August 2020
Phantom FG.1 892 Sqn
Phantom FG.1 767 Sqn
McDonnell-
892 Naval Air Squadron, HMS ARK ROYAL, 1977
Fujimi 1/72
ARK ROYAL’s Phantom fighters, combined with the Buccaneer strike aircraft and AEW Gannet gave the Royal Navy an immensely flexible force, more powerful than most world air arms and capable of rapid deployment around the world at short notice. Sadly, the draw down of British forces in the 1970s and specifically the withdrawal from “east of Suez” meant that the RN was constrained to a single large carrier and even that was time limited.
Nevertheless, 892 Sqn’s Phantoms continued to make an effective and very visible contribution to NATO right up to the end, operating primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, although like those of the RAF, the RN’s Phantoms were never to see combat. To reflect their perceived position as the RN’s last fixed wing aircraft, 892 added an Omega symbol to the aircraft’s tail markings.
Building Fujimi’s British Phantoms:
Both of these kits are essentially the same as last month’s FGR.2, albeit with provision of the longer RN front undercarriage, strop attachment hook inserts, slotted tailplanes and air to air weapons instead of ground attack. I haven’t checked, but the engraving on the fin should be subtly different too.
Both are FG.1s, although for the second kit, Fujimi have used the manufacturer’s
F-
The first kit has options for 892 Naval Air Sqn, 43 Sqn RAF and 111 Sqn RAF, the last two both based at RAF Leuchars. The Silver Jubilee 1977 markings are included along with alternative standard 892 markings
The second kit lacks the RWR fairing on top of the fin and also has decals for 892
Sqn, plus shore-
It should be noted that the first kit is also the same kit as Italeri’s current FG.1
issue (which is a lot cheaper and more available). Italeri include much the same
RAF markings as Fujimi, although the 892 ones are for an earlier 892 scheme, without
the nose flash, but with an appealing mid-
The Fujimi FG.1 has actually appeared in two different releases, the second of which
had a number of improvements; air brakes and middle flaps are included (they sag
at rest), the auxiliary flank and underside intakes are improved and it comes with
a vinyl wheel option (that most modellers disregard). I think the cockpit detail
may have been improved too. One note of caution -
It is debatable whether this kit is better than the current Airfix issue. Its certainly an easier build, the Italeri issue is cheaper and it is comparable in accuracy although Airfix missed some prominent detail on the intakes and above the jet pipes. The Airfix build options give it a bit of an advantage, although Fujimi’s more restrained panel lines are very much more to my preference (Phantoms were never covered in black lines!!!!!!.
The real thing: RNAS Yeovilton’s very smart FG.1 is now back in its original 892 Sqn markings
Many more Phantoms, RN, RAF and Foreign on my F-
767 Sqn was the RN’s shore-
The role that had previously been undertaken by 767 eventually passed to a joint
RAF-