F-117 intake color

[jwest21]

I haven't found any good pics of what color the F-117 intake trunking is.  I assumed white and painted it that way on the Trumpeter 32nd kit, but with the PE screens you can really make out the intake color.  On the real thing you cannot see any white at all.  Wondering if it was painted with the same black stealth coating that the fuselage was painted.  Thanks in advanced

[habu2]

8 minutes ago, jwest21 said:

I haven't found any good pics of what color the F-117 intake trunking is. 

 

There's probably a Very Good reason why......

[jwest21]

15 minutes ago, habu2 said:

 

There's probably a Very Good reason why......

Very probably.   I may just repaint them black because either they are black or the screens on the real thing are thick enough that you can't easily see through

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

Well, just off the top of my head, the intakes would pretty much definitely be coated with RAM, being as they are super-high radar reflectors.  I suppose the RAM could be painted any color, but....

I do know that I once saw curved B-2 intake trunking, uninstalled, and I believe it was a graphite black-gray-gunmetal type of color.  Might be something similar for the 117.

[jwest21]

Awesome, thanks

[adamitri]

Per some people i asked, they were off white...

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

Kewl, learn something every day.  Thanks!

Then again, as was pointed out, you really can't see it on the real thing anyway....

[ya-gabor]

One can see it in a way. I was at a German base in 93 for a closed door visit of a F-117. A handfull of journalists / photographers were there for the arrival of the jet. Ground personal did a post flight inspection including one of them climbing into the intake through the top door. 

 

Have somewhere the photos and we took them from a top view. It was interesting to see the technician disappear into the jet. Have to find it, not sure if anything of the interior colour is visible but by logic is, to inspect for any FOD or damage it would be difficult to do on a dark or black interior surface. 

 

Nothing of the interior colour is visible from headon or any direction from outside, unless the top doors are open. 

 

Best regards

Gabor

[adamitri]

Well now some others ars saying black. Maybe a time frame issue ?

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

Could be. Or a maintenance issue or any other myriad of things.

The good news is, it's not like an F-4 intake which is highly visible!  Meaning you can get away with a lot more.

[jwest21]

I've decided to go black.  That just makes sure you can't see anything through the screen like the real thing

[paulsbrown]

I just received a pair of 3D printed intake ducting for the 1/48 Tamiya and was wondering what color to paint them, hoping they might be light colored (otherwise why bother).

These photos aren't conclusive but I'm going with a grimy white.

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

9 minutes ago, paulsbrown said:

I just received a pair of 3D printed intake ducting for the 1/48 Tamiya and was wondering what color to paint them, hoping they might be light colored (otherwise why bother).

These photos aren't conclusive but I'm going with a grimy white.

 

 

If it helps, I went to the trouble to make simple ducts in 1/72 for mine, painted them white, applied PE mesh intake screens, and I promise you no matter what angle I look from, I cannot see any white.  None. Which, I suppose, was partly the goal, to keep radar from seeing in there.

But, those are a few hours I'll never get back 

[jwest21]

Don't you just love modeling? 😛

Edited April 3, 2025 by jwest21
Fat thumbs

[paulsbrown]

5 hours ago, Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy said:

If it helps, I went to the trouble to make simple ducts in 1/72 for mine, painted them white, applied PE mesh intake screens, and I promise you no matter what angle I look from, I cannot see any white.  None. Which, I suppose, was partly the goal, to keep radar from seeing in there.

But, those are a few hours I'll never get back 

I'll see how well the 1/48 Eduard intake screens hide them, I had thought if it was as you suggest then I'd open up the inspection hatches to shine some light in.

 

4 hours ago, jwest21 said:

Don't you just love modeling? 😛

For the love of modeling, we'll see... or we won't, but at least have the great satisfaction of knowing it's there.

[Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy]

2 hours ago, paulsbrown said:

I'll see how well the 1/48 Eduard intake screens hide them, I had thought if it was as you suggest then I'd open up the inspection hatches to shine some light in.

Ah!  Well, that might change it, with light shining inside.

[JohnEB]

14 hours ago, jwest21 said:

Don't you just love modeling? 😛

Modeling,at least high detail modeling, has become more of a painting contest.

Not saying that's wrong, whatever is good for you, but it isn't what it used to be.

Or perhaps as fun as it used to be.

[X-Plane Fan]

F-117 intake is black on inside.

[paulsbrown]

 

14 hours ago, X-Plane Fan said:

F-117 intake is black on inside.

And it seems to rub off easily, he's filthy. Got any more timely photos of intake trunking?

[cruiz]

@paulsbrown May I ask where you got those ducting? Do they include the front grid?.

 

I've been working in a 3D printed grid for the Tamiya kit; the photoetched options look worse than the kit ones, in my opinion, and the kit ones don't have the angled look of the originals.

 

If by any chance I could get the grid printed with full openings, I'm sure the interior wouldn't be visible unless the upper door is open.

[jwest21]

On 4/3/2025 at 8:20 AM, paulsbrown said:

I just received a pair of 3D printed intake ducting for the 1/48 Tamiya and was wondering what color to paint them, hoping they might be light colored (otherwise why bother).

These photos aren't conclusive but I'm going with a grimy white.

The more I look at this, the more I think the intakes look white because they have the same protective coating on them that is applied to the rest of the airframe and not because they are actually white.