Best YF-22 and YF-23

Just a note, I want to do the prototype F-22 and F-23 as well as a production F-22. I'm aware that there are major differences between production and prototype F-22. I bought the F-23 by shanghai/dragon and am pleased with the tooling. While not too detailed at least what's there is crisp. Better than I've seen from Italeri. I used to like Italeri armor but I've yet to see a 1/72 aircraft kit from them that I'd call passable.

Hey Guys;
I remember when the F-16 came out and everyone busted their butts to produce the new little fighter but they where doing it to fast the models represent the prototypes and not the production A/C, now we're in the same delima with this fighter if I where you all I'd wait until Hasegawa comes out with the fighter and we'll know it's going to be a fantastic kit, as for Italeri they where good back in the day but I think they got lost in the croud by cutting corners by by-passing the details in the cockpit (have you seen the new F-15C?) I've built their F-22 and it was okay for what I wanted to do but if I wanted to make it a part of my collection I'd be still working on it, don't get me wrong it's a good rep for the plane as a stop gap but that's where it ends, like I said I'll wait until Hasegawa or Tamiya puts it out

I built both Italeri YF-22 and YF-23 in 1/72 scale. The fit is poor, as usual per Italeri, gear doors are too small and there are large gaps as with the weapons bay doors. If you put the gear down and open the weapons bays they can be fine kits. If you build gear up, you will need to do a lot of filling. The level of detail is minimal, as usual in Italeri 1/72 kits or Italeri kits in general, but it leaves lots of room for improvement. On the YF-23 you will need to fill a large seam between the upper and lower wing halves. The lower wing surface fits inside the upper wing so there is no seam in the leading or trailing edge just a large one under the wing, around the perimiter.

Italeri also makes a YF-22 in 1/48, I have the kit but haven't built it yet so I can't tell you what it is like. But the detail looks sparse.

The only 1/48 YF-23 kit I know of is the Collectaire resin kit. It is very pricey but looks to be a very nice kit. You can find it a www.collectaire.com

The Italeri 1/72 kits leave a lot to be desired but still look very nice with the right amount of work when finished.

true italeri kits are quite good, crisp and detailed.
for a true f-22 better wait a couple of years. speaking from experience with an early f-117 kit, where the bomb bay doors were hinged in the wrong way.

Italeri has an F22 in 1/72 & 1/48. I built the 1/72 awhile back, I'm a OOB guy myself, it's not a bad kit, alittle work could make it look good. Any how might be a good place to start. Bob