I recently got BIG into 1/144 and did a big order of Academy, LS, Dragon and Revell Germany, and would have to say Academy is o.k. The Academy F-4, 14, 15 are reissues of the LS kits but the panel lines are HEAVY. If you want to do some sanding they will make good models, but as said they lack Drop tanks and pylons, aside from the F-4 which includes outer drop tanks and pylons.
If you can find the LS/Arii kits of the F-4,14 and 15 they are MUCH better. IMO, the F-14 and F-15's are far better than the DML kits. Using scale plans of each aircraft show's that Dragon has added, neglected or