1:72 F-4E

Photo-etched set for the F-4E in 1:72 scale

A set of photo-etched parts for a model of the F-4E Phantom II in 1:72 scale. Photo-etch can do what an injection-molded part cannot: it is as thin as the sheet metal of the real thing, so grilles, panel skins, instrument panels or harness straps look like metal even in a small scale, and not like a plastic block. What the fret holds is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

The real subject

The F-4E is the version of the Phantom II that can be told from the older machines at a glance by the lengthened nose with an internal cannon. It was the most numerously built form of this aircraft, served with the US Air Force and with a range of other users, and stayed in service for a very long time.

How to work with photo-etch

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not by tearing them off by hand.
• Make the bends along the marked score lines, ideally in a bending tool or between two blades.
• They are bonded with super glue; polystyrene cement does not hold on photo-etch.
• Degrease and prime the parts before painting, otherwise the paint flakes off the smooth metal.
• Hold the small parts with tweezers and try the assembly dry first.
• The plastic part the photo-etch replaces sometimes has to be sanded away; the procedure is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to take the build beyond what comes in the box and are not put off by work with small parts. Working with photo-etch calls for tweezers, a steady hand and a little patience, but it shows on the finished model.

Terms of supply

The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.