F-4J Phantom II One Piece Canopy

An absolutely wonderful model of the best fighter of its time. Easy to build, it looks great on my desk. Highly recommended.

Hasegawa's usual high standard of fit, fine detail, and low flash on molding is maintained in this kit. The parts fit well with minimal cleanup and the proportions match well with the actual jet dimensions. However, I didn't analyze the kit too much, preferring to get started! Most importantly, it look correctly sized compared to the F-14s, F-18s and an F-8 on the shelf The decal sheet provides plenty of good stencils, etc. The kit is a great value for the price. I purchased this kit as a base for the 2011 IPMS National decal sheet. One of my modeling areas is USN jets, and I am pleased with this latest addition to the collection. Pros are the excellent fit, neutral plastic color and options, although I didn't get too carried away with hanging much ordnance and tankage underneath. A con is the cockpit detailing, although it is important to remember that Hasegawa's cockpit detailing set the standard many, many years ago before the proliferation of the aftermarket resin market. Based on the item title, I thought that the canopy would indeed be one single piece. I resigned myself to carefully cutting the canopy apart to build the model with the canopies open, or the less likeable alternative of wrestling with a vacuform aftermarket replacement canopy. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that there are kit parts for closed and open canopies. Had I found that information in the product description, I would have purchased the kit immediately, and not spent time looking around for other part, kits, etc. This is neither a pro or con, but a suggestion of rewording in the description area. Summary: great kit, no unusual challenges, good experience!

Hasagew's F-4s are some of the best F-4 kits on the market. The external detail is excellent, with nicely recessed panel lines and rivet details. The cockpit detail is a little on the weak side, but this seems to be common to almost all Hasegawa kits. Eduard provides beatifull PE interior detail sets for all of the Hasegawa F-4 kits, and there are numerous resin aftermarket cockpits, wheel wells etc. For me the wheel well detail of the kit is adequate. Fit of all parts is excellent, with no flash present. Decals are nice. I was surprised that though the kit says one piece canopy, there is actually parts to build it either closed (one piece) or open. The only other kit of this particular aircraft is the old Raised panel line Monogram/Revell kit and this is only aviavable on E-Bay or at swap meets. I would recommend this kit.