1/72 Revell Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor

Gallery Article by Jean-Charles GODDET on Jan 20 2012

 

 

This model is a Revell 1/72 F-22A Raptor from the box number 04386. I enhanced the model with some aftermarket products: resin parts for exhaust and engines from AIRES number 7248, photo etched from BIG ED EDUARD number BIG7245 and decal sheet from TWOBOBS number 72056. I decided to represent the scheme of a plane from the 422nd test and evaluator squadron USAF AIR WARFARE CENTER Nellis AFB in June 2006. This squadron had a dedicated role to manage advance pilot training and to test and to integrate new weapons and systems. This squadron used a mixture of plane A-10C, F-15C/D, F-15E, F-16C/D and F-22A. This plane serial number 004016 block 10 was built in 2000. Since June 2010 it was transferred to USAF 43rd fighter squadron at Tyndall AFB. The kit from Revell is relatively simple perhaps now Academy or Fujimi kits are better at this scale so I tried to improve it. The photo etched added a lot of details: I used one plate for exterior (all panels, shark teeth shape on stealth fuselage), one plate for cockpit (HUD, screens, ejection seat, canopy), one plate for access ladder, one plate for the open bays (central and sides). I improved also the engines, flux deflectors with a mix of photo etched and resin parts. I followed TWOBOBS instructions regarding colors, lower camouflage is Grey FS36251 Xtracrylix acrylic XA1132 , and upper is Grey FS36251 Xtracrylix acrylic XA1132 with Grey FS36176 Xtracrylix acrylic XA1157 blobs. For these two colors I mixed with nearly 50% of aluminium color to try to obtain the specific metallic aspect of F-22A under some angles of light. The edge of fuselage, tails and wings are grey FS36375 Gunze H308. A light weathering on paint scheme finished the aspect. 

 

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To enhance the model I added weapons from the kit. I show the three bays opened for the detail work. I decided to present an air-air armament load because for me Raptor at the beginning was designed as a fighter for aerial superiority. One exercise AIM-9X Sidewinder missile in each side bay despite the fact that "X" AIM9 is not clearly used on this plane and will be operational for the fleet in 2017-2020 but it is a test plane so I think it works and four AIM-120C AMRAAM on six possible in the central bay.

 I hope you will like my model and pictures. For me the Raptor is the last remaining beast born at the end of the cold war. I like all its technology perhaps to more advanced to enhance reliability but I think Air force guys will learn a lot from this plane. 2011 December the 13th the final F-22 rolled off the production line, 187 planes have to been built from this awesome machine not enough for a lot of patriots but terribly expensive for taxpayers $377 million per unit and it hasn't flown a combat sortie or seen action overseas. Nevertheless I prefer that this plane doesn't see any conflict because as the edge of the spear of the USAF air defence it will mean that the world will be engaged in a major war.

BE CAREFUL OF RAPTOR'S TEETH!!!

Jean-Charles GODDET

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Photos and text © by Jean-Charles GODDET