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- True 1/72 scale
- Professionally painted
- Great attention to detail
- All markings are Tampoed (pad applied)
- Option to display the model on a stand that is provided
- Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions
- Loads of optional armament has been provided
- Canopy can be displayed open or closed
- Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic
- Highly collectable
After the Falklands the RAF had a gap in the Air Defence of GB, with the delay to the new F3
Tornado and the lack of other RAF Phantoms the MOD purchased straight from the New Mexico
Desert a Sqn of Ex US Navy F4J. Some of these aircraft still had Battle scars from Vietnam.
These were designated F4J (UK) and were rushed into service still sporting basic US Navy
colours. These were later painted in due course to RAF air defence grey.
The RAF Phantom did not participate in the Falkland/Malvinas conflict of 1981. However,
Phantom FGR.Mk.2s (F-4Ms) of No. 23 Squadron began operating out of Port Stanley Airport in
the Falkland Islands in 1982 following their recapture from Argentina. In order to compensate
NATO for the diversion of these aircraft to the Falklands, Britain purchased 15 low-time, ex-US
Navy F-4Js which had been in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB. The Navy serials of these planes
were BuNos 153768, 152773, 153783, 153785, 153795, 153803, 153850, 153809, 155510,
155529, 155574, 155734, 155755, 155868, and 155894. They were assigned the designation
F-4J(UK) rather than the more logical "Phantom F.Mk 3" so that they would not be confused with
the Tornado F.Mk 3. RAF serials were ZE350-ZE364.
These planes were overhauled and modified at NAS North Island, California before delivery to the
RAF. The F-4J(UK) aircraft retained their J79 engines and most of their American avionics.
However, a number of US Navy systems, such as the AN/ASN-54 Approach Power Compensator
System, the AN/ASW-25 datalink system, and the AN/ALQ-126 countermeasures set, were
removed and replaced by British systems. The prominent electronics countermeasures antennae
fairings on the upper sides of the air intakes remained on the aircraft, but were actually now
empty.
The first three F-4J(UK) aircraft were delivered to the United Kingdom in August of 1984. They
equipped the newly-formed No. 74 Squadron at RAF Wattisham. These aircraft were intended to
serve in the air defense role pending the introduction of the Tornado F.Mk 3. In later years, these
aircraft were made compatible with the BAe Sky Flash air-to-air missile. The F-4J(UK) fighters
were eventually retired in early 1991 when some low-time Phantom FGR.Mk 2 fighters became
available to No. 74 Squadron. However, The Phantom FGR.Mk 2 was used only briefly by No. 74
Squadron, the squadron standing down on September 20, 1992 and disbanding the next day.
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