Wednesday, November 30

Preview: Meng's new F-4E Phantom II in 48th...

We finally have some vision of the test shot build of Meng's new 48th scale F-4E Phantom. The new plastic affords a lot more insight on the kit and its features in our preview...

Preview: Meng's new F-4E Phantom II in 48th...

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II Wild Weasel
Kit No #LS-017 
1/48th scale
Three marking choices in the box.
Available in October 2022
The Subject: McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II 
The F-4 was originally designed as a carrier-based supersonic fighter in 1956. It entered military service in 1961. With the experience gained from actual combats, the F-4E Phantom II was modified and fitted with an M61 Vulcan cannon under the nose. Some key improvements were made to the wings by adding leading edge slats and flaps. This not only improved its air combat performance, but also strengthened its ground attack capability. As a typical representative of the second-generation fighter jets, the F-4E dominated the sky of that era from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of the Middle East. It became the icon of NATO air power during the Cold War.

The Kit: Meng's 48th scale McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II
This latest MENG LS-017 1/48 McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II plastic model kit is a product officially licensed by The Boeing Company. The assembled model will be 399mm long and 245mm wide. This kit includes a metal pitot tube, pre-cut stainless steel PE parts and painting masks, and three paint schemes. Leading edge flaps and main flaps can be installed in retracted or deployed positions. Horizontal stabilisers are movable. The cockpit and its interior equipment are precisely replicated.

The test kit construction:
We have the real thing in the form of an early test shot kit being put together by the team from Meng. The kit's features are listed below ...

The nose antenna is accurately represented. This kit includes a metal pitot tube.
The cockpit, its interior equipment and a boarding ladder are precisely replicated.
Leading edge flaps and main flaps can be installed in retracted or deployed positions.
The unique anhedral angle horizontal stabilisers are movable.
The F-4G vertical fin tip antenna is accurately replicated.
This kit includes one AN/ALQ-119 ECM pod and one AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod.
This kit includes AIM-7M air-to-air missiles, AGM-65, AGM-78, and AGM-88 anti-radiation missiles.
The ventral air brakes can be built in the open or closed position.
The landing gear bay is replicated precisely.
The F-4G flexes muscles in "Beast Mode" as it is called, with a full external sensor and weapons load...
This kit will be available in January 2023 - You can see more info on this kit and others from Meng on the Meng Models Website...