Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1958 McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II 68-567 “Starize”, 1stTRS/10th TRW, Alconbury 1986

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

The first production RF- 4C flew in May 1964. The RF- 4C was an unarmed recon variant designed for information gathering. This variant is quite easy to recognize from other F-4 variants because of the distinctive nose. The larger nose was designed to accommodate radar, sensors and flat windows for cameras. During its years of service the RF-4C used two nose variations. The original design was the angular version with a later design that had a smoother rounded camera bulge. There were 503 RF- 4cs built with 499 being officially accepted by the USAF.

The 10th TRW was located at Alconbury, England and had 3 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons, the 1st, 30th and 32nd. Until May 1965 these squadrons flew the RB-66 Douglas Destroyer when they began to convert to the RF-4C Phantom II. In the early 1970’s tail codes became the standard markings and Alconbury was assigned “AR” -1st TRS, “AS” - 30th TRS and “AT” - 32nd TRS. After about 1 year all Alconbury aircraft wore “AR” on the tail with the 10th TRW distinguished by a small color stripe on the tip of the tails. 1st TRS blue, 30th TRS red and the 32nd TRS yellow. 68-0576 was sent to AMARC on December 9, 1991.

Specifications for the McDonnell RF- 4C Phantom II Dimensions Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in Wing area - 530 sq ft Length - 62 ft 11 in Height - 16 ft 6 in

Performance Engine - 2 X General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets Thrust 10,300 lb.s.t. dry 17,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner Fuel Maximum internal fuselage tanks Up to block 40 aircraft - 1,260 U.S. gallons Aircraft block 41 and on - 1,142 U.S. gallons Maximum external tanks Center-line - 600 U.S. gallons On outer pylons - 2 X tanks (1/wing) 370 U.S. gallons