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-41 the “Black Aces” received F-4B Phantom II for the first time in February 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 the VF-41 F-4B’s were transferred to NAS Key West Florida. In January 1970 the “Black Aces” were assigned to the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Roosevelt had several nicknames such as “Swanky Franky”, “Foo-De-Roo” and the most popular was “Rosie”. In 1973 the USS FDR and VF-41 deployed to take part in a major peacekeeping action during the Yom Kippur War. In 1975 VF-41 was one of the squadrons to switch to the F-4N and that same year made their last deployment with the F-4 aboard the USS Roosevelt.

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 HA1961 McDonnell Douglas F- 4B VF-41 “Black Aces” USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42, CVW-6

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