AirDOC (Aircraft Documents)

Luftwaffe RF-4E Phantom II - Part 2

1/72 or 1/48 or 1/32  decal sheet

1/72 product # ADM 72018  -  1/48 product # ADM 48018  -  1/32 product # ADM 32012

Product Article by Steve Bamford on June 6 2008

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This decal sheet from AirDOC is the 2nd in a series of decal sheets that deals with the Luftwaffe RF-4E Phantom II.  This particular decal sheet features 15 different RF-4E Phantom II's in Luftwaffe markings.  

  • A/C # 1 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7469, 35+22, AG 51 "I", Jever, in June 1992 "Tactical Air Meet - TAM".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with AG "51" artwork on the tail and drop tanks and cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake. 

  • A/C # 2  is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7534, 35+87, AG 51 "I", RAF Wildenrath, in June 1978 "Tactical Air Meet - TAM".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with flame artwork on the drop tanks and cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake. 

  • A/C # 3 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7497, 35+50, AG 51 "I", Bremgarten, in June 1978 "Squadron exchange with 36 Stomo from Gioia del Colle, Italy".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with cartoon "51" Owl artwork and artwork of a horse and a bow on the side of the engine intake and artwork of a white bird on the side of the nose.  

  • A/C # 4 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7498, 35+49, AG 51 "I", Leck, in July 1990 "Zapped with Panther paws by AG 52".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with AG "51" cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake. 

 

  • A/C # 5 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7491, 35+44, AG 51 "I", Gilze-Rijen, The Netherlands in June 1984 "Tactical Air Meet - TAM".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake. 

  • A/C # 6 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7491, 35+88, AG 51 "I", Zweibrucken, in 1984 "Tactical Air Meet - TAM".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake and big yellow "AC" on the tail.  There is also a  very nicely done sharks mouth under the nose and stripes on the drop tanks in the same colour as the German flag.  

  • A/C # 7 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7447, 35+01, WTD 61, Manching, Bavaria, in 1979 "Tactical Air Meet - TAM".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of white wings on a blue circle. 

  • A/C # 8 is F-4F Phantom II 69-7457, 35+10, AG 52, Leck, in 1981.  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle. 

  • A/C # 9 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7501, 35+54, AG 52, Karup, Denmark in 1982.  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  On the tail are large and stripes in the same colour as the German flag.

  • A/C # 10 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7421, 35+74, AG 52, Karup, Denmark in 1982 "Exercise Best Focus".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  On the tail are aircraft in the same colour as the German flag and yellow text "BESTFOCUS 82".

  • A/C # 11 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7511, 35+65, AG 52, Baden-Sollingen, in June 1983 "NATO Tiger Meet".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  On the side of the forward fuselage under the cockpit is yellow artwork that is too small to clearly make out although it is clearly printed (the contrast between the yellow artwork and the light backing paper of the decal sheet make it hard to see with so little contrast between the colours).  

  • A/C # 12 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7514, 35+67, AG 52, Baden-Sollingen, in June 1983 "NATO Tiger Meet - small tactical codes".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  

  • A/C # 13 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7470, 35+23, AG 52, Bremgarten, in June 1975 "Exercise Royal Flush XVIII".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  There is also yellow line drawing artwork on the side of the intake and nose of cartoon Owl.  

  • A/C # 14 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7488, 35+41, AG 52, Karup, Denmark in June 1982 "Exercise Best Focus".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  There is also yellow F-4 jets paint on the jet intake and the tail as well as text of "BESTFOCUS 82" on the tail in the same colour as the German flag.

  • A/C # 15 is RF-4E Phantom II 69-7523, 35+76, AG 52, Villa France, Italy in 1982 "Squadron Exchange with 3 Stormo".  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with artwork on the side of the engine intake of a black panther with the red number 52 on a white circle.  There is also a black and white shield artwork on the tail.

  • A/C # 16 is RF-4E Phantom II 35+63.  This aircraft is painted in Normal 72 camo with cartoon "51" Owl artwork on the side of the engine intake.  

I've always liked the look of the post WW2 German Jets due to the look of the markings and the colourful options on many Luftwaffe jets.  This decal sheet offers a great variety of aircraft and markings from many different German Phamtom II's.  

The instructions are beautifully printed in glossy full colour with numbered arrows showing which decals go where.  Each aircraft is shown from one side angle and there is generic colour drawings showing top and bottom views of the German RF-4E which will assist in camo layout and decal placement for national insignia etc.  Some of the side profiles of each jet are from the left or the right side so you'll have no problem sorting of the camo pattern.  

The decals print by Cartograf come on 1 decal sheet and one tiny insert decal sheet on the 1/72 sample before me.  They are clearly and crisply printed and appear to be of the highest quality.  

I love German jets and this is a much appreciated decal sheet that is sure to be big seller with Luftwaffe jet fans as well as Phantom Phanatics looking for more interesting markings.  

Steve

I would like to thank AirDOC for providing me with this review sample.

AirDOC also has a large selection of aircraft reference books covering modern and vintage aircraft as well as decals covering vintage and modern aircraft.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford