For more information, check out the references suggested. 

The Fujimi range of F-4 Phantoms are the finest 1/72 scale kits of this plane available. They came about 1987 and the Fujimi kits appeared in many different kits with various versions carefully captured. Some kits contained not only plastic but also etched metal en casted metal parts. The kits have very fine recessed panel lines and good decals. Cockpit detailling is fine with raised details and nice seats. Only some minor additions of sprue and tiny bits are required to get an excellent cockpit representation.

The Fujimi kit #   H-8 "Yellow Bird" represents a F-4K of the FAA / Royal Navy. It is the primary kit used here in this building report. ( It is noted however that also some other Fujimi kits were available such the F-4 from Alcock ? Brown and the F-4M kit for the RAF). 
 F-4K
The F-4K kit needs minor filling only. I used some putty at the intakes and the lower joint of the forward wing and the forward fuselage. Stores are fine and the details like the gears need carefull detachment from their sprues to prevent damage. 
Otherwise it can be assembled straight out of the box.
For the cockpit area, nice etched metal details are also provided in this kit.

Cockpit detail is fine, seats required only some smaller added details. Also, I got an NeoMega set for some Martin baker seats used in many FAA and RAF aircraft. These will be used on the FAA aircraft models made, such as Phantoms.  Cockpit of the F-4K has Martin Baker mkH5 seats, these were later updated to H7 standard (as on the USN F-4J). 

Overall colours of the cockpit inner areas is black ( I used Tyre black to prevent a "too dark" hole...).

To add some interest to this F-4K model, it was decided to separate the nose cone in order to fold in at a carrier deck and show the radar and the wings will also be folded. The wing tips were cut off and tips folded. The hinges were made from pieces of plastic and a metal paperclip was used internally for model strength.

Two kits are seen here, at left F-4M and right the F-4K with separated nose cone.

The F-4K got and Extra Dark Sea Grey upper finish and white for the lower areas. 
The white was applied first with an airbrush.  Next, considerable masking was needed as the grey extends to the lower leading edges seen below. Masking was done with Tamiya fine masking tape. RN F-4K's had a rather gloss "anti salt" finish, so no need for a matt sealer. 


The F-4K has "slotted stabilizers" and these are provided in the Fujimi kit. 

A thick coat of Johnson Klear (USA: Future) was applied to get a smooth gloss result, ready to accept any decals. This also helps as RN Phantoms were rather gloss. 

On to next [Page 2 ].....