Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series Die-cast Model

McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II – 157299, VF-103 "Sluggers', USS Saratoga, U.S. Navy, 1971

1:72 Scale.  Length: 9.75".  Wingspan: 6.5"


Limited production of approximately 500 models worldwide

VF-103 was activated in 1952 and from 1953 until 1957 they were the “Flying Cougars” before becoming the “Sluggers”. In 1965 VF-103 received the F-4B Phantom which they flew until 1968 when the F-4J arrived. VF-103 deployed 15 times on board USS Saratoga and in 1971 sailed to the Mediterranean. In 1972 F-4J Phantom II 157299 scored a victory over a MiG-21 and in 1976 was transferred to the VF-11 “Red Rippers”, where it was lost in 1977. Late in 1995 VF-84 “Jolly Rogers” was decommissioned so to keep the name alive VF-103 adopted the name.

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat twin-engine jet fighter originally developed for the U.S. Navy in the 1950s. Proven to be highly adaptable, it also became a major part of the air wings of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force. The Phantom was used extensively by all three of these services in the Vietnam War, serving as the principal fighter / bomber for the Navy and Air Force and in ground-attack and reconnaissance roles. The F-4 Phantom II was also sold to and operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations.

The F-4 Phantom entered service in 1960 and continued to form a major part of U.S. military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16 in the U.S Air Force; the F-14 and F/A-18 in the U.S. Navy and the F/A-18 in the U.S Marine Corps. The F-4 was used in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel roles in the 1991 Gulf War, finally leaving service in 1996. It was produced from 1958 to 1981 with a total of 5,195 built in several variants.


Hobby Master is a manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, diecast models. Each model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft or vehicle. They are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of an F-4 Phantom II features: