F-4EJ Kai Japan Air Self Defense 97-8426 302nd Hikotai, JASDF, HA1942 1:72

Highly detailed Die Cast Metal Military Hobby Master F-4EJ Kai Japan Air Self Defense 97-8426 302nd Hikotai, JASDF 1:72 Scale Item: HA1942 Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA1942 F-4EJ Kai 97-8426, JASDF True 1/72 scale. Professionally painted. Great attention to detail. All markings are Tampoed (pad applied). Option to display the model on a stand that is provided. Model can be shown with the landing gear in the down or up positions. Loads of optional armament provided. Canopy can be displayed open or closed. Pilot figures included. Extremely heavy metal with a minimum of plastic. Highly collectable. Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic equipment. Between 1971 and 1981 Japan ordered 140 F-4EJ Phantoms of which 138 were built in Japan by Mitsubishi. Ninety-six were later upgraded to the Kai (modernized) standard. One of the Kai F-4EJ is 97-8426 was manufactured in 1979. The aircraft was assigned to the 304th Hikotai and operated with them until 2001. The aircraft was next used by the 3rd Kokudan/8th Hikotai 'Black Panther' before going to the 7th Kokudan/302nd Hikotai. 302 Hikotai emblem has 3 tail feathers, the triangle is the 0 and the eagle has 2 claws. Specifications for the F-4E Phantom II / F-4EJ They are virtually identical except for the restricted equipment: This included removal of the in-flight refueling receptacle that was later retrofitted, no leading edge slats, ground attack control equipment such as weapons and bomb delivery systems and the addition of modern electronic equipment including a data link system and radar warning receiver. Most or all this equipment was eventually reinstalled. Number Built: F-4E - 5,195 / F-4EJ - 154 with 138 built in Japan under license.