Kitty Hawk Models 1/32 scale F-5F

[ErnieL]

A nice easy build of the first one available for Kitty Hawk USA to use as a display model.

My bulletproof shipping to the distributor almost worked perfectly. 

It only lost a tailpipe and it’s pitot tube, both of which were quickly reattached

[Old Collingwood]

Very  nice work   love F5's.

 

OC.

[ErnieL]

Displayed at the Kitty Hawk table at the US Nats last year

Edited May 15, 2020 by ErnieL

[ErnieL]

59 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Very  nice work   love F5's.

 

OC.

Agree!

Especially as aggressors. 

You KNOW a guy just HAD to do a Sundowners scheme!

The one below is the blue Sukhoi scheme

I did the grey MiG scheme on the bottom. 

 

Each one gives a different look in the air for wannabe fighter jocks. 

 

Edited May 15, 2020 by ErnieL

[Old Collingwood]

Have you seen the Swiss dispay team with theirs?

 

OC.

[ErnieL]

9 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Have you seen the Swiss dispay team with theirs?

 

OC.

I’ve seen pics, but never in person.  

 

I’ve seen VFC-111 fly theirs, and hey do a very good job at emulating Russian built fighters. A few of the guys have stick time on MiG-29s and even MiG-21s, so they can fly the F-5 pretty similarly.

 

I really need to drag out my Hood one of these years, but I want a few wood models under my belt first. I’m comfortable in plastic. So wood is good. Ha

Edited May 15, 2020 by ErnieL

[Old Collingwood]

Very good display very tight   - not a lot of speed  but  the sound makes up for it.

 

OC.

[ErnieL]

This is a nice kit if you ever fancy doing one.  The fit is dicey in a few places, but fitting, sanding, and a bit of filler helps. 

The canopies are a bear to close. They were designed to be open, but KH wanted them all closed so grabby hands at shows don’t knock them off. 

It took some carving and surgical removal procedures to close them up.

[ErnieL]

6 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Very good display very tight   - not a lot of speed  but  the sound makes up for it.

 

OC.

Our local show here rotates Blue Angels, Thunderbirds, Snowbirds. So every three years we get the Snowbirds in their Tutors. 9 planes welded together. Close in, noisy, and slow display. Unbelievable actually. The Blues and T-birds are all power and fury, and Snowbirds are precision and grace. 

They're all cool, but as an old stick, I appreciate the precision of close in and using the wing, not the engine, to get you through the show. 

[Old Collingwood]

I think a show has to be one thing  at max or another   - do a high speed fly through at near  supersonic   but also  do more graceful  wing  perfomances, the in betweens spoil it   modern jets just doing  wing slides and power turns are boring  to be honest.

 

OC.

[ErnieL]

Exactly.  Big power is super cool, but big stick and rudder skill is what I notice. 

[ErnieL]

[Canute]

Ernie, nice pictures. I think the Red Arrows (UK) put on a good precision flying show with more than 5 jets.

 

Don't knock the Aggressors as being only for fighter wannabes. The only way to get good at flying air-to-air missions is 1. do a lot of flying, 2. fly against different aircraft. I got to help train new Aggressors, flying F-5s, back in the 70s down at Eglin in F-4Es. Fighting other combat a/c (F-15/16/14/100, A-7) was less often, due to their availability. Any dissimilar air combat is better than just flying against your squadron mates. Just my nickel in the grass. 👌

[ErnieL]

Definitely not a knock. It might have been a poor choice of words though. These guys need to do dissimilar air combat to learn how to fight as it will most likely be.  I’m an ex freightdog so I know nothing of the go fast boys other than they’re almost certifiable.    And they do a wonderful job of converting a lot of kerosene into noise. 
The Red Arrows we’re here last year and I missed them. I was out of town, unfortunately.  I’m told it’s a show full of grace and precision, much like the Snowbirds, and they fly a full 9 plane formation as well. 

My best friend was a Navy GIB in F-4s and he talked about dissimilar ACM all the time. Against SLUFS and Scooters mostly. 
I’ve been told that the F-5 does a marvelous job of emulating MiG-21s.  

Edited May 15, 2020 by ErnieL

[popeye the sailor]

nice looking plane and pictures.......wicked good camo job  

[Canute]

Ernie, none taken, crew dog. I did a penance tour in KC-135s after my Air Guard unit transitioned from F-4s to that jet, after Desert Storm. Not a particularly demanding mission, but the temp duty locations were fun. Trips to Germany, Spain, Scotland, Italy. Stateside, the trips to Edwards were the best for an airplane nut like me. I was an F-4 WSO in the USAF & Air National Guard and a Weapons School grad. Best flying job ever, being a Weapons Officer. Keep up the good work.

[ErnieL]

1 hour ago, popeye the sailor said:

nice looking plane and pictures.......wicked good camo job  

Manchestah, huh?   You weren't but spittin' distance from me.

[popeye the sailor]

you lived in my neck 'o da woods?

[Landlubber Mike]

Beautiful model Ernie!  That plane looks like a long needle!

[ErnieL]

On 5/19/2020 at 8:51 PM, popeye the sailor said:

you lived in my neck 'o da woods?

My avatar should say it all.  Was in Gloucester for years. 

[ccoyle]

Ernie,

 

Every time I see your avatar I think of this statue in Eureka, California, near my hometown. It commemorates all the fishermen lost at sea.