flight re-fuelling receptacle was initially fitted, the internal plumbing needed for midair re- fuelling was installed at the factory.