Roskopf, during my early modeling days of the early 1970's, had a number of 1/100 modern jets, helicopters, and military vehicles. As the standard for scales sorted itself out, 1/100 fell to the onslaught of 1/72. The Roskopf line was small and not expanded past 1982, but their aircraft were quite impressive for the time, featuring predominately recessed panel lines and the good fit. The scale is about 30% smaller than 1/72, compact yet generally able to retain as much detail as 1/72 offerings. The scale goes well with ship modelers' 1/96 and railroading TT (1/100 through 1/120) scales. It converts easily in both metric and Imperial system. But this scale never really took off to the extent that it was envisaged, probably more due to the fact that 1/72 had by that time taken a stranglehold on the hobby. Subject availability is not very high, though Accurate Miniatures, Faller, Revell, Takara, Tamiya, et al., have some excellent 1/100 kits.

F-4F History

The F-4F is a lighter and simpler development of the USAF F-4E built exclusively for the West German Luftwaffe (Bundesluftwaffe: federal air force). It replaced the F-86 and F-104 in the air defense role while augmenting the air-to-ground mission. The Bundesluftwaffe did not want the radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile, and specified other changes. Later, a number of F-4Fs were upgraded with new radar, AIM-120 AMRAAM capability, new Cockpit displays and IFF under the Improved Combat Efficiency (ICE) program, initiated 1983. Deliveries of the F-4F began in 1973, and lasted into 1976. JG-71 'Richthofen' and JG-74 'Molders' were tasked as interceptor duties, while JBG-35 and JBG-36 were the two ground attack wings. F-4F ICE Phantoms will fly until replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Kit

The Roskopf F-4F comprises a clear canopy, and sixty-eight dark olive parts on two sprues. Parts are provided to build it gear-up or down. These parts are packed in a single plastic bag within a two-piece box.

The surface detail is recessed panel lines. These are oversized. Unfortunately, the surface is also slightly textured. Detailed parts are crisp with no flash, but there is a single shallow sinkhole on the starboard tail cone. Only minor seam lines are along some parts. Unlike the 1/100 Tamiya F-4E (the gray model shown for comparison), most of the small parts are close to scale.

Also unlike the Tamiya Phantoms, AIM-9 Sidewinders and bombs are provided. No AIM-7 Sparrows are provided because the F-4F did not use them. However, if one wishes to model an ICE F-4F, Tamiya Sparrows may be worked to represent the AMRAAM.

No detail enhances the wheel wells. Crude ejection seats are the only cockpit embellishments. The gear doors are without detail.

The single-piece canopy is clear and with light relief framing.

This is not a modern fall-together kit but the fit appears good.

decals and painting

The decals appear thicker than current printings. They appear in registration except the tail flash. Roskopf provided options for three or four Wings, including 71st Fighter Wing "Richthofen.” Additionally, individual numbers allow specific airframes.

Camouflage is for the RAL 6014 Gelboliv (Olive Yellow), 7012 Basaltgrau
(Basalt Grey), 9005 (Jet Black) and 9006 (Aluminum) color scheme.

Conclusion

A commendable little kit. I have yet to build a new 1/144 aircraft so I cannot compare them, but this is as nice as many pre-CAD 1/72 kits.