AFV 1/48th F-5E/F Triple Build: VFA-127 gets some love!

[f5guy]

Hi everyone,

      Having just finished up one of these AFV kits in VFC-111 Sundowners markings, and admiring my fleet of F-5E/F adversaries in my display case, it dawned on me that I haven't done any F-5s from VFA-127, who, admittedly only flew Tigers for a short time before being disestablished. Awhile back I had picked up several of Eduard's release of the AFV kit, and one of the marking options was for VFA-127 #20 in a very cool tan and brown scheme. Right away it made it onto my to do list. Just the other day while browsing through author Chuck Stewarts "Aggressor Aircraft" book I came across a couple of pics of VFA-127 Tigers that had been handed down from the USAF, and Topgun, both still wearing the colors of their previous owners, but with VFA-127 markings. Knowing that these transitional schemes didn't last too long, I thought that they'd make great subjects. So.... here's goes another adversary build thread! I know, I know, I need to finish up my "Saints Roll!" thread, but I'm having a hard time getting motivated to finish off that F-5E in that Godawful all black scheme. That scheme just bores me to death 🤣

 

     Anyway, here's the kits that I'll be using. Regards, Fred.

Edited July 5, 2025 by f5guy

[f5guy]

Here's the Sundowners build that inspired this build thread. The only aftermarket is a Quickboost seat, and ResKit intakes. The Sundowners shark mouth, and tail sunburst were done with masks done up by my buddy Tony. Aeromasks were used for the paint job, but had to be modified a bit as the masks were actually for Sundowners #112. It's in the same scheme as #120, but there are some variations that had to be accounted for. The decals came from Furball's very cool VFC-111 Sundowners sheet. The kits for this build thread lurk in the back ground! I'm quite happy with how it turned out 👍 

 

Edited July 5, 2025 by f5guy

[ExchefAndy]

And that... is a beautiful jet! I've never seen this paint job before and I love it.

I'm following 😎

Andy

[f5guy]

9 hours ago, ExchefAndy said:

And that... is a beautiful jet! I've never seen this paint job before and I love it.

I'm following 😎

Andy

 

Thanks Andy! I am very happy with how well the masks worked for the shark mouth and sunburst, and will use them again on future Sundowners builds. Thanks for following 😉 Fred.

 

[f5guy]

Here's the top and bottom of Sundowners 120. I tried something that I'd never done before with it's centerline fuel tank. Having seen these in person, I noted that they're usually rather beat up. To replicate this I first sprayed the finished tank silver. Once dry I brushed on a little liquid masking in spots that I though might get worn. Once that was dry I sprayed on some light gray. A few days later I pulled off the liquid mask with some Scotch tape. All of the liquid mask came off, along with several other spots of paint. A coat of semi-gloss followed along with a light wash. I'm very happy how it turned out and will use this method in the future. All for now, Fred.

 

 

Edited July 5, 2025 by f5guy

[f5guy]

So here's the jets that I'll be doing for this build.

 

First up is F-5E 74-1530. It started off as a USAF aggressor with the 64th AS at Nellis AFB. When the USAF shut down their F-5 operations in early 1989, 74-1530 was one of 11 F-5E's that were sent to VFA-127. Some sources quote 12 aircraft, and some 8, but I counted 11 by verifying serial numbers with photo's. It became USN BuNo 741530. After service with VFA-127 it was passed on to VFC-13 as their #03 when VFA-127 was disestablished, and VFC-13 took over their adversary mission. It served with them until being replaced by an ex-Swiss F-5E in the early 2000's. The decals will come from the Eduard kit. Fred.

 

[f5guy]

Next up is F-5F 75-0754. It was given the Navy BuNo of 160965, and originally served as NFWS (Topgun) #47 for a decade, before being passed on to VFA-127 when Topgun converted to the F-16N. The aircraft was then sent to VF-45 for a short spell before being sent to VFC-13 at NAS Fallon when all USN and USMC F-5 operations were consolidated into two units (VMFT-401 at MCAS Yuma being the Marines adversaries). On June 13th 2008 as VFC-13 #31, the aircraft sadly collided with F-18C 164657 VFA-15 AJ/306 east of Fallon. VFC-13 pilot "No Show" ejected safely, but the pilot of the Hornet did not, and was killed.

 

The build as I'm going to do it depicts the jet after it's transfer to VFA-127, still in it's former Topgun #47 colors, but with VFA-127 markings. The decals will come from Twobobs and Furball (for the nose number) Fred.

 

Edited July 6, 2025 by f5guy

[f5guy]

Last up is F-5E 74-1568. It too was an ex-USAF aggressor that was transferred to the Navy in 1989. It formerly served with the 527th AS at Alconbury in the UK as their #68. It was one of the 11 Tigers sent to the USN for their adversary program. After service with VFA-127, it was leased back to Northrop and the cockpit was rebuilt as the prototype for their Tiger IV upgrade program. The program reportedly didn't generate any sales due to high cost. The aircraft was then sent back the Navy as VFC-13 #15 where it served until being replaced by an ex-Swiss jet in the early 2000's.

 

For this build I'm going to depict the jet as it appeared shortly after arriving with VFA-127. It's still in the "Old Ghost" scheme that it wore with the 527th, but has had VFA-127 titles added. The decals will come from several Twobobs sheets. More later, Fred.

 

 

Edited September 11, 2025 by f5guy

[A-10 LOADER]

That's pretty adventurous Fred, 3 at a time. I'll be watching.

Steve

[Mr.Happy]

Glad to some striking F-5 builds!

 

I’m forward to your next post on the VF-127 Agressor.

 

Nicely done f5guy.

 

Mr. Happy

[f5guy]

4 hours ago, A-10 LOADER said:

That's pretty adventurous Fred, 3 at a time. I'll be watching.

Steve

 

Heh heh... I know, but these AFV Tiger's go together so well. Plus, I'll be retiring shortly and will have much more free time available 👍 Fred.

 

[f5guy]

1 hour ago, Mr.Happy said:

Glad to some striking F-5 builds!

 

I’m forward to your next post on the VF-127 Agressor.

 

Nicely done f5guy.

 

Mr. Happy

 

I promise that I'll try to get them done a little quicker than my usual on again off again pace 🤣 Fred.

 

[habu2]

43 minutes ago, f5guy said:

 Plus, I'll be retiring shortly and will have much more free time available 👍 

 

 

Hahahahahaha good luck with that. I retired 3 years ago and I've never been so busy!

[f5guy]

On 7/6/2025 at 3:13 PM, habu2 said:

 

Hahahahahaha good luck with that. I retired 3 years ago and I've never been so busy!

 

Oh I'll be busy alright..... 😂

[f5guy]

[Thadeus]

Lovelly bunch. Your Tigers look amazing. And that is some great info on the F-5's. 

[f5guy]

Hi guys,

     Time for a small update. I've been slowly chugging along on VFA-127 #46, and am getting it closer to paint. Here's a pic. I hope to start working on the cockpit of F-5F #31 this weekend. All for now. Fred.

 

 

[f5guy]

Hello again everyone,

      As you can see I've made some progress on #46. However, in the process of putting the nose wheel on I made a boo boo..... I didn't test fit the nose wheel (dummy!) before gluing, and it didn't sit all the way onto the hub. I tried to remove it, but in the process broke the hub completely off. Knowing that this would forever be a weak point on the model, and knowing that I'd be forever re-gluing it, I decided to source a new nose gear leg from the F-5F kit that I already had painted up and ready to go. I then drilled out the broken nose gear hub from the problem nose wheel while enlarging the hole at the same time, and glued it and the new the nose gear leg onto #46. Problem solved!

     As for  a new nose gear leg for the F-5F, I took a hiked leg (for take off) from my spares box (the kit thankfully comes with both), cut it down, and drilled it out to fit the shortened oleo. The scissor link arms from the damaged leg were carefully removed and will be glued to the replacement leg before painting. Problem solved. Phew..... 🤣 Thanks for looking, Fred.

 

 

Edited October 28, 2025 by f5guy

[Geoff M]

Nice save.  Modelers are pretty ingenious!  Looking good too!

[f5guy]

7 minutes ago, Geoff M said:

Nice save.  Modelers are pretty ingenious!  Looking good too!

 

That's a fact..... modeling will definitely force one to use their thinking meat from time to time 🤣 Thanks! Fred.

 

 

[f5guy]

Hello again everyone,

    Okay, #46 is done! I had no real issues with the build, and the paint scheme was a relatively simple one. I ended up using decals from two different Twobobs sheets, one Fightertown sheet, and a couple of different misc. number sheets. As usual I used a Wolfpack resin seat, and Reskit 3D printed intakes, which I highly recommend. You might notice that I chose not to model the aircraft with the one color replacement rudder as seen in the Chuck Stewart book mentioned at the beginning of this build. I feel like it breaks up the continuity of the paint scheme, and I did find a few pics of it in service with the 527th AS shortly before being transferred to the Navy, minus the replacement rudder, so that was a good enough excuse for me! Next up is the F-5F. Stay tuned. Fred.

 

 

[f5guy]

The F-5F is up next. I have only a few things to touch up and she's ready for paint 👍 Fred.

[Mr.Happy]

Yeah I’ll admit it I freaking jealous. 
 

Wonderful work on your continued F-5 builds!

 

Your # 46 colors are awesome.

 

Keep building,

 

Mr. Happy 

 

 

[Niels]

Excellent work! 

[f5guy]

Thanks for the kind comments guys!

 

Now regarding the F-5F.....  Does anyone have good pics of the upper and lower surfaces of this jet in its later Topgun or VFA-127 years? I've found a few pics from Dave Baranek online, who was a Topgun pilot and took a lot of pics, but they're not quite what I need, although they are a lot of help. The reason I ask is that I have Furball Decals sheet 48-056 "Topgun Tigers & Talons" (highly recommended by the way), which has the paint scheme for this jet. However, comparing it to later pics shows that while the side views are generally the same, the upper and lower patterns are way off. Now I'm not saying that they got it wrong though, as they depicted the jet in 1981, before it went through depot level overhaul. It appears that it was repainted into largely the same scheme, but the upper and lower wing patterns were very different. This is one of the few pics that I have to work with. I think that I've got enough to work with, but if anyone has anything that they can share, that'd be great. Thanks, Fred.