Hobby Master Archive

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. Pilot figure included. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1910 McDonnell-Douglas F- 4E Phantom II USAF Air Demonstration Team “Thunderbird 1” 1970’s

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 was the main multipurpose aircraft for the US Military for 20 years. The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E” also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.

Starting in 1969 and for 5 seasons the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team flew the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II. This was a move back to the team’s tradition of using front-line type aircraft in their performances, something they had gotten away from when they previously flew the T-38A Talon super-sonic trainer. Converting the large F-4E to Thunderbird requirements was the most difficult and extensive in the team’s history. The various metals used on the F-4E to combat high heat and friction caused the paint that had been used on previous Thunderbird aircraft to look patchy. Out of necessity a polyurethane based paint was developed that would meet all requirements and provided a smooth looking finish. The main color on the F-4 became white instead of the usual silver of the previous aircraft. The white paint scheme has been used on all the Thunderbird aircraft from the F-4E through to today’s F-16.

Engines - 2 X General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets Thrust - 11,870 lb. st dry, 17,900 lb. st with afterburners Fuel Maximum internal fuel - fuselage tanks 1,364 US gallons (up to block 40) and 1,225 US gallons (from block 41 on). Additional - 630 gallons of fuel in internal wing tanks. External fuel load - 600 US gallons centerline tank Additional - 370 US gallons tanks under each wing attached to the outer pylon Total fuel load - 3334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3195 US gallons (from block 41 on)

Performance Maximum speed - 1,430 mph at 36,000 ft (Mach 2.21) / 914 mph at sea level (Mach 1.19) Cruising speed - 585 mph Landing speed - 158 mph Initial climb rate - 61,400 fpm Service ceiling - 62,250 ft Combat ceiling - 59,600 ft Combat range - 595 miles Maximum range - 1885 miles with maximum external fuel

Weights Empty - 29,535 lbs Gross - 40,562 lbs Combat - 38,019 lbs Take off - 61,651 lbs Dimensions Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in Wing area - 530 sq ft Length - 63 ft 0 in Height - 16 ft 6 in

Armament 1 X 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds in an under-nose gondola 4 X AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi- recessed slots in the fuselage belly 2 to 4 X AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons Total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and four under-wing hard-points.

The Thunderbird’s aircraft were stripped of all weapons and any unnecessary equipment.