Via this site I came in contact with Mike Grant, who provided me with the hard needed decals!  So, the next thing to do was figuring out which Phantom to build. While reading lots of background information (on mostly the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war), I came across an article referring to Iranian Phantoms being equipped with RIM66 Standard missiles (out of which the AGM78 Standard was developed).  Late in 1984, early 1985, at least 3 different F-4E's where seen flying (test) missions with these missiles, which believed were being used to sink Iraqi ships. Rumours indicate that they would have succeeded doing so on at least 2 occasions.  Reason enough for me to start building one of these "secret" F-4's!

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I started of with a Standard Hasegawa F-4EJ kit, this because the kits provides slotted stabilo's. The non-slatted wings came from my spare-part-stash. To add some detail to the kit, I used a Eduard cockpit PE set (SS123), wheels came from True Details and the weapons came out of the well know Hasegawa weapon kits (X72-xx series).  As said, the decals (which were vary fragile) came from Mike Grant (thanks again Mike !), too I used a Microscale F-4 data decals.  These were provided with very poor instructions, and where almost impossible to place at the correct spot!!

The armament consists out of 2 AIM7E Sparrow missiles, 2 AGM78A Standard missiles simulating the RIM66A's and a ALQ101 ECM pod, which where commonly used during the war (just like the strike camera's on the wing-roots).  The launch rails for the RIM66's are made out of 2 MER's (Multiple Ejector Racks).  The right colours where found using the Don Colour website.  The aircraft was weathered using both a sludge wash, and Tamiya Smoke.  Ailerons and rudder where cut out and placed under a different angle, just to give it a more "operational" look (the missing pitot on the tail has been found and fixed).  The engine area was sprayed using different colours from the Alclad range and Humbrol Metal Cote.  Work in progress was set back, when I applied a sludge wash on the underside of the aircraft which already had a matt surface.  The wash did not come off again and I was forced to repaint the underside of the aircraft.

sentry30

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