Hobby Master 1/72 HA19068 Phantom F-4J (UK) ZE359, 74 Sqn., RAF, Wattishham

Limited Edition of only 500 Models Worldwide

In 1984, following the deployment of a squadron of Phantoms to the Falkland Islands, the government decided that the resulting gap in the UK's air defences needed to be filled, and so sought to purchase another squadron of Phantoms. Because the aircraft in RAF service were a special production batch built to UK specifications, it was not possible to obtain identical aircraft. 15 ex-US Navy airframes were extensively refurbished at the Naval Air Rework Facility at Naval Air Station North Island, and brought to a standard almost equivalent to the F-4S, which was the last variant in service with the US Navy. Although the new Phantoms were assigned a British designation as the F.3, to avoid confusion with the incoming Tornado ADV (the definitive version of which was also designated F.3) they were generally referred to as the F-4J(UK).

McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantom F.Mk 3

Designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy, the F-4 Phantom was first flown on May 27, 1958. This twin-engine, long-range all-weather fighter/bomber proved highly adaptable and served in the Marine Corps and the US Air Force as well as in the Navy. During the Vietnam War, it was the principal air superiority fighter for the Navy and the Air Force and was also used for reconnaissance and ground attack. The Phantom continued to serve well into the 1970s and 1980s and even flew missions during the first Gulf War. Finally phased out by the F-14, F-16 and F/A-18, the Phantom was retired in 1996.