F-4C/D Phantom II
Col. Robin Olds

Accurate Miniatures, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Accurate Miniatures' 1/72 scale F-4C/D Phantom II is available online from Squadron.com

Accurate Miniatures has recently re-boxed several older Monogram kits in their "Air Combat Legends" series. They are now offering a classic 1/72 scale jet.

Accurate Miniatures' 1/72 scale F-4C/D Phantom II is a re-release of the original Monogram kit.

The kit comprises 101 parts in grey styrene, five parts in clear plastic, one resin part and a large decal sheet.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Upon opening the box I was very impressed with the level of detail, and the finesse of surface features. Typical of kits of its era, this Phantom features raised panel lines but they are very fine and consistent. Equally subtle lines of rivets are also present.

Interior detail is well done, with raised detail on the instrument panels and side consoles, plus crisp features on the insides of the fuselage sidewalls. The seats are moulded with cushions and hanresses in place. Even the overhead ejection loops are moulded to the top of the seats.

A seated pilot plus another walking pilot figure are included. These are both very well detailed figures in natural poses that will lend a sense of scale and context to your model.

The moulds are clearly in good shape too, as there is only minimal evidence of sink marks and flash on my sample.

Stores are quite comprehensive. These comprise four AIM-7 missiles, four AIM-9 missiles, a 600 gallon drop tank, two 370 gallon drop tanks, AN/ALQ-87 and AN/ELQ-101 ECM pods, an SUU-16 gun pod and six Mk.82 bombs. As an exclusive bonus in this kit, Accurate Miniatures has also included a resin QRC-160 radar jamming pod.

The clear parts offer either a once-piece canopy if the aircraft is to be built buttoned up; or separate pieces if the canopy is destined to be posed open.

Accurate Miniatures supplies a big and comprehensive decal sheet with no less than nine varied marking options. Two of the options cover Col. Robin Olds (680 and 829, both in SEA colours), while a third camouflaged opton wears a special Bicentennial scheme on the tail.

The remaining six options are all finished in overall light grey. Five of the six were participants in the 1982 William Tell Fighter Weapons Meet at Tyndall Air Force Base.

There is no mention of who printed the decals, but they are superbly presented in high gloss and in perfect register (they look like Cartograf to me).

Instructions are supplied in a 16 page booklet.

Monogram's 1/72 scale F-4C/D Phantom was a great kit at the time and is still very good now.

Accurate Miniatures reboxing of this kit with a large, colourful new decal sheet and resin QRC-160 radar jamming pod gives this Rhino a new lease of life, and exposure to a whole new generation of modellers.

Thanks to Accurate Miniatures for the review sample.

Accurate Miniatures kits are available worldwide through hobby retailers and from Squadron.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
Page Created 29 September, 2008
Last updated 29 September, 2008

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page