Hasegawa F-4J Phantom II
Ka-1

Manufacturer: Hasegawa	Parts: 11 gray and 1 clear sprue.
Kit No: Ka-1	Panel lines: Engraved
Scale: 1/72nd	Cockpit: Decals.
Type: Injection molded	Decal options: 3
Decal option 1: F-4J, BuNo 158378, Modex 200, VF-21, USS Ranger, US Navy.
Decal option 2: F-4J, BuNo 157293, Modex 101, VF-31, USS Saratoga, US Navy.
Decal option 3: F-4J, BuNo 155890, Modex 10, VMFA-212, US Marines.

Review: In 1990 Hasegawa released a whole new range of F-4 kits in 1/72 starting with this F-4J Phantom II. The kit comes in a top opening box which contains 12 sprues, of which is one clear, the part breakup makes it clear that almost all Phantom versions can released with a minimum of changes, and that is what Hasegawa did. 55 parts are not needed from these sprues for this model. It might be wise to get those out of the sprues before you start the build to prevent using the wrong parts. All parts have very nice recessed detail, and some raised detail in areas where it's needed.

Construction is very straightforward, starting with the forward fuselage. The cockpit area has enough detail, for a 1/72 kit, with optional decals for the instruments. Before you complete the forward fuselage, you need to open up a hole for a aerial latter on in the building process. Construction continues with the rear fuselage, here you also need to open up some holes, of which are two only for option 1 and 3. Option one is also the only one with a inflight refueling probe, which needs to be modified slightly. The wings are build up from 5 parts, a one piece centersection for the lower wing, on which you need to open up the holes for the underwing stores if you want to use them, two upper wing halves, in which you need to open a hole for a airintake, and finaly two wing tips. The canopy can be build open or closed and the construction of the aircraft it self ends with the landing gears.

There are no weapons provided with these newer kits, only the fuel tanks and the dual sidewinder launchers with their pylon. The weapons can be obtained from the Hasegawa weaponsets. There is a schedule provided in the instruction for the options of the underwing stores.

Three decal options are included, the first two are for US Navy aircraft and the third one for a Marine Corps aircraft. The first option is a overall gray one from VF-21 "Freelancers", a CAG bird, with the yellow markings. The second is a VF-31 "Tomcatters" Phantom, this is the 101 aircraft, in light gray over white, with a red tail, the stylish arrow over the fuselage with "VF-31" on it, and the squadronbadge on the fuselage. The third and final option, is the Marine Corps Phantom from VMFA-212, also light gray over white, with the squadron badge on the white tail. This aircraft has also a white nosecone.

This is the first of many new Hasegawa Phantoms, and it's turned out to be a excellent kit. There are no real issues, fit and detail are very goof for a kit in this scale. The addition of three total different decal options makes it very complete.

Niels Dol