Phantom Newbie - Best 1/48 Kit for Lakenheath F-4D?

[latormentabritanica]

Hello All!

 

Could any of you Phantom Phanatics help me figure out which 1/48 kit would be best for building an accurate F-4D from RAF Lakenheath?

 

I will be using Xtradecals markings for F-4D-29-MC Serial 66-7502, circa 1974-1977. Photo below for reference.

 

I'm assuming the decision will come down to either the Academy or Zoukei-Mura 1/48 F-4D kits, but I know almost nothing about F-4s, so I would appreciate the advice!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[RichB63]

Four options, all pretty decent, in order of release date and (not surprisingly) price:

 

• Monogram F-4C/D

• Hasegawa F-4C/D

• Academy F-4D

• Zoukei Mura F-4D

 

My choice would be the newest (and most expensive) of the lot, ZM.

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by RichB63

[RichB63]

Arguably, the Monogram and Hasegawa kits, both released about 40 years ago, capture best the subtle curves and lines of the Phantom airframe.

 

But the more recent Academy and ZM offerings benefit from modern tooling advances: recessed panel lines, fasteners and, in general, more refined detailing.

 

Your budget and other personal preferences will dictate the choice but, suffice to say, a good looking “Toom” can certainly be had from any of the above kits.

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by RichB63

[airmechaja]

For the price, the Hasegawa  builds up nicely if you can find one.

[echolmberg]

Hands down, go with the Monogram kit.  Great fit.  Builds up nice.  More accurate in shape.  Isn't overly engineered nor overly priced.

Edited April 15, 2021 by echolmberg

[Craig Baldwin]

14 hours ago, latormentabritanica said:

Could any of you Phantom Phanatics help me figure out which 1/48 kit would be best for building an accurate F-4D from RAF Lakenheath?

 

These are always very open ended questions as we don't know you level of modelling and opinions will be varied. But all the kits will give you a decent level of detail and accuracy. As @echolmberg stated about the Monogram C/D, still stands up well but with raised panel lines and reasonably priced. Monogram/Hasegawa lack the intake trunks and engine compressor front detail as well. All four mentioned in @RichB63 list, if built up side by side on a table in front of you, I doubt you could tell a difference in a 30 second glance.

Good luck in choosing.

[phantom]

20 hours ago, RichB63 said:

Four options, all pretty decent, in order of release date and (not surprisingly) price:

 

• Monogram F-4C/D

• Hasegawa F-4C/D

• Academy F-4D

• Zoukei Mura F-4D

 

My choice would be the newest (and most expensive) of the lot, ZM.

 

 

 

He is right, all 4 are good. Easiest is Hasegawa, hate the canopy on the Monogram, Academy builds real nice,  cant afford ZM

[GeneK]

2 hours ago, phantom said:

 

 

He is right, all 4 are good. Easiest is Hasegawa, hate the canopy on the Monogram, Academy builds real nice,  cant afford ZM

But  latormentabritanica wanted the kit that is "best for building an accurate F-4D", and that is Zoukei Mura. 

 

IMHO (of course) the Academy kit does not build up particularly well, especially the non-seamless intakes, and the ZM kit is only around $15-20 more for a heck of alot of more detail, accuracy, and fit.

 

NOTE: Some have put down the ZM kit as not being accurate and/or worthwhile because of rear fuselage contour "issues", but many, like me, still consider the ZM to be the best.

 

Gene K

[Ben Brown]

It takes some aftermarket and elbow grease to bring  the Academy kit up to close to the same level of accuracy as the Z-M kit. That brings the cost up to close to or even over that of the Z-M kit. I'd go with the Z-M kit and invest in Hypersonic's aft fuselage correction if that area bugs you. Or, you can sit around for a couple of years and see if Tamiya releases a C/D....

 

Ben

[Bill Staudt]

Where does one find the ZM kit?

 

I like the Hasegawa D. The detail and fit is better than the Monogram kit, but not by a lot. I didn't care for the Academy kit at all. Still looking for a ZM.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Bill Staudt

[habu2]

3 hours ago, Bill Staudt said:

Where does one find the ZM kit?

 

Their US distributor is Volks.  I got my ZM P-51 through them, no problem.

 

https://volksusastore.com/webstores/scale/

[Bill Staudt]

It's out of stock there, and has been for a while. Same story everywhere else I've checked. Unless you can find someone willing to sell one from their stash, I'm not sure how to even get the ZM F-4D.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Bill Staudt

[latormentabritanica]

16 hours ago, GeneK said:

But  latormentabritanica wanted the kit that is "best for building an accurate F-4D", and that is Zoukei Mura. 

 

IMHO (of course) the Academy kit does not build up particularly well, especially the non-seamless intakes, and the ZM kit is only around $15-20 more for a heck of alot of more detail, accuracy, and fit.

 

NOTE: Some have put down the ZM kit as not being accurate and/or worthwhile because of rear fuselage contour "issues", but many, like me, still consider the ZM to be the best.

 

Gene K

Thanks for answering my question! I was leaning toward the ZM kit, so I might pull the trigger and get it. I took a look around and read a bunch on the ZM shape issue, but it looks inconsequential considering nobody coming to my house will notice but me.

 

 

[latormentabritanica]

On 4/15/2021 at 2:16 PM, Craig Baldwin said:

 

These are always very open ended questions as we don't know you level of modelling and opinions will be varied. But all the kits will give you a decent level of detail and accuracy. As @echolmberg stated about the Monogram C/D, still stands up well but with raised panel lines and reasonably priced. Monogram/Hasegawa lack the intake trunks and engine compressor front detail as well. All four mentioned in @RichB63 list, if built up side by side on a table in front of you, I doubt you could tell a difference in a 30 second glance.

Good luck in choosing.

24 years of experience, so I can build almost anything.

[Piker38]

17 minutes ago, latormentabritanica said:

Thanks for answering my question! I was leaning toward the ZM kit, so I might pull the trigger and get it. I took a look around and read a bunch on the ZM shape issue, but it looks inconsequential considering nobody coming to my house will notice but me.

 

 

 

The ZM kit with the superb  Hypersonic rear fuselage correction will give you the most accurate F-4D currently available.

 

[juanchopancho]

As a bonus the ZM is sold out everywhere 😆 Maybe one will pop up on ebay for $300!

[ElectroSoldier]

ZM's F-4D looks lovely but over rated considering the price of it.

 

Hasegawa is still a strong contender and Monogram's old faithful is still always worth considering especially as it got a Revell reissue a few years ago.

[Charlie D.]

I still like the old Esci kit. Engraved lines, fits  reasonably well, not bad for a C or early D...and can generally found cheap.  Needs some help in the cockpit though. I’ve got a pile of those along with the Monogram. So many phantoms to do, I can’t afford an ZM/Academy kit for every scheme I have planned. 

[VADM Fangschleister]

This is the Hasegawa kit from 1988.   I lowered the flaps and opened the 'chute door but other than that, pretty much stock with MM paints and kit decals.  

 

I remember the only niggling bit was the joint between the bottom wing to the intake trunk.  There is no engine detail down the intakes but there are seamless intakes available through aftermarket as well as a ton of exhausts, cockpit parts and seats to make it really pop.  None of which were available in the pre-interwebz days.  

 

The "D" kit does suffer from raised panel details.