Academy F-4J(UK) ZE353 ‘E’, No 74 Squadron RAF 1:72 – build review

Feature Article with Geoff Coughlin

This is the subject of this build…

Many of you will be aware that I have been writing a Three Volume Series: Building The British Phantoms published in e-book format by KLP Publishing. The first two volumes on the FG.1 (Vol 1) and FGR-2 (Vol 2) are currently available and being very well received. They are huge in terms of numbers of photos, full length model builds, walkaround reference and Key Features chapters that contain all the small detailed differences unique to the type.

Volume Three will deal with the F-4J(UK) that’s a somewhat different animal to the other British Phantoms and the book will have some exciting revelations and full details on everything from the small details to clarity on that bluey/green colour and why all the airframes aren’t, indeed, weren’t the same.

This model build is to be included in that new book and is the last piece of the jigsaw before the book is ready to send off to the publishers and it seems like a good idea to give you a heads up on the project by including that build here.

ZE353 coded ‘E’ Ex-BuAer 153785

I’m not going to go into any of the history here (it’s all in the book), suffice to say that this aircraft is the one from the batch of 15 secured by the MOD as a stop-gap pending the introduction of the Tornado F2/3 fighter. ZE353 was never repainted into the standard RAF Barley Grey of the time, retaining its delivery scheme that looks distinctly greeny/blue – almost duck egg blue upper surfaces. The upper inner wing panels were similar to Medium Sea Grey with undersides similar to Light Aircraft Grey. I say similar because the aircraft were split into batches of three and painted up to a chosen mix before despatching the aircraft to the UK.

Can you help?

I am in real need of finding any colour reference photos of the F-4J(UK) cockpit. I’d be extremely grateful to be able to use them in the new book. I do have access to the old Lock-On book which is superb but of course I can’t use photos that are in there. Thanks in advance if you could please have a look for me? :)

Later when we get to the painting stages I’ll say more about the colours chosen for this build but for now, let’s get a plan of action sorted.

The plan…

I have picked up a few accessories and I’ll be using some of these in this build – here’s a photo showing what I had accumulated although mostly I am going to use the eduard pre-painted cockpit set and a few bits from the Black Dog resin set if I get time.

I want this model to show the clean lines of the F-4J(UK) and to that end will only be fitting the large centreline tank, blue coloured Sparrow ballast round in the front left bay and that’s about it I think. The book will have loads of photos of the real thing so I won’t add them all here. You could of course add a pretty full load out of Sparrow/Skyflash and AIM-9L AAMs and Sargeant Fletcher wing tanks as you can see in Adrian’s superb reference photo at the head f this build – all a matter of choice.

The build…