Hobby Master 1/72 F-4B Phantom II 149411, VF-143 “Pukin Dogs”

Description

General Background
One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.
The Aircraft
Originally accepted as an F4H-1 Bu. No 149411 February 1, 1962 the aircraft type designation later became F-4B. This aircraft was assigned to VF-121 and a half dozen other units over the years. On October 26, 1967 this aircraft is credited with destroying a MiG-21 over North Vietnam. There is some controversy over this MiG-21 claim because records show that Bu.No 149411 was in NARF North Island for standard maintenance from January 1967 until March 1968. This aircraft was lost on December 20, 1968 having flown 1,602 flight hours.
Specifications :
F4H-1 later became the F-4B
Number of “B” variant built for USN and USMC: 649
Powerplant : 2 x General Electric J79-GE-8A/-8B/-8C turbojets, 10,900 lb.s.t. dry, 17,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner
Performance
Max Speed: @ Sea level – 845 mph
@ 48,000 ft – 1,485 mph
Initial climb rate: 28,000 fpm
Service ceiling: 62,000 ft
Combat Ceiling: 56,850 ft
Combat range
Normal: 400 miles
Maximum range: 2,300 miles with maximum fuel load
Weights
Empty: 28,000 pounds
Gross: 44,600
Combat: 38,500 pounds
Maximum take-off: 54,600 pounds
Dimensions
Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in
Wing area: 530 sq. ft
Length: 58 ft 3.75 in
Height: 16 ft 3 in
Fuel
Maximum fuel load:
Internal in fuselage: 1,358 U.S. Gallons
Internal in wings: 630 U.S. Gallons
Total external fuel load: 1,988 U.S. Gallons
Maximum external fuel load
In center-line tank under the fuselage: 600 U.S. Gallons
In 2 x under-wing tanks: 740 U.S. Gallons
Combined fuel load: 3,328 U.S. Gallons
Armament 4 x AIM-7D or -7E Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles in under-fuselage recesses
Inner under-wing pylons could each accommodate an additional Sparrow or a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared homing missiles
In ground attack mode, could carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance on centerline pylon underneath the fuselage and on four under-wing hard-points