jenshb

For the turkey feathers of the F100 engine I have used Alclad Pale Burnt Metal with dark grey rubbing areas.

The AFV Club F-5E is a nice kit, but as a replica there are a couple of things I don't like shapewise: The forward fuselage is too rounded in crossection, and has a "coke-bottle-effect" on the belly under the cockpit. The real thing is more like a rectangle with rounded corners, whereas the kit looks like the sides are bulging. The other thing is the front of the intakes that are curving inwards whereas they should be more in line with the airflow.

The Tarangus boxing of the 1:72 kit has paint matches for Gunze/MrColor. Can't recall what they were, and I didn't buy the kit. I think the 1:48th scale kit has paint matches to the same paints, but I will have to check when I get home. Unless someone else beats me to it:)

The forward fuselage of the X-29s were taken from F-5As, so the Kinetic Freedom Fighter would be a better starting point than the F-20.

Arizona ANG with copper coloured spinner, wing tips and fin tip.

Try using Tamiya Smoke and mix in some Tamiya Flat Base to make a matt finish. Thin well, and you will be able to build up exhaust stains very subtly.

Never heard of a size difference, but aftermarket stabs for example may not match the curvature of the GWH kit in that area. Try sanding the stabs trailing edges thinner, although you may have to replace any raised detail.

I believe the F-5s were all painted silver from the factory, but white does make it easier to spot for leaks...

Great job John!

I can't recall where I found this photo (I have cropped it to make the file smaller), but this shows the prototype with white wheel wells.

All good info and easily overlooked.

If starting with the Hasegawa kit, you will need to get a set of F-15A/B wheels, but they are available in resin (or a spare set from the GWH kit) and an Escapac seat. Aires makes Escapac seats for both A-7Ds and A-4s, but I don't know how well they will fit the Hasegawa cockpit - they do look a little on the small side. GWH includes both Escapac and ACES II seats, but they are oversized in my opinion. However, they can be shortened. I used a pilot figure to determine a better looking height. The forward undercarriage doors were open with the main gear down on the early Eagles, and there is a brace that opens and shuts the doors (more visible on the larger door). As current kits reflect the later production, they are to be glued shut, so therefore that brace is not included in kits. The speedbrake and spine will need to be modified to a semicircular crossection as well as reduced in size, but that is doable with some Milliput and plasticard. Filling in the dogtooth is easy, and some curved and laminated plasticard will take care of the squared off wingtips. To make the thicker and shorter mass balances on the tailfin, plastic rod in a Dremel will shape those quite easily. Add the Master prototype pitot boom, and you're all set.

Looking at the root chord of therototype stab, I'd say they cut away material. It definitely looks larger to my eyes.

Just spotted that the F-15 logos for the fin has a filled in centre - the blue background was hiding that. As for filled in stabs and squared off wingtips, they shouldn't be too hard to modify. The only kit i Know had the original wingtips was the Monogram 1:72nd kit, but that had the dogtoothed stab (easy to fill with plasticard and putty). I suspect the original Hasegawa kit (with the prototype marking on the boxart) would also have the original wingtips. The airbrake area will need to be modified and a balde aerial on the turtledeck behind the cockpit added. Master do an F-16XL prototype boom (item no 48144) that may be adapted. Haven't checked if the lengths match, but it is a good starting point at least.

Yes, insignia blue would be a sensible choice which means you don't have to add another colour in the print. I found this photo somewhere on the web, and there's definitely an ASB border around the wing insignia.