I appreciate all of the comments guys! Thanks!  Although...this is one of my older builds from 2011.

I think I've improved a bit since then! Here is the 1/48 Hasegawa F-22 that I finished about 2 years ago:

Here's the link to that thread:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/2/t/167183.aspx

Hi Fly

You did an excellent job on this one. The paint sheen looks to be spot on.

I built the same kit some months back as a comission and was pretty simple to assemble. The decals were really good and gave you tons of options.

I ended up using a mix of the FS greys with silver paint as a recipe that I found on the web.

Super Nice, I also like that you have all the weapons bays open like on my model. Its reasureing. 

Warren, yes its frustrating as heck becuase I have about ten threads like this.  Ironically I came across this post because I'm searching the forums for suggestions on new photo hosting sites!

I may even try the 1/72 Academy offering for ceiling hanging....but I have so much in my stashhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Thanks for the compliments and the encouragement.  Hopefully things will move quickly with the home sales (she"s selling hers, too).  Unfortunately her's is a short sale and mine might be.  If we both short sale then we will have to rent for a few years to get out credit scores back up.  Sucks.

And as far as the Hasegawa kit goes I thought I might like to get another F-22 to build gear up and clean and hang it up from the ceiling.  And I've been finding the Hase kits for much cheaper than the Academy kits online.  You guys are right about it, though.  The surface detail is way too exaggerated on the Hase kit.  It looks like the surface of the Millennium Falcon.

paintsniffer

People keep raving about that Hasegawa F-22. I really think the Academy is the superior kit. I haven't built the Hasegawa so I can't speak to its fit, but the pictures I have seen of the Hasegawa look way too bumpy compared to the real F-22s I have seen.

I have built the Academy, and it was probably one of the best fitting kits I have ever put together. Places where you swear you are going to have trouble go together perfectly.

My sentiments exactly!!!

Excellent build.

Very slick looking bird,,,,,,  good job!

Mostly, thanks for sharing!!

Yepper what they said, good luck !

She looks good and I dig the slime lights and weapons.

Blessings on your marriage and move.

Congrads on your marriage, she sounds like a winner. Wish I could find a gal like that.

Anyway, fantastic F-22! Really nice job on the build and yes the paint is the icing on the cake.

I've got a half finished Italeri kit of the Raptor and frankly it's pretty gosh-awful...

People keep raving about that Hasegawa F-22. I really think the Academy is the superior kit. I haven't built the Hasegawa so I can't speak to its fit, but the pictures I have seen of the Hasegawa look way too bumpy compared to the real F-22s I have seen.

I have built the Academy, and it was probably one of the best fitting kits I have ever put together. Places where you swear you are going to have trouble go together perfectly.

Shipwreck

Nice build, Fly-n-hi. I have one by Academy siting on my shelf waiting for me to get more painting experience before I takle it. Best wishes on your wedding and your future. The "into God" part sounds real good. Indeed, keep her!

Medicman, thanks.  The paint is a brand called Citadel.  It's used for figure painting and its marketed toward the guys who play games like War Hammer.  I saw someone else use it with good results so I tried it.

Very nice Raptor!! How did you do the Raptor Sheen? I've heard several different ways.

Fly-n-hi

Thanks guys for the compliments.  I really appreciate them.

I figure my fiance and I be settled in in about 1.5 years and then I can start building again.  I just hate to set everything up and then have to move again.  Plus I'm worried about some of my builds getting trashed during two moves.  Actually, I have to pack everything up to stage this current house for a sale which could take a while.  Tha't the real drag.

jeaton...yeah, she's a keeper.  She's into God, guns, and rock n' roll.  And she's cool with my hobbies.  She's easy on the eye's, too

Nice build, Fly-n-hi. I have one by Academy siting on my shelf waiting for me to get more painting experience before I takle it. Best wishes on your wedding and your future. The "into God" part sounds real good. Indeed, keep her!

Thanks guys for the compliments.  I really appreciate them.

I figure my fiance and I be settled in in about 1.5 years and then I can start building again.  I just hate to set everything up and then have to move again.  Plus I'm worried about some of my builds getting trashed during two moves.  Actually, I have to pack everything up to stage this current house for a sale which could take a while.  Tha't the real drag.

jeaton...yeah, she's a keeper.  She's into God, guns, and rock n' roll.  And she's cool with my hobbies.  She's easy on the eye's, too

Chris, the nose gear is just the stock kit part.  I'm not sure if its 100% accurate or not.  It probably is too thin.  It is solid, though.  I'm sure that it will have no problem holding up the weight of the plane over time...which is heavier than it looks BTW.

looks awesome!!

good luck for your move, and congratulations on your wedding.

Fly-n-hi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Looks so mean in that picture.

Excellent job. I agree with you on the "Raptor Sheen". I think you did a good job of representing it.

Good luck with the move.

While my model interest are more toward WWII, I think you built a very nice model. thanks for posting the pics.

Very impressive build.  I love the detail on those weapons - I always get lazy towards the end of a build and just slap mine on, but yours look like the real deal.  The detail in the weapons bay looks great too.

Is the nose gear a metal part or just plastic?  I read a review a while ago, which complained the nose gear on one of the 1/48 F-22 kits was a bit too thin, how'd you find this one?

Thanks for sharing.

Chris.

Nice job.

Good luck with all the moves, and I hope you snagged a sweetie!

very sharpe looking build,I bui;t the Hasegawa earlier this year,it was a great kit,but more expensive.