RAF Phantom?

[Unit53]

Hi All,
I'm would like to build a Phantom 1:48 and in RAF markings (would that be an F4?), has anyone one got any suggestions as to which kit/Manufacturer to buy. No problem with buying decal sets but I'm a little lost as to which kit to buy, can anyone help?

Thanks
Martin

[DC87]

The new Academy Phantom is apparently very good and well priced for what comes in the box and is a new tool kit. As far as I know RAF Phantoms had no external differences to the American F4 counterparts so apart from decals it should be a good match. Academy are planning to release more variants of the kit, so if you wait you may be rewarded

[Stiggie]

From what i can tell there is a very distinctive difference in the tail. Although britain also had the standard tails. The biggest difference was that britain used the carrier based F4(F4J) which never had a under nose cannon. So becareful when buying an F4 that the one you buy looks like the image version but don't worry about the tail.

[Bridon]

Yes I think the British Phantoms had longer nose legs for carrier operations as well and of course were fitted with RR Spey engines which made the intakes quite a bit larger.

Brian

[Rammit]

The Royal Navy F-4K had a lengthened nose gear as RN aircraft carriers had shorter decks than the US carriers the Phantom was originally designed for, so they wanted the wing to be at a better angle to generate more lift, also because of the RR Spey engines the jet pipes were shorter than most US Phantom variants. The US F-4 is in the foreground (F-4J) and the RN Phantom is behind it (F-4K)

[chief5437]

Don't quote me on this, but I'm sure I read somewhere that the Brit phantom was wider and heavier due to the bigger engines, which ended up lowering performance!?

[5Craven]

From a modelling point of view the Fleet Air Arm Phantoms longer nose gear was only used on take off as it was hydraulically extended. If you wish to model a Fleet Air Arm phantom with standard length nose gear that would also be correct as that was the configuration used for landing and ground movements. In fact a number of ex Royal Navy Phantoms were subsequently used by the RAF and the extendable nose gear was left unused for ground take offs.

[Unit53]

Thanks gents, great input.

Think I will wait and see what Academy are up to although if anything comes up a SMW then I'm in, definitely got to be the Grey, Green camo as well, really like that.

[Unit53]

And if your loving the Phantom have a read of this, completely awesome bit of writing about Phantom F4's taking off from Ark Royal. I cant upload the pages as for copyright but if you click on this link which will take you to an Amazon page for the Phoenix Squadron book. Click the "look inside" tab on the book cover and read pages 29-34, it's a real eye opener...