1:72 F-4J Phantom II auxiliary air intake

1:72 resin auxiliary air intakes for the F-4J Phantom II (Aires)

This is an accessory set for a build, not an airplane model. It contains resin auxiliary air intakes for the American McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II carrier fighter in 1:72 scale. These doors on the sides of the fuselage behind the main intakes are open on a machine at rest, so on a finished model they create a prominent shadow and shape. The maker is the Czech firm Aires, which specializes in resin aircraft accessories.

The real subject

The F-4 Phantom II was a two-seat, twin-engined fighter and attack aircraft that became one of the most widespread combat types of its time. The F-4J version was intended for the US Navy and was a step up in performance and equipment over the older carrier versions. The auxiliary air intakes supplement the flow to the compressors at low speeds and with the engines running on the ground; their doors open through a pressure difference, so their position on a parked aircraft differs from that in flight.

Tips for working it

First wash the castings in warm water with detergent. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, because the thin-walled doors break easily. Cut the opening in the fuselage precisely to suit the part, and rather in small steps: a resin part can be fitted into a smaller opening, but not into a larger one. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Spray the inside of the duct a lighter shade than the surrounding surface, so that it stays legible once matted down, and pick the edge of the door out with a fine darker line.

Who the set is for

• Builders of American carrier aircraft of the 1960s and 1970s in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers who finish an airframe to a higher level of detail than the basic kit offers.
• Anyone interested in a faithful rendering of an aircraft at rest on a deck or a flight line.
• Builders with experience of resin and of cutting openings in plastic.

The set is an accessory for a build, not a model on its own. The parts are supplied unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.