1/32 F-4 IN STOCK!!

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 10:38 pm

Wish this came out like last month. December is kinda harsh money-wise with all the gifts and what not.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:32 pm

Honestly it looks better in BCA's photos than the original photo. I'm suprised. I think my dad pre-ordered one for my birthday in a few days, so I'm hoping it'll be here within the 10 days.

I did some measuring and if it is in fact 23.5" long, it's the same length as the 1:18 Sabre. O.O

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:19 am

I got my BBI F-4J Phantom today

Right out of the box, I am very much impressed with it!! Here's a review with some quick photos. I've not photographed every last detail about the plane, but you should be able to get a good idea of what its all about between my photos and those on the BadCat website.

Enjoy

First, the box front and back:

Here are a couple profile shots:

My example has an excellent paintscheme that is flawless! The weathering around the engines is nicely done and gives the plane a good used look. The stenciling detail is exceptional and goes down to tiny warning labels, even on the missiles. The panel detailing is excellent as well. Basically, this 1:32 scaled aircraft is just as detailed as any of the BBI 1:18 scale jets.

The overall construction is solid, however, the plane is deceptively lightweight. This is most certainly a model and not exactly a toy for anyone under 10 (or perhaps 14). Some of the parts are a tad bit delicate and will not stand up to tons of wear and tear.

As you can see, the F-4 has deep engines and intakes. There's no detail inside the intakes, but the afterburners are there!

Here's a shot of the three moving control surfaces: the outboard flap, underwing spoiler and wingtip. The wingtip is hinged and pulls out to fold up in exactly the same manner as the wingtips on the BBI F-18. The tail hook also moves. I can see the wingtips being a source of trouble on the model. They are a bit weak. They do "click" into place and mine are holding position fine, but repeated movement may weaken them (sort of like what can happen with the BBI F-18).

The landing gear on the F-4 are optional positioned, meaning that they can be displayed either in the up position or the down position. This is just like on most 1:72 models. Curiously, BBI did not make the landing gear retractable, even on such a large 1:32 plane. Perhaps it was ultimately to make the struts stronger, or to simplify the tooling, or to allow the doors to close exactly (instead of leaving the potential gap that you often get on the 21c 32x models). Some of the landing gear doors are hinged, though. The lack of retractable landing gear is my only real gripe about the plane.

All ordinance is removable and fits onto the hardpoints tightly. I, personally, am pleased with the loadout. My F-4 really needs a 1:32 Mig-17 or Mig-21 to shoot down now

The F-4 comes with two identical pilot figures (thankfully!) and they are nicely painted. The figures fit into the cockpit well. The cockpit, which I didn't get a picture of, is amazingly detailed with painted insturments, controls, ejection seats, and more. The canopies open and close easily, though they are made of rather thin plastic. I would be careful gripping them too hard...

Last but not least, a picture of the BBI F-4 Phantom with the BBI 1:18 Corsair and the 21c 32xw Corsair. The F-4 is nearly as long as the 1:18 Corsair, and just as well painted and detailed.

All in all, this is a VERY good first-release for BBI in this scale and I think it bodes well for future aircraft. Hopefully they won't just stop with the Dauntless. I can't rate it as the most perfect aircraft in 1:32 - that distinction laying with the Corgi and GMP diecast planes - however the BBI F-4 is amazing and you small-scale fans will love it

On a final note, you "1:18 only" collectors need to get out of your grind and go small. 1:32 is fast catching up to the larger scales, and in many ways exceeding them

Black_Dragon_One · Post by **Black_Dragon_One** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:17 am

Hi you 1:32 guy... i am still thinking of this...

god the landing gear.... i do not know...

every things look good.. just for the landing gear...

To me it is what make or breaks a deal...

for the price you pay you would think that they would have made a functioning landing gear....

The only reason why i do not buy a lot of the dragon stuff was because of the landing gear... i lose a lot of the extra and i want all parts of my plane be in one package...

I see to morrow... god i wish they have done a retractable landing gear....

that would have made all the different...

I hope bbi will fix this in there future release

always a retractable landing gear...

but that is my two cent

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:30 am

"tmanthegreat" said : The lack of retractable landing gear is my only real gripe about the plane.

>>> * It looks to me like , that the landing gear ( is ) retractable , because you show both the landing gear deployed and retracted.

What exactly do you mean here ?

.......... but , is it still worth the price ?

* That is the question , but I will definitely be getting the Dauntless.

Mitch v MG :hornet:

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:32 am

I think the option of an up or down landing gear is great. I wish they made all models this way. If it makes the gear sit straight I am all for it. I mean how many times do you retract the gear on your models? The hinges are so fragile on the landing gear doors. I display all my models on their gear, and I am glad to see a model this size with nice, strong landing gear. If you display your models hung from the ceiling, how often do you lower the gear? Great looking model, looking forward to getting mine.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:34 am

Looking at the pictures, you can see how nice the gear looks on the F-4. Nice!

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:36 am

The more I look, the more I like.

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:53 am

TMANTHEGREAT:

Thanks for the great photos.

I wonder if the F-4J will be sold by ToysRUs and Target.com.

vulgarvulture · Post by **vulgarvulture** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:06 am

Tman:

Thanks for taking the time to provide the photos and commentary. This thing looks great to me!

Birddog · Post by **Birddog** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:12 am

tmanthegreat wrote: On a final note, you "1:18 only" collectors need to get out of your grind and go small. 1:32 is fast catching up to the larger scales, and in many ways exceeding them

bbi's 1/32 F-4 looks awesome, but I don't think I'm going to "go small" no matter how catchy it is. 1/18 scale is just too awesome a display piece and I'm not giving up hope on seeing the F-4 in 1/18 someday....

Afterall, shouldn't 21st have one coming out sometime soon?

Great photos though!...

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:17 am

MG-42 wrote: It looks to me like , that the landing gear ( is ) retractable , because you show both the landing gear deployed and retracted. What exactly do you mean here ?
.......... but , is it still worth the price ?

The landing gear are seperate pieces, six in all. You have the three pieces to display the plane with the landing gear extended (as in my first photos) and the door pieces to display the landing gear retracted (as in the seventh photo). If you've got a 1:72 scale plane by Corgi, Dragon, FOV, etc., then the landing gear setup on the BBI F-4 is pretty much the same. To me, its an odd decision on the part of BBI, but it really doesn't detract from the model! The plane still looks awesome, gear displayed up or down

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:22 am

TMANTHEGREAT:

BBI's up-or-down option, to me, is better than 21st Century's P-51 Mustang retractable landing gear which has large finger tabs on the gear doors to open them with. This ruins the P-51's authenticity and makes it look toyish.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:39 am

Good point. To make a gear that retracts, most models have to give up accuracy. Take the P-51 you mentioned. It has cookie cutter tires to fit in the wheel wells, and the main gear doors are to short. If the model was offered with landing gear that was accurate, and you still had the option of displaying the model with the gear up or down, that would be the way to go. Look at large models like the BBI F-18, and the 21st Century F-104. Over time the gear starts to give a bit on the F-18. This not only looks bad, but it makes the main gear wheels sit at an angle. This is a compromise to make the gear retract mechanism work. It would be great if the offered a nice strong, accurate gear that really held the plane up. Same deal with the F-104. While the gear is really neat, it also wants to expand under the weight of the model. Look at the picture of the new F-4 model from the rear. Notice that the main gear struts, see how nice an straight. Also look at those nice fat tires. That is how to make a model.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:53 am

Sabrefan wrote:I think the option of an up or down landing gear is great. I wish they made all models this way.

I totally agree. I HATE retractable gear, they only lead to problems with locking, sagging, accuracy, etc. I would much rather have interchangeable deployed/retracted gear pieces like on many 1:72 aircraft. "Functional" gear belong on GI Joe toys.

nooker21 · Post by **nooker21** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:27 am

Does anyone know if this plane will be making an appearance at Toy R Us along with the other BBI stuff? I'd love to see one in person before I grab one...

Quixote511 · Post by **Quixote511** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:27 am

If you feel that wa about landing gear, than I think you need to make a plug to one of the big 3 for a F4F Wildcat. From what I have come to understand, the reason they have not made one is because of the landing gear situation.

AlloySkull · Post by **AlloySkull** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:12 pm

That is beautiful... Wow. What a way to send me off to work! I hope I can get one of those for Christmas. Either that or I'll just buy it myself!

The landing gear is perfect. Does not bother me.

I mean how many times do you retract the gear on your models?

I agree. Mine in are in a static position on their gear, so I'd rather have them look right on their gear, and stand strong than be able to play around and retract.

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:36 pm

Look at the picture of the bottom of the F-4J model. Notice how nice and flush the landing gear doors fit. This is great. My F-4J model arrives tomorrow, and I can't wait!

Sabrefan · Post by **Sabrefan** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:52 pm

I sure hope BBI comes out with a Blue Angels version of the F-4J. How cool would that be?

dragon53 · Post by **dragon53** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:00 pm

SABREFAN:

I want an F-4E in Vietnam camouflage with the Tigershark nose paint and Steve Ritchie's F-4D (21st Century's 1/18 version is too big).
I'd be interested in Duke Cunningham's F-4J, too, but the USAF F-4s are my #1 wants.

It's been asked before: Will the new F-4J be sold by ToysRUs and Target?

Aviatornut.com · Post by **Aviatornut.com** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:24 pm

dragon53 wrote:What are the chances of ToysRUs and Target.com getting the new F-4J?

I checked with bbi and they said it is only available through us retailers. It is about time we get an exclusive and not forced to compete with big chain stores.
We have them in stock and once they are seen in person it is gone.

DocTodd · Post by **DocTodd** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:33 pm

Well, I finally bit the bullet and ordered the F-4, before I heard about the gear. I wish it was retractable gear because I like to take off and land and it is just not the same when you have to remove the gear etc.
Todd

Ruger · Post by **Ruger** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:47 pm

How hard do you suppose to turn a "J" into a "G"? I'd like to see a Wild Weasel version, preferably a Desert Storm version. If I had the skills, I'd try it myself, but I'm not there yet. At least, not for the price of the base aircraft.

MV

Fox Tare-28 · Post by **Fox Tare-28** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:59 pm

Thanks for posting those pics Tman. It makes me even more anxious to get my hands on one for X-mas. I'm thinking of putting my P-40 & Corsair back in their boxes, and my Macchi on the shelf in my spare bedroom just so I can make room for this beast!

Small Scale Military Headquarters

1/32 F-4 IN STOCK!!

bbi 32x F-4J Phantom ( ? )

Re: bbi 32x F-4J Phantom ( ? )