Platz/F-toys 1/144 F-4E Phantom II 'U.S. Air Force'

KIT #:	FC5
PRICE:	2280 yen
DECALS:	Three options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	Two kits in the box

HISTORY

THE KIT

Platz has partnered with F-toys to produce a growing catalogue of 1/144 kits. These kits are marketed as two to a box, which provides a good value for the builder. They are also designed to be built without too much fuss and you'll find most of the attachment points to be quite large. The kits provide engraved panel detail which is grossly overscale, but once painted will not look all that bad.

The kit provides a well appointed cockpit with raised detail on the side consoles and instrument panels. It has separate seats and while there are no control sticks, if one uses the two crew figures that are supplied, this will not be noticed. All this will eventually be under a somewhat thick one-piece canopy assembly anyway.  

As a first for me and an F-4 kit, there is an insert for the section between the afterburner cans. Intakes are pretty standard stuff with a separate splitter piece and outer intake section. no indication is provided as to any need for weight but the bigger scale ones do not need it. The wing is a single piece with the holes for the pylons and tanks already opened.

The kit does provide an option to have the kit built gear up, and while there is no display stand provided, one could easily be made or adapted. As mentioned, the attachment pins are large, so getting the landing gear and doors attached will be pretty easy. Attaching the Sidewinders is the usual butt join.

Now for a couple of notes. First of all, this molding is used for a number of other boxings, as such, there are features that may not apply to the markings option you wish to use. For instance, the wing-tip ECM antennas would not be used in a Vietnam War plane. The same goes for the stabilizers with the arrow shaped reinforcement plate, though the slotted stabs would have been used. So fill those plates in at least for the first option. The first option would have probably not have had the later gun muzzle so you may want to consider sanding that back. Finally, the Edwards test plane was really a modified F-4D. While later it life it did have the proper gun muzzle, it never got the slotted stabilizers. Fortunately, the kit provides both styles so you can make the change. I am also not positive if the slime lights would have been applied to the second option. It is stated as shown as it was in 1972 while the lights were a late 1970s addition.

So the instructions are well done and in Japanese. There are six construction steps and FS 595 color references are provided. The first option is from the 34th TFS and is a Vietnam War bird. The second is from the 421st TFS and this unit flew the E in the last couple of months of the war from Thailand. The third is the YF-4E that was developed from an F-4D, it is shown in its later scheme from 1983 so would have had most of the E updates, though as you can see from the photo I've included, still have the early stabs. The small decal sheet is nicely done and offers markings for all three planes. Notice that the original sheet was missing the red bits of the insignia but this was covered by an addendum. Note also that all three planes have shark mouths. There are aftermarket sheets out there if you care to search for them, but I think that what is supplied will make some great models.

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCES