After the Vietnam war the Phantom remained in wide use as reconn and Wild Weasel (suppression of enemy air defenses) roles. The US Navy got the F-14 Tomcat and the final USN Phantom left in 1984. The USAF F-4's were still used in the 1991 Gulf War, finally leaving US service in 1996. Over 5,000 aircraft were build. It is still in service with the JASDF in the 2013.

For the British Fleet Air Arm (Royal Navy) needed a replacement for the Sea Vixen in around 1964. The F-4 was a candidate but needed many modifications as the British carriers were much smaller than their American counterparts. Based on the USN F-4J, the British FAA Phantom got the designation F-4K / FG.1. It got Rolls Royce Spey engines that required larger air intakes and a bigger bulged lower fairing at the exhausts. Also this type got an extendable nose wheel leg so that it could operate from British aircraft carriers.

In 1965 the Royal Air Force (RAF) also decided it required the F-4 Phantom as the TSR-2 was cancelled. The RAF version was based on the FAA version and given the designation F-4M. It got the many modifications as well (except the extendable nose gear). The British Phantoms were also referred to as FG.1 for the fighter/ground attack role and Phantom FGR.2 for the fighter/ground attack/Reconnaissance role. 

The RAF also used the Phantom FGR.2/ F-4M during the Falkland war in the nineteen eighties. They were dispatched to the islands and based at Stanley. At the same time some second hand US NAVY F-4J's were purchased for use in the UK. Delivered in 1984, their designation was F-4J(UK). The Tornado replaced the UK F-4 finally in 1992.
 

• for the FAA (Rotal Navy) Phantom look at the F-4K page here...
• for the Japanese F-4EJ look here (1/32).... and here (1/72)...
• for the US MARINES Corps Phantoms look here....
• for the Royal Air Force F-4 Phantoms.. look at the information below >

The F-4M and F-4K kits are both fine and need minor filling only. Each kit can be assembled straight out of the box giving a nice model. See specific comments below.
After applying the basic colour schemes, add the decals and finally a protective coat of Johnson Future/Pledge. 

Several releases of these 1/72 models were made way back in about year 2006. They are shown below....

F-4M (FGR.2) of RAF 29  Squadron

Fujimi F-4M # H-9 kit
This kit was bought for 7 GBP during a trip to London in 1987. It was a big improvement to the older Matchbox and Hasegawa F-4 kits for a British Phantom.

The Fujimi kit has fine plastic parts. The interior is nicely done. Stores include Sparrows, underwing fuel tanks, central EMI camera pod, central SUU-23 gunpod! and rocket pods for under the wings. 

Overall colours of the cockpit interior are:

medium grey panels;

black instruments;

Martin Baker seats: generally black with tan/olive drab harnesses, safety harness black, yellow/tan survival packs;

padding side walls are olive green;

cockpit floors: black;

dark sea grey  - 638: used was Xtracolor X4 enamel

dark green - 641: used was Humbrol 163 enamel

light gey - 627 for the lower surfaces: used was in those days "Precision Paints" M26 ; current paints are

Usually a black nose radar radome and metal areas near the exhaust pipes and on tailplanes
Wheelbays / interiors: gloss white; 
Before the period of 1973 usually blue-white-red roundels were used and later on the blue-red roundels. 

The kit roundels were replaced, otherwise the scheme from a Modeldecal set 30 were used seen here:

  as seen here.. I forgot to remove central hardpoint/pylon... better read the instructions!

note the tiny rear view mirror fairing on top of the rear canopy

These RAF aircraft were kept in very good condition so model weathering was kept to a minimum.

 well shown are the typical Rolls Royce engine exhausts, well depicted in the Fujimi model

   the central gun pod and rocket pods were also added and are seen here

Fujimi #3 F-4M/ FGR.2 "Royal collection kit" 

The Alcock and Brown kit decals are good but were not (yet) used; Modeldecal set 95 was used.

(2) F-4M (FGR.2) of RAF no 228 OCU based at Leuchars, Scotland around 1988

Modeldecalset 95 was used for this 228 OCU:

This kit has some metal parts, one of the first Fujimi kits that had those with a tiny fret included for canopy edges and mirrors and cockpit interior. Stores for this kit #3 includes Sparrows, underwing fuel tanks and a central fuel tank. 

The interior is nicely done.
Overall colours of the cockpit interior are:

medium grey panels;

black instruments;

Martin Baker seats: generally black with tan/olive drab harnesses, safety harness black, yellow/tan survival packs;

padding side walls are olive green;

cockpit floors: black;

Other scheme colours used were:

Barley grey  (medium grey BS4800 18B.21): Humbrol 166 enamel was used here. 

medium sea grey areas on wing panels -637-: used was in those days Humbrol 165 enamel (or Compucolor CBC6);

light grey -627- lower surfaces: used was "Precision Paints" M26; 

Wheelbays / interiors: gloss white;
Nose radome:  a mix of grey and brown.

    note the drooped flaps

and the finished model...

details of the cockpit canopies and Sidewinder missiles fitted

the FGR.2 ECM fairing on the fin top is also evident

note the opened AUX door for the Rolls Royce engines

with the other RAF F-4M model

A couple of nice Britsih 1/72 Phantoms in the model collection. Also look here at the Royal Navy F-4K....
 
For a Japanese ASDF Fujimi F-4EJ kit look at the "Japan page" here....
 

1. Air international magazine volume 15, pages 282-300
2. Aircraft illustrated 1978, pages 392-397
3. Aircraft illustrated 1987, pages 346- 352
4. Ian Allan Special, RAF Phantom F-4M
5. Shorts, in Putnam series
6. Wings of Fame, Volume 15, pages 20..