Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1980 McDonnell Douglas F-4G “Wild Weasel” 69-7232, “YGBSM”, 561st FS/57th FW, 1996

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 provided. Canopy can be displayed open or closed. Pilot figures included. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable.

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.

In the late 1980s 69-7232 was assigned to the 480 TFS/ 52nd TFW at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. In 1991 during Operation Desert Storm it was assigned the 81st TFS / 52nd TFW with the tail code SP. On February 1, 1993 F-4G 69-7232 was assigned to the 561st TFS / 57th TFW located at Nellis AFB, Nevada. On March 26, 1996 F-4G 69-7232 was sent to AMARC and on July 17, 1997 was sent to Holloman AFB as a QF-4G drone. On October 1, 1996 the 561st TFS was inactivated. The motto of the “Wild Weasel” squadrons began at a briefing of F-100 pilots in Vietnam. During this initial briefing when it became apparent that their mission would be to go out with the intent of being shot at so they could shoot back; one pilot was quoted as saying “You gotta be shittin' me!”. This is how the letters “YGBSM” originated.

McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel Specifications First Flight - December 6, 1975 Crew - 2 Dimensions Length - 63 ft Wingspan - 38 ft 7 ins Height - 16 ft 6 ins Weight Empty - 30,200 lbs Maximum Take Off - 61,700 lbs Performance Powerplant - 2 x GE J79-GE-17A Turbofans producing 17,900 lbs thrust per engine with afterburners Fuel Capacity Internally - 1,900 gallons Externally - 1,300 gallons Speed Maximum - 1,430 mph Cruise - 571 mph Service Ceiling - 59,000 ft Range - 1,978 miles Armament AGM-45 Shrike AGM-88 HARM AGM-65 Maverick AIM-7F Sparrows And/Or AIM-9L Sidewinder Air-To-Air missiles