Furball Aero-Design 48-029: Gunfighter Phantoms 1

Here is another superb set from Furball Aero-Design. This set is for Vietnam War F-4C/D aircraft assigned to either the 35th or 366th TFW based at Da Nang. All of the aircraft are in the standard SEA camouflage scheme with black radomes. There is no specific kit identified for this sheet (at least not one I could find), though it is probably designed for the recent Academy kit. No reason why this wouldn't fit the Hasegawa, Monogram or even the ESCI 1/48 kit as other than possibly the fuselage bands on some planes, nothing is of such a nature that it would fit only one kit.

These aircraft are all from the early use of the aircraft and so you'll see a few oddities from what is now the norm in terms of tail codes. For a period of time in the USAF, when the tail codes were first implemented, the first letter indicated the squadron within the wing and the second was an individual aircraft letter. This later gave way to overall wing tail codes. Some have no tail codes and some have the early serial displays.

The first option, coded CO is from the 480 TFS in 1968 and is called 'the saint'. As you can guess, this is the wing commander's plane and has green tips to the tailplanes and the wing tanks, as well as the inner pylons and lower canopy.

From the 390 TFS is the BB coded plane. Its trim color is in blue and is from 1968. I'd guess the stripes mean the squadron commander's plane.

The AW plane is from the 389 TFS and is named 'gunfighter 1'. It has red on the tips of the stabs, pylons and fuel tanks. This color is also on the canopy rails.

The fourth option is from the 389th TFS in 1967. Unlike the three previous planes, which were F-4Ds, this one is an F-4C and has their earlier markings, which consisted of red and white rudder stripes. It still has the red stab tips, but the canopy color is more subdued. It has the original serial presentation.

Another 389 TFS plane is from a bit later in 1967 and now has the AT tail code, but the same serial presentation. It carries three kill markings.

Also from the 389th is the AB coded plane with the later serial marking and a red and white command band.

From the 390th is the LF coded F-4D from 1971. This has blue trim on the fin tips.

With no tail code or other color markings is this 1967 480 TFS plane while with the 35th TFW with a very large MiG kill marking on its nose. This plane uses USN style wing pylons. It arrived in the USN style paint scheme so has a white underside as the rest of the camo was painted in country.

With the large shamrock on the fin is a 480 TFS plane from 1967. It has green stab tips, pylon tips and fuel tank tips with the abbreviated green lower canopy.

The AL coded plane is with the 389 TFS in 1968 so is an F-4D. This one has red in the usual places and has command stripes on the fuselage.

Finally, with a CS code is a 480 TFS F-4C from 1967. It has only color under the canopy and was successful in downing a MiG with cannon fire from a centerline pylon in May of 1967.

The decals themselves are superbly printed by Cartograf and there are enough common markings to complete two options, though you can easily snag other data and insignia from the kit. A complete load-out diagram is also provided and not shown is a tiny sheet with six kill markings on it. A full stencil placement guide is also included.  

A great set of markings that should keep any Phantom fan happy for many builds.

December 2014

Review sheet courtesy of http://furballaero-design.com. You can get yours now at this link.

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