Britain's Phantoms were unlike anyone else's. Re-engined with Rolls-Royce Speys, adapted for the Royal Navy's smaller carriers, and flown hard on Quick Reaction Alert through the coldest years of the Cold War, the FG.1 and FGR.2 were the uniquely British members of the Phantom family — and until now, Airfix made you choose between them. This 2023 boxing of their superb 2017 tooling includes the components for both variants: build the naval FG.1 or the RAF's FGR.2 from the one box, with markings for each. One airframe results — the choice of which is yours, and it's a genuinely difficult one.

Three Schemes, Three Stories

The decal sheet is a highlight reel of British Phantom history: FG.1 XV582 of 43(F) Squadron, the Leuchars jet that set the Land's End to John O'Groats air speed record in February 1988; FGR.2 XV470 of 56 Squadron at Wattisham in 1991, wearing its red fin and sharkmouth; and FG.1 XV590 of 892 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Ark Royal, complete with the famous "COLONIAL NAVY" titles. Between the Fleet Air Arm's Extra Dark Sea Grey over white and the RAF's late-service greys, the two finished options barely look like the same aircraft.

A Tooling Worth the Reputation

The 2017 new-tool British Phantom is among the best-regarded kits in Airfix's modern catalogue, and this boxing carries its full options list: radome poseable open or closed, likewise the canopy and airbrakes; flaps and slats raised or lowered; folding outer wings for that carrier-deck look; and poseable stabilators and rudder. With 161 parts at Skill Level 3, it's an involved build that rewards care without demanding heroics — the detail is in the box, not in the aftermarket.

The Spey Phantom Story

Originally a US Navy carrier fighter, the Phantom arrived in British service comprehensively anglicised — the Spey engines gave more thrust than the American J79s at the cost of thirst, and the FG.1's nose gear could extend for catapult launches from the Navy's decks. When HMS Ark Royal paid off in 1978, her Phantoms joined the RAF's, and 43 and 111 Squadrons kept the FG.1 on UK air defence until the Tornado F.3 took over in 1989.

What's in the Box

• 161 plastic components, including parts for both FG.1 and FGR.2 variants
• Decals for 3 schemes (2 × FG.1, 1 × FGR.2)
• Instruction sheet and paint layout sheet

Needed to Complete

• Plastic model cement
• Paints (scheme callouts on the layout sheet)
• Basic modelling tools