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.

In 1971 VF-111 “Sundowners” transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II. On March 6, 1972 F-4B Bu. No 153019 - 201 was operating from the USS Coral Sea using the call-sign “Old Nick 201”. The aircraft was assigned to CDR Bob Pearl and Lt. Gil Sliney but this day Lt. Gary Weigand and Lt(jg) Bill Freckleton were at the controls when they encountered a MiG-17 over the Gulf of Tonkin and destroyed it with an AIM-9D making this F-4B a MiG killer. The “Sundowners” later transitioned to the F-4N variant. Aircraft, F-4B, NL 201, Bu.No. 153019 was restored to the original paint scheme by one of the later VF-111 squadrons. “Old Nick 201” is perched on a pedestal just inside the main gate at NAS Key West, Florida.

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 HA1960 McDonnell Douglas F- 4B BuNo 153019, VF-111 “Sundowners” CVW-15, USS Coral Sea, 1972

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