1/48 AFV F-5E Tiger II

Gallery Article by Burt Gustafson on Feb 11 2011

 

For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of my AFV F-5E Tiger II. The Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II was part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in the 1960s. The F-5E Tiger II was used by American Cold War allies and, in limited quantities, served in US military aviation as a training and aggressor aircraft; Tiger II production amounted to 1,400 of all versions, with production ending in 1987.

Because the F-5E has a similar profile as a MIG 21 in high speed flight, the USAF adopted it as one of the simulating opponents in air combat training. The F-5E Tiger II saw service with the US Air Force from 1975 until 1990, serving in the 64th Aggressor Squadron and 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and with the 527th Aggressor Squadron at Alconbury RAF Base in the UK and the 26th Aggressor Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The US Marines purchased ex-USAF models in 1989 to replace their F-21s, which served with VMFT-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The U.S. Navy used the F-5E extensively at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) when it was located at NAS Miramar, California.

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Construction
I chose to build this AFV kit because the F-5E is a sharp looking aircraft, and because of a Fine Scale Modeler Workshop Review article that raved about the kit, especially the parts fit. I have to disagree with the Fine Scale Modeler article. I found that most of the kit parts were slightly oversized. This required a lot of sanding and dry fitting.  The real problem of the kit was the fit of the canopy. It took a lot of filing and sanding and gap filling with white glue to get the canopy looking half-way decent.  However, overall, the kit provides good cockpit and external detail. 

Painting
The kit provides the markings for two US Navy F-5Es of VFC-111 “Sundowners”. However I chose to dress my F-5E in the livery of the Alconbury Gomers.  From 1976 to 1988, the USAF Alconbury Gomers of the 527th Aggressor Squadron, Alconbury AB, England used two different camouflage paint schemes on their F-5E Tiger IIs, New Blue and Grape.  I went with the Grape paint scheme which consisted of three colors: Camouflage Gray (FS 35622), Intermediate Blue (FS 35164) and Dark Blue (FS 35109). 

The engine area and exhaust tail cones were painted with Alclad II Stainless Steel after a primer coat of gloss black.  The landing gears and wheel wells were painted with Floquil Bright Silver.  The radar nose cone was painted Semi Gloss Black. All paints used were enamel based.

Decals
Decals for my F-5E Tiger II are from Twobobs F-5E Alconbury Gomers decal set.  The set provides decals for three aircraft.  I went with the decals for aircraft S/N 1535; they performed flawlessly.

Burt Gustafson

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Photos and text © by Burt Gustafson