1/72 Hasegawa F-4 Phantom CCV

by Francesco Pernice

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McDonnell Douglas  F-4 Phantom CCV
 
    The serial number 12200 is well know as the  " Father of all Phantoms ". This  Hybrid has been heavily used as flyng test stand first to check some improvements made to the several versions of the F4, then as a testimonial for the growing technology called  FLY-BY-WIRE.
 
The aircraft was picked up by the assembly line while it was getting shape as F4B in order to be prototype of a F4E with a Vulcan cannon added in the bay former made for the cameras. Later on the machine gun was removed. After a Fly-By-Wire device was assembled on, the small canard surfaces and the manouvering slats were added.
 
To build a model of this nice version the easiest way is to use the Hasegawa model of the RF4C, the modularity and the great number of spare parts giving to you the best chances to finish your project in reasonable lapse of time.
 
 
The characteristics of this Phantom are:
 
WINGS.  Underside they have the hooks for the catapult wires and the Sparrows bay only in the back placements. The front ones are similar to the recce version.  In the early type of the CCV, the slats were not mounted and they were added according to the assembly of the canard surfaces.
 
CANARD.  They were inserted in two bulges over each intake with neutral dihedral.
 
VERTICAL STABILIZER. This is the simple type with the absence of the Pitot tube on the incoming edge.
 
TAILERONS. Formerly simple then without triangular reinforcement in the "slatted " version.
 
NOSE. Rectangular plates were mounted to close the gas dissipators of Vulcan cannon tested on the F4E.
 
A/B . They are the E version with long burners. In the box are given as spare parts.
 
 
 
We have recognized as its possible to built the same aircraft in different completion stages.
The easier, the one without canard, need only the assembly following the suggestions given previously and the SUPERSCALE 72-137 decal sheet, rare but not impossible to find. The other stage  is more difficult  having the necessity to build the bulges over the canard over each air intake, but with good reference images, a good sense of proportions, plasticard and epoxy putty, a nice work can be made.
The actuators of the slats are already given in the kit as spare parts, other way the slats have to be found in the " bank of spare parts " owned by every modeler. Regarding a lot of more little details for sure we can talk about, but good reference material and a good assembly can be more clear than my words. The painting was made with gloss white and  blue F.S. 15044.
 
Francesco
 

Photos and text © by Francesco Pernice