F-4K (FG.1), 892 NAS, c. 1987

F-4K (Phantom FG.1) assigned to No. 892 Naval Air Sqn, Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) c. 1978
(from Fujimi Phantom FGR.2 in 1/72 scale, kit H-7, c. 1987)

Depicts Phantom FG.1 no. XV590 of N. 892 Sqn while on cross-deck operations aboard USS SARATOGA (CV-60) c. 1978. Per tradition, the FAA aircraft were “zapped” by their host squadron, VF-171, who re-designated the aircraft as “Colonial Navy” birds, complete with 1940-vintage USN roundels and generous applications of VF-171 “zaps”.

F-4K-37-MC Phantom XV590 (c/n 3394) was withdrawn from service in Jul 1990 and went into storage at Leuchars.

Kit was purchased, sans box, for $2 at the IPMS Regionals in Richmond, VA in Feb 2018. It was modified (not much, merely by adding catapult launch sockets and hooks) from F-4M to represent F-4K. Absent is any attempt to depict the second scissors link from the nose gear, which would allow extension to a ridiculous height to improve AOA during launch from HMS Ark Royal.

Kit primary colors are Testors MM Acryl 5-N (top) and Floquil Reefer White acrylic (undersurfaces), with Alclad II shades on the metallic areas.

"Numquam Futurum Extenuant"