Classic Cake Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hi! At the local airport there is an F-4J Phantom jet. It was used in Vietnam? and was looking to find out how to build one. I have never built a jet before, right now I am building my first model, I am not sure if 1/48 would be to big or if 1/72 would be to small. Has anyone here built an F-4J in either scale? What is a good brand to get? I know that there is Revell, Revell of Germany, Hasegawa, and a few others, but I am not sure which is user friendly. Thank you. CC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I think you fired a shotgun and hit nothing with that question....... Ok lets see. Can't help you with the F-4J at the airport. You do not list where you are. But, many F-4J's were indeed used in Viet Nam. Scale, 48 or 72.....well no-one can help you here but you. How much room do you have? Each scale has its advantage and diadvantages. I like 1/48 for most models but for models I do a lot of (like the Phantom) I tend to do 1/72. Really depends on the mood I am in, and what scale the decals I intend to use are. Hasegawa is the way to go in either scale for the F-4J. Hands down no contest. Make sure you get a recent issue and not one that looks like the box is over 30 years old. The new ones are quite common in most good hobby stores. Or Spue brothers which you can order online from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Classic Cake Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hi! Thank you for your answering my question. As for the real F-4J, I did not have a question about it. The reason I asked about scale was becuase I was not sure how big the Phanton or any jet model was when completed. Thank you. CC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 A Phantom II in 1/48th scale measures out to approximately 14" long, with a wing span of around 9 1/2", if that helps any. Which kit sort of depends on your budget, Hasegawa kits are very nice and fit together very well, however they can be pricey. Monograms' F-4J builds up into a nice model, although you may have to fill and sand seams a little more than you would with a Hasegawa kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MoFo Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Assuming you build WWII-era props, a 1/72 F-4 will be roughly the same kind of size as a 1/48 single-engine prop. It's also got a 'bulkier' footprint than a comparably sized prop. If you build 1/72 WWII stuff, then a 1/48 Phantom would seem very large indeed. Which one to go with? Depends on how much space you've got, really. Hasegawa vs. Hasegawa, I'd say the 1/48 kit is a better kit (better detail, a little simpler to build), and arguably a better bang for your buck, but that's mostly because you can usually find the 1/48 kit cheap while the 1/72 seems to be going up in price. Both can build up into VERY nice looking models, so it really boils down to how much you want to spend, and how much space you have when it's built. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I bout this Testors RF-4 at the local hobby store for about 8 dollars: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=156859 It is no Hasegawa kit, but the price was right! I would recommend Monograms F-4J it wont break the bank, and would make a great 2nd model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Classic Cake Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hi! Due to the fact that I am in High-School, I don't have much of a bank to break so I will go with a Testors RF-4. Thank you all for your time and information. CC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 (edited) Hi! Due to the fact that I am in High-School, I don't have much of a bank to break so I will go with a Testors RF-4. Thank you all for your time and information. CC Wait! CC you can still get a nice 1/48 F-4J from Monogram. it will be under $20 in most places and you can still get the version you wanted. Edited July 8, 2008 by TaiidanTomcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Hi! Due to the fact that I am in High-School, I don't have much of a bank to break so I will go with a Testors RF-4. Thank you all for your time and information. CC Honestly, you wouldn't be happy with the Testors kit, like Taiidan Tomcat said, the Monogram F-4J isn't expensive and would build up to a much better model than the Testors kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Classic Cake Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 Hi, Oh, ok. I guess I will change my post then. Thank you all. CC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sting Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Don't forget AMT's F-4s. They may not have the detail as Hasegawa and even the good ol' Monogram, but it builds pretty easy and the fit is okay too. You may be able to find one on Ebay pretty cheap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
elmerfudd94 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 pretty sure i have a amt f-4j i can make a deal on. let me know if you are interested. what markings are you looking for? ron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 If you're on a budget, Italeri recently repopped the old Esci kit with a pretty nice decal sheet: http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=1187 (Article in German, but with pictures of the contenst of the Italeri box) HTH, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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