1:48 F-4E

The real subject

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American two-seat twin-engined combat aircraft that served with the Navy, the Marine Corps and the Air Force and was exported on a large scale. Its recognition features are the cranked wing with raised outer panels and the horizontal tail surface angled downward. The F-4E version has a lengthened nose with a built-in rotary cannon, which the older versions lacked and without which they could not manage in close combat.

What the photo-etched set offers

Photo-etched metal parts for the F-4E model in 1:48 scale. Metal keeps a thickness injection-molded plastic cannot reach and carries fine structure a mold cannot hold. The extent of the set and the placement of the individual parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface and grip them with tweezers by the face, not by the edge. Sand the remains of the tab down with a fine file. Bend them in one movement in a bending tool or between two blades. They are bonded with super glue applied drop by drop on the tip of a pin; ordinary plastic cement has no effect on metal. Degrease the surfaces before painting and spray a primer, otherwise the finish will rub off the smooth metal.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Phantom in 1:48 scale and want to replace coarser plastic features with finer metal ones. Whether the parts fit your particular kit should be checked in the instructions of the set before you start altering the plastic. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.