"Smokers"- RAF & RN Phantoms Pt.2,
Aero Master decals 48-558 - 1/48th scale.


This is the second release in a series of RAF & RN F-4 decals from Aero Master. Just like the previous sheet this one contains decals for four aircraft; two FGR.2s (F-4M) and two FG.1s (F-4K).

The first aircraft on this sheet is FGR.2 XV478 from No.31 Squadron, RAF in Germany. The colour scheme is the old dark green, dark sea grey and light aircraft grey scheme, and the aircraft has unit markings on the tail fin and below the cockpit.

The second aircraft is FGR.2 XV498 in No.92 Squadron livery. This aircraft has the later air superiority grey scheme with and blue fin and trim around the canopy. This aircraft is quite interesting as it was on static display at the open house arrangement at Skrydstrup AB, Denmark, in 1987.

The third option is an FG.1 (XT859) from No. 700P Naval Air Squadron stationed at RNAS Yeovilton in 1968. The aircraft is painted in the standard extra dark sea grey and white scheme, and it has a large orange unofficial unit badge on the tail fin.

The fourth and last Phantom is another FG.1, this time XV579 from No. 767 NAS also based at RNAS Yeovilton, although this time in 1969. The paint scheme is the old RAF dark green, dark sea grey and light aircraft grey scheme, but the squadron markings are from the Royal Navy. The reason for this is that this unit trained both RN and RAF pilots. There is a large yellow eagle on the tail fin.

The only stencils included on the sheet are rescue arrows, ejection seat warning triangles and lines for the steps in the port side fuselage. Apart from that you get nothing. Hopefully, Aero Master will release a set of stencils for the RAF and RN Phantoms.

All decals are thin and perfectly registered, and the quality of this sheet is up to Aero Master's usual high standard. One of the British roundels on my sheet was wrong (the outer ring was blue, not orange as on my sheet) but Aero Master has included two extra roundels on a small addendum sheet. The instructions are adequate, even though only the port side pattern and wing top patterns for the aircraft are given. A complete view of the patterns on the sheet can be found in the Hasegawa kits (if not, let me know and I will send you a scan).

This sheet is highly recommended!

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