F-4 Phantom II Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | August 2018 | Title | F-4 Phantom II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Charles Stafrace | Publisher | Guideline Publications |
| Published | 2018 | ISBN | n/a |
| Format | 120 pages, softbound | MSRP (GBP) | £24.00 |
Review
A Cold War icon enjoys stellar "Warpaint" treatment in the 114th installment of Guideline Publications' prolific series.
F-4 Phantom II colorfully recaps McDonnell's classic fighter in "US Navy, US Marine Corps and RAF F-4J(UK)" service. And author Charles Stafrace tells the whole terrific tale in 120 copiously illustrated pages.
Format follows Guideline's proven prescription. Hundreds of color and B&W photos tincture text. And at least 36 color profiles from Richard Caruana – who also drafted the book's superb, 1:72-scale plans – pack plenty of modeling inspiration.
Tables recap production & serials, acronyms, USN versions, specifications, production, units, BuNos, naval tail codes, and more. Much more. Alone, Table 14 on Phantom II service spans six chronologically arranged pages. And text dutifully details development, deployments, and dispositions – including F-4Js to the Royal Air Force.
Modelers will love the three-page "in detail" section. And six-pages of Phantom II kits, decals, and accessories wrap things up.
Condider this a one-book library on the legendary Phantom II in USN and USMC use. I just wish Stafrace had provided FS colors for curiously camouflaged F-4s on pages 52, 53, and 90!
Recommended!
My sincere thanks to Guideline Publications for this review sample!