S u m m a r y |
Catalogue Number and
Description: |
Hi Decal Item No. 48-027 (72-057) - F-4E & RF-4C Phantom II |
Scale: |
1/48 (also available in 1/72) |
Contents and Media: |
One A5 decal sheet with additional Korean national insignia, turbine stripes & additional markings for an Iranian sharkmouthed jet on a smaller supplementary sheet and an A3 size, b&w colour scheme and decal placement guide. |
Price: |
TBA |
Review Type: |
FirstLook |
Advantages: |
Beautifully printed, thin decals covering some out-of-the-ordinary F-4Es & RF-4C. |
Disadvantages: |
No stencilling |
Conclusion: |
A high quality sheet sheet that gives modellers some welcome, added variety to do some of the less well known but certainly more interesting schemes on their F-4E or RF-4C kits. |
Reviewed by
Mick Evans
HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com
This latest F-4 sheet from Hi-Decal provides markings for no less than seven F-4Es and one RF-4C in four colour schemes in service with the US Air Force Reserve (AFRES), Republic Of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) and the Imperial / Islamic Iranian Air Force (IRIAF / IIAF).
The aircraft covered are:
RF-4C 67-0435 of the ROKAF in the Hill II scheme.
F-4E 67-0392 of the USAF Reserve in the Hill II scheme.
F-4E 76-0499 of the ROKAF in the standard SEA scheme.
F-4E 68-0421 of the ROKAF in the "compass" or "Ghost" Grey colour scheme
F-4E 71-1121 / 3-6658 of the IIAF in the Asia Minor scheme.
F-4E 73-1547 / 3-6645 of the IRIAF in the Asia Minor scheme.
F-4E 73-1544 / 3-6642 of the IRIAF in the Asia Minor scheme.
F-4E 73-1550 / 3-6648 of the IRIAF in the Asia Minor scheme. (This last example is included on an small, additional markings placement guide and decal sheet)
Once again Hi-Decal have produced a sheet which offers he modeller some out-of-the-ordinary options for their F-4 kits.
The sole US machine on this sheet is an F-4E from the 457th TFS, 301 TFW of the Air Force Reserve with a distinctive, stylised Texas flag in a "ribbon" design on the intake and "TH" tailcodes. The jet is credited with two MiG kills and wears two red stars on each intake splitter plate.
Three aircraft from the ROKAF are covered, including the sheet's sole RF-4C. One of the F-4Es wears the original, full colour SEA colour scheme whilst the second wears a very interesting and unusual grey scheme know as either "ghost or "compass" greys. This conists of an overall light grey with patches of a slightly darker grey on the uppermost surfaces of the fuselage and patches within the upper wings and tail. Similar to that originally worn by F-15s. All three aircraft wear full colour national insignia.
The remaining four jets come from the Iranian Air Force (pre and post revolution). Three of them wear the standards, Asia Minor colour scheme normally associated with this service but all have a combat history and two are credited with aerial victories.
The final Iranian F-4 on the sheet is the real clincher! Photos have recently surfaced on the internet of freshly overhauled Iranian F-4s wearing sharkmouths and Hi-Decal have immediately acted on this information and rushed out an addendum to this sheet which includes one of these machines, which is also credited with an aerial victory. Mine came seperately after I had recieved the original sheet but the addendum is now included with all new sheets. Whilst all the jets depicted are interesting, this last one is my personal favourite. These recent Iranian jets wear very fresh and clean paint jobs and the sharkmouth design is very striking and suits the Phantom well. The design is actually very reminiscent of those worn by USAF F-4Es from the 3rd TFW in the Philipines and some JADF units.
The paint schemes, decal placements and a very brief history for each aircraft are provided, in black and white, on a large, double sided A3 sheet (plus 1 small addendum sheet). Acknowledgments, recommended kits and accessories and suggested references are also listed as well as a colour table with recommended equivalent colours (or mixes where required) for the Humbrol and Model Master ranges of paints. There is also table with suggested weapons and stores loads for each of the schemes depicted. Information is also provided for the style of stenciling used on each of the schemes but, unfortunately, these will have to be purchased separately (Hi-Decal have these in their range as well).
The decals themselves look very thin, crisp and appear to be in perfect register on my sheet.
The only real down side I can see is the need to have to buy extra sheets for the stenciling on these schemes. These are available on Hi-Decal sheets 72-038 / 48-008.
Once again, Hi-Decal have produced a high quality sheet sheet that gives modellers some welcome, added variety to do some of the less well known but certainly more interesting schemes on their F-4E or RF-4C kits.
Thanks to Hi-Decal for the review sample
Hi-Decal decals are available direct from the manufacturer, Diego@HiDecal.
Review Copyright © 2010 by Darren Mottram
Page Created 7 April, 2010
Last updated
7 April, 2010
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