Zoukei Mura 1/48 F-4E "Late" Announced

[Miramar Road]

While shopping around the usual model shops in Akihabara I stopped by Volks to grab some parts for a 1/700 ship project I was working on. They gave me a flyer that was mostly about anime and sci-fi modelling, but I did notice some news on Zoukei Mura's aircraft models. Most of it was on the reissue of the Shinden, just in time for the new Godzilla -1.0 movie. I did notice something buried at the bottom: They're going to release the slatted-wing F-4E in Spring 2024. Reservations start on February 23.

 

Good to see they're still going forward with the Phantoms! It's been a while since they released the F-4G. They did say they will do all the long-nosed Phantoms so that just leaves the German F-4F's. Plus they do have the Recon Phantoms for the future.

[Nebbor]

Leaves the question how late ‘ late’ is. In other words: belly strap or not (apart from cockpit differences). I would like them to do the kit with strap or even better: have both options in the kit (might be slightly incorrect for either). More choice is always better. In the mean time I am going to enjoy my next kit on the bench: the Meng F-4E of the very late variety.

[Ben Brown]

Of course they did! I just bought the “early” kit and Hypersonic’s slat conversion a couple of weeks ago. You’re welcome!😄

 

Ben

[Alternative 4]

Do we know when the RF-4's are set for release?

[72scaler]

I would love to see a RF-4E as well 🤞

[is it windy yet?]

23 hours ago, Ben Brown said:

Of course they did! I just bought the “early” kit and Hypersonic’s slat conversion a couple of weeks ago. You’re welcome!😄

 

Ben

Someone had to do it for team..  Thanks

[Wild Weasel V]

Here's a picture with the machine translation. Spring 2024, so maybe April given the late February pre-order date?

 

 

 

All total speculation of course, but the test shot doesn't have the TISEO pod and has a RWR 'football' on the fin cap. That would at least suggest a retrofitted jet with the belly strap. It is possible that the kit could come with a separate new frame with the thicker skin lower wing and TISEO as well as the existing Frame H from the F-4G. Z-M will need to tool the thicker skin wing anyway since they'll be doing an F-4F to finish off the gun nose variants. After the 'late' F-4E Z-M have mentioned they'll release a F-4F, F-4F(ICE), a standard F-4EJ and, maybe, a RF-4EJ.

 

Unfortunately I don't think we'll  probably see the RF-4s for a few years yet. I think the shortest interval between releases was something like 6-9 months between the F-4C and F-4D. Based on that and the picture panel presented at the 2023 US Nationals mentioned in the Caracal RF-4C thread, my guess for the camera nose variants appearing is not until late 2026 at the earliest; probably beginning with a JASDF RF-4E. It'll be interesting to see how they tackle the nose profiles - I wouldn't be surpirised if they do separate fuselages for the chisel and curved noses! Here the post:

 

On 8/19/2023 at 3:49 PM, Mike J. Idacavage said:

Building a model from this and hopefully a follow-up sheet on the RF-4Cs used in Desert Storm will become much easier with the announced RF-4 series from Zoukei-Mura next year. I talked with some of the ZM staff at the recent IPMS Nats in San Marcos and was told that work is now underway in the development of these kits. Here's the official announcement that they had on their stand.

 

Have fun modeling!

Mike

 

23 hours ago, Ben Brown said:

Of course they did! I just bought the “early” kit and Hypersonic’s slat conversion a couple of weeks ago. You’re welcome!😄

 

Ben

Don't feel too bad Ben, I have the same combination. Looking at the slat set up in the Z-M F-4G I think fitting the Hypersonic parts to the hard wing for a typical closed configuration will be a lot less hassle 😄

[Ben Brown]

2 hours ago, Wild Weasel V said:

 

 

 

Don't feel too bad Ben, I have the same combination. Looking at the slat set up in the Z-M F-4G I think fitting the Hypersonic parts to the hard wing for a typical closed configuration will be a lot less hassle 😄

That’s what I’ve been thinking. I have the F-4S and will have to take some extra steps to retract the slats. The Hypersonic F-4E set is plug and play, which I like because I’m lazy. 😄

 

Ben

[Da SWO]

12 hours ago, Illu said:

 

I have crawled around under multiple F-4Es with TISEO (which by definition means they have the thicker skin on the spar box).  You can hook a fingernail on the edge, but from more than about five feet away you can’t see it.  The thicker skin might add 1/16”, if that.

Which units had the TISEO?

[phantom]

3 hours ago, Da SWO said:

Which units had the TISEO?

Literally dozens.

[Ben Brown]

From Joe Baugher’s site:

 

At block 48 (71-0224), the main wingbox was given thicker lower skins, with the steel reinforcing strap previously required being deleted. A Northrop-designed ASX-1 electro-optical (TISEO) target acquisition and tracking sensor was added in an attachment mounted on the inner left wing leading edge.

 

Ben

[Da SWO]

1 hour ago, Illu said:

 

Virtually every unit that flew F-4Es had them at some point.  I can't think of one that didn't.  

 

All F-4Es from serial number 71-0237 and higher had TISEO.  The only exceptions were the late block aircraft that went to Turkey, Greece, and South Korea.  They decided they didn't need TISEO, which is why the Ghost Gray F-4Es and the 5000th special didn't have it.  

Thanks, I want to build an E with 57FIS markings, and didn't know if flew TISEO equipped birds.

[Niels]

2 hours ago, Da SWO said:

Thanks, I want to build an E with 57FIS markings, and didn't know if flew TISEO equipped birds.

the 57FIS only flew FY66/67 jets, ie without TISEO. TISEO was only added from FY71 jets as Illu stated

[Bangem82]

On 12/13/2023 at 12:59 PM, Da SWO said:

Thanks, I want to build an E with 57FIS markings, and didn't know if flew TISEO equipped birds.

Man. I wish we got more F-4Es in ADC Gray. I’ve had it on my list for a while. Hoping someone does some decals sooner rather than later. I have the old Expert’s Choice sheet, but would love to see someone like Speed Hunter or Caracal tackle them.

[Miramar Road]

24 minutes ago, Bangem82 said:

Man. I wish we got more F-4Es in ADC Gray. I’ve had it on my list for a while. Hoping someone does some decals sooner rather than later. I have the old Expert’s Choice sheet, but would love to see someone like Speed Hunter or Caracal tackle them.

FYI, Euro Decals has a sheet for the 57 FIS ADC F-4E's based in Iceland.

 

Euro Decals 57th FIS F-4's

 

I have these in 1/72 and they look really nice.

[Niels]

7 hours ago, Bangem82 said:

Man. I wish we got more F-4Es in ADC Gray.

Just about the onlt unit flying the F-4E in ADC gray was the 57FIS, so no wonder they are few.
The 4TFW received one(?) - 67-0224 -  which was transferred fron the 57FIS, which flew for a while in ADC colors and with 335TFS badges and tailband but not the "SJ" tailcode of the 4TFW. Might have been some test birds aswell, but that would be it.
Besides this, from what I've seen it was only F-4C/D's that carried the ADC scheme, usually associated with the air defence mission of these units.  

Edited December 20, 2023 by Niels

[habu2]

The 57 FIS Wikipedia page has this image of 66-0300 & 66-0370 circa 1980

 

 

[Curt B]

I know I'm way late to be adding to this thread, but once I heard about the ZM F-4G, I figured a late (slatted wing) F-4E wouldn't be too far behind.  I'm only surprised it took this long!

Edited February 18, 2024 by Curt B

[JeffreyK]

It's on their website now.

https://www.zoukeimura.co.jp/en/products/sws48_15_f4e-late.html

J

[Whiskey]

I like the box art.

[Ben Brown]

I'll be interested to see if they include the additional cockpit parts needed for the ARN-101 jets. If not, @JeffreyK already has some nice ones in his excellent slat conversion set.

 

Ben

Edited February 19, 2024 by Ben Brown

[scotthldr]

On 12/13/2023 at 4:01 PM, Illu said:

 

Virtually every unit that flew F-4Es had them at some point.  I can't think of one that didn't.  

 

All F-4Es from serial number 71-0237 and higher had TISEO.  The only exceptions were the late block aircraft that went to Turkey, Greece, and South Korea.  They decided they didn't need TISEO, which is why the Ghost Gray F-4Es and the 5000th special didn't have it.  

Not quite true, all Greek Peace Icarus I a/c 72-1508 to 72-1535 were delivered without TIESO, although the later Peace Icarus II a/c 77-1743 to 77-1765 were TISEO equipped with one exception 77-1743. 

 

TIESO was removed from such equipped a/c as they went through the AUP program, however the Ghost scheme began being rolled out prior to the program and I’ve seen evidence of at least one TIESO equipped a/c in the Ghost scheme.

 

 

[Miramar Road]

I just grabbed this kit from the Volks Shop at the Radio Kaikan building in Akihabara yesterday. 

 

Overall it has most of the sprues you'd see in the early F-4E kit, but with the late F-4G sprue that includes the slatted wing with the belly strap. If you're doing a pre-1971 F-4E airframe you'll be ok since those had belly straps. However, if you are doing one after the "71-" serial cutoff point, those Phantoms don't have the strap. The option in the kit is the MO ANG commemorative with MiG kills 68-338 so you have what you need in the kit for that particular Phantom.

 

If you wanted to do a strap-less F-4E, one option is to order the strapless wing sprue used in the early F-4E or F-4EJ Kai kit from ZM themselves and fit the slatted wingtips to those parts.

 

The most notable sprue is the new "O" tree, which includes later F-4E instrument panels and side-consoles. Most importantly it includes the TISEO and the ARN-101 antenna mods used on some F-4E's. Even though ZM doesn't have you using these parts since the MO ANG Phantom doesn't have them, its a nice extra. 

 

If I were to guess, ZM might issue a later boxing with decals for an F-4E that has the TISEO and ARN-101. They've done different boxings for the F-4J and the F-4EJ with different decals so it would make sense. They also could do a huge variety of foreign F-4E's since most exported E Phantoms were the slatted-wing types. If not ZM, the aftermarket can provide parts for other foreign F-4E's like the Greek AUP, Turkish Terminator 2020 and Israeli Kurnass 2000.

 

I do remember hearing that the German F-model Phantoms are next up on the long-nose Phantom pipeline, so that's probably what we will see next from ZM. Then they will move on to the recon Phantoms down the line.

[JeffreyK]

52 minutes ago, Miramar Road said:

I just grabbed this kit from the Volks Shop at the Radio Kaikan building in Akihabara yesterday. 

 

Overall it has most of the sprues you'd see in the early F-4E kit, but with the late F-4G sprue that includes the slatted wing with the belly strap. If you're doing a pre-1971 F-4E airframe you'll be ok since those had belly straps. However, if you are doing one after the "71-" serial cutoff point, those Phantoms don't have the strap. The option in the kit is the MO ANG commemorative with MiG kills 68-338 so you have what you need in the kit for that particular Phantom.

 

If you wanted to do a strap-less F-4E, one option is to order the strapless wing sprue used in the early F-4E or F-4EJ Kai kit from ZM themselves and fit the slatted wingtips to those parts.

 

The most notable sprue is the new "O" tree, which includes later F-4E instrument panels and side-consoles. Most importantly it includes the TISEO and the ARN-101 antenna mods used on some F-4E's. Even though ZM doesn't have you using these parts since the MO ANG Phantom doesn't have them, its a nice extra. 

 

If I were to guess, ZM might issue a later boxing with decals for an F-4E that has the TISEO and ARN-101. They've done different boxings for the F-4J and the F-4EJ with different decals so it would make sense. They also could do a huge variety of foreign F-4E's since most exported E Phantoms were the slatted-wing types. If not ZM, the aftermarket can provide parts for other foreign F-4E's like the Greek AUP, Turkish Terminator 2020 and Israeli Kurnass 2000.

 

I do remember hearing that the German F-model Phantoms are next up on the long-nose Phantom pipeline, so that's probably what we will see next from ZM. Then they will move on to the recon Phantoms down the line.

 

I'm going to pick up y box soon as well. Based on the engravings on the wing panels for mounting the TISEO I'm a bit suspicious about the size of the part, but I'll hold judgement until I have the plastic in my hands.

ZM have not (yet) tooled a strapless, slatted wing. If they want to release the F-4F for example, or make boxings for later block types they will have to thoguh.

 

To build a stap-less slatted wing for the moment means sanding down the strap. If you took a strapless lower wing part from a previous release you need to remove the slatted leading edge from this kit and transplant it to the other lower wing as the leading edge construction is quite different. Sanding down the strap is work and requires skill but the slat transplant isn't easy either and you'd have to get another wing sprue.

 

J

[Ben Brown]

I see they didn’t include a rear instrument panel and WSO’s right console with the displays and keypad for an ARN-101 jet. @JeffreyK, perhaps you could release those parts from your excellent slat conversion set. I think the Z-M LORAN doghouse might be a bit too short or wide. It looks odd.

Thanks for posting the photo, @Miramar Road!

 

Ben

Edited April 29, 2024 by Ben Brown