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Adversary & Aggressor GB (3/15/09-12/31/09)

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  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Adversary & Aggressor GB (3/15/09-12/31/09)
Posted by Hot-Pb on Sunday, March 1, 2009 12:37 PM

 

 

Gentlemen and Ladies.... Welcome to the 2009 Adversary and Aggressor Group Build! After floating the idea in the Aircraft forum it seems there's enough potential interest in the subject for this to fly and I haven't seen one of these done recently. There's also a very nice selection of new kits and decals released recently of aircraft that would be candidates for such a build, so the timing seems...ummm...timely!


This Build will begin on March 15th, 2009 and finish on December 31st, 2009 (although the deadline may be extended if needed). Hopefully that's a long enough stretch to attract those that may be interested but are currently busy with other builds (like ME!) Whistling [:-^]


So...the rules.

1. Aircraft to be built must have been used by Adversary (US Navy and Marine Corps) and/or Aggressor (US Air Force) squadrons to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Foreign Aggressors are also allowed (i.e. Canadian's MAPLE FLAG exercises).
2. They must be painted and marked in the scheme they would have utilized in such a role.
3. Aftermarket accessories and scratchbuilding is, as always, allowed.
4. Any scale is permitted.
5. Kits that have already been started are allowed as long as they have not been painted and decaled yet.
6. Crossovers are permitted.
7. Post your progress if possible but post a final build photo minimally when done and I'll add it to the front page.
8. And as always, HAVE FUN!!!!! Propeller [8-]

Some of the best known examples of adversary/aggressor aircraft are those flown at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (better known as "TOPGUN") or at the "Red Flag" aerial combat training exercise hosted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Canadian Forces also have used Aggressor training in their MAPLE FLAG exercises. Some of the myriad of aircraft that have flown with US aggressor/adversary squadrons include (but are not restricted to) Douglas A-4s, Northrop F-5s and CF-116Ds (CF-5Ds), the Isreali F-21 Kfir, McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18As, Lockheed-Martin F-16Ns, As, Cs, McDonnell-Douglas F-15s, Grumman F-14s and even foreign aircraft such as MiG-17s, 21s, and 23s, Mi-24 Hinds, Mi-8 Hips, Mi-2 Hoplites, and An-2 Colts.


Some of the Adversary/Aggressor squadrons in the US armed forces include the USAF's 64th, 65th, and 527th Aggressor Squadrons, VMFT-401 (US Marine Corps) and the Navy's VFC-12 (NAS Oceana), VFC-13 (NAS Fallon) and VFC-111 (NAS Key West) as well as the famous "TOPGUN" Naval Fighter Weapons School (US Navy) which is not a squadron per se, but operates F-16A and F/A-18A/B/E/F aircraft as part of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at NAS Fallon. In the 1970's and 80's there was the 26th AS at Clark AB in the Phillipines. The RCAF 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron flew in an Aggressor role as well. I'm sure I'm missing some.


So let me know if you're interested in participating. Let me know what kit and scale you plan on building and if possible some information on what markings you plan on and what squadron this may have flown historically.


Hot-Pb

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Sunday, March 1, 2009 12:41 PM

The 2009 Adversary/Aggressor Duty Roster:

Hot-Pb -  Tamiya 1/48 F-16C, Arctic Aggressor scheme, 354th FW, 18th Aggressor Squadron (18th AGRS) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

stikpusher - Hasegawa 1/32 F-5E, 57th TTW, 64th FWS, Nellis AFB, "Snake" camo scheme.

lewbud - Hobbycraft 1/48 A-4 in that funky green lizard looking scheme.

rlawson -  Tamiya 1/72 F4D-1, Skyray flown at a gunnery meet in April, 1958, by the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit (FAGU).

taxtp - Hasegawa 1/72 F-16N with some aftermarket cockpit bits.

Bossman - Hasegawa 1/72 F-16N - in a grey/green splinter scheme.

balta1 - HC 1/48 A-4 Skyhawk

Jagdwolf - Hasegawa 1/32nd Northrop F-5E into the only CF-116A (S/N 116705) done up in Aggressor colours and markings!! THE ONLY!!!!

Konigwolf13 - 1/100 F-15 in 65th aggressor sqn colours.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, March 1, 2009 3:01 PM
Hasegawa 1/32 F-5E, 57th TTW, 64th FWS, Nellis AFB, "Snake" camo scheme.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
Posted by lewbud on Sunday, March 1, 2009 3:06 PM

Put me down for a1/48 Hobbycraft A-4 in that funky green lizard looking scheme.

EDIT: The kit is at home.  When I get there I'll post the squadron info.

Buddy- Those who say there are no stupid questions have never worked in customer service.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sugar Land, TX
Posted by rlawson on Sunday, March 1, 2009 10:58 PM

Hot-Pb

Let me run this by you again, now that you have established rules for the GB. My first choice would be an F4D Skyray flown at a gunnery meet in April, 1958, by the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit. This predates Viet Nam and the whole Topgun push, including all those lo-viz/camoflage schemes. The Skyray wore the standard gray over white scheme. The FAGU markings were a red/white checkerboard on the vertical tail surfaces, and black rings around the nose and drop tank tips with red lightning bolts striking through them. Certainly something different from most of the entries coming in. My kit is the Tamiya F4D-1 in 1/72 (that's what I do).

The only question I have is how the A/C was used, whether it acted as an opposing force. I know it was sometimes used as a target tug, but haven't found out if they did ACM. In the 1958 meet, the sqn's were flying F4D's and FJ Furies.

If this still passes muster, I'm in.  If not, I'll go back and pick something in that boring gray camoflage, and check back. Thanks.

Dick

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Monday, March 2, 2009 7:09 AM
 rlawson wrote:

Hot-Pb

Let me run this by you again, now that you have established rules for the GB. My first choice would be an F4D Skyray flown at a gunnery meet in April, 1958, by the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit. This predates Viet Nam and the whole Topgun push, including all those lo-viz/camoflage schemes. The Skyray wore the standard gray over white scheme. The FAGU markings were a red/white checkerboard on the vertical tail surfaces, and black rings around the nose and drop tank tips with red lightning bolts striking through them. Certainly something different from most of the entries coming in. My kit is the Tamiya F4D-1 in 1/72 (that's what I do).

The only question I have is how the A/C was used, whether it acted as an opposing force. I know it was sometimes used as a target tug, but haven't found out if they did ACM. In the 1958 meet, the sqn's were flying F4D's and FJ Furies.

If this still passes muster, I'm in.  If not, I'll go back and pick something in that boring gray camoflage, and check back. Thanks.

Dick

Hi rlawson!

I think we can fit in the FAGU Skyray as an early pre-NAM example, welcome aboard. I'd like to be flexible to attract a variety of subjects. Heck, I hear in some instances they outsourced missions to private companies to fly aircraft such as Lear Jets in the "aggressor" role. 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sugar Land, TX
Posted by rlawson on Monday, March 2, 2009 12:30 PM

Great! Looking forward to it. Thanks

Dick

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Australia
Posted by taxtp on Monday, March 2, 2009 11:26 PM

I wasn't aware that Skyray's had been used in this capacity, I'd like to know more and certainly would look forward to seeing a model.

Against my better judgement, I'll add to my ever growing list of promises with a Hasegawa 1/72 F-16N with some aftermarket cockpit bits.

Cheers

Tony

I'm just taking it one GB at a time.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 5:40 AM
 taxtp wrote:

I wasn't aware that Skyray's had been used in this capacity, I'd like to know more and certainly would look forward to seeing a model.

Against my better judgement, I'll add to my ever growing list of promises with a Hasegawa 1/72 F-16N with some aftermarket cockpit bits.

Cheers

Tony

Very nice taxtp, welcome aboard!

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Bossman on Friday, March 6, 2009 10:42 PM

Count me in with a 1/72 Hasegawa F-16N - in a grey/green splinter scheme.

Chris

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Saturday, March 7, 2009 6:21 AM
 Bossman wrote:

Count me in with a 1/72 Hasegawa F-16N - in a grey/green splinter scheme.

Chris

Hey Bossman! Fantastic, can't wait to see what you come up with. Looks like we'll have a very colorful assortment of planes.

 

Tony

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 8:42 PM

bump....

4 days to start of the GB if anyone else wants to join in folks!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Midwest US
Posted by balta1 on Thursday, March 12, 2009 5:00 PM
Hello all! Count me in on the GB. I'll be doing a HC 1/48 Skyhawk. I've not decided which scheme yet but I plan to go over my decal stash and see what I like.

Stir not the bitterness in the cup I have mixed for myself!

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Thursday, March 12, 2009 5:29 PM

 balta1 wrote:
Hello all! Count me in on the GB. I'll be doing a HC 1/48 Skyhawk. I've not decided which scheme yet but I plan to go over my decal stash and see what I like.

Woohoo! I think we've officially hit the tipping point. Welcome balta1.

 

Hot-Pb

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Midwest US
Posted by balta1 on Saturday, March 14, 2009 12:37 AM

Here's the kit and sceme (blue & gray) I'll be doing.

Stir not the bitterness in the cup I have mixed for myself!

 

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Australia
Posted by taxtp on Monday, March 16, 2009 12:07 AM

Hi All,

I watched Top Gun again on the weekend just to get myself in the mood for this GB. Maybe I could have done it fore the Totally Awesome Eighties GB as well !

Regards

Tony

I'm just taking it one GB at a time.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:22 AM
 taxtp wrote:

Hi All,

I watched Top Gun again on the weekend just to get myself in the mood for this GB. Maybe I could have done it fore the Totally Awesome Eighties GB as well !

Regards

Tony

 

Haha....great movie. Someone needs to do a build of Viper or Jester's aircraft! Alright folks, the build is now officially a GO. Good luck.

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 6:15 AM

Heya fellow Aggressors,

I thought some of you might be interested in the review of the new 1/48 F-16A/B/N NSAWC & Topgun decal sheet from Fightertown Decals that was just posted on the ARC site. Perfect candidate for this build. Man, so many Adversary and Aggressor kits and decals in the last few months! Can't wait to see what you all come up with.

 

cheers,

Hot-Pb

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Bossman on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11:31 AM

Just thought I'd give this thread a bump by adding the old in-progress shot.

I've gotten a little farther with this one since this pic was taken - putting the wings and tail on, doing a little seam sanding, and spraying white into the gear bays.  I've got 3 other kits in various stages of completion being built at the same time.

More to come....

 Chris

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Bossman on Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:16 PM

The pics I promised...

Lookin' more like a viper - but not yet an aggressor.

I really like the way this kit is engineered (as most F-16 kits probably are) with the clamshell assembly of the fuselage.  I makes for a sparkling clean spine with no seam to clean up and no detail to be lost by sanding.  One of modelling's simple pleasures !  

Chris

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Saturday, March 28, 2009 6:55 PM

Looking splendid so far Chris! Can't wait to see what you do with her. Makes me eager to start on mine. Is the cockpit OOB?

 

Tony

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by Bossman on Saturday, March 28, 2009 7:50 PM

Tony,

Well - it's OOB 'cept for some scratching (literally) of the pads in the seat.  The kit seat has a single smooth pad - but some reference pics I have show that they are divided into a bunch of narrow vertical pads as I have scratched into the surface.   Sooner or later I'll also add a harness made from tape or wine bottle foil.

Chris

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Navan, Ontario
Posted by Jagdwolf on Monday, March 30, 2009 8:52 PM

Seems you guys forgot about MAPLE FLAG, where the Canadian Forces used the CF-116Ds (Northrop CF-5Ds) of 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron as Aggressors until 1995. My 2 cents [2c]

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 5:54 AM
 Jagdwolf wrote:

Seems you guys forgot about MAPLE FLAG, where the Canadian Forces used the CF-116Ds (Northrop CF-5Ds) of 419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron as Aggressors until 1995. My 2 cents [2c]

Hey Jagdwolf! Eeeekkk....how could I have left off our northern brethren! I have added them to our less than comprehensive list...LOL. Good thing you'll be modeling one of these puppies for our group build to show off these very fine examples of Canadian Aggressors, yes?? Evil [}:)]

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Midwest US
Posted by balta1 on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 8:31 PM

Here are some pics of the front office

Stir not the bitterness in the cup I have mixed for myself!

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Thursday, April 2, 2009 11:15 PM

Great work balta1, the painting is dead on. Very nice. How'd you do the seat belts?

 

Tony

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Midwest US
Posted by balta1 on Friday, April 3, 2009 4:27 PM
I replaced the seat and used True Details ESCAPAC resin seats which are much better than the hobbycraft one.

Stir not the bitterness in the cup I have mixed for myself!

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Navan, Ontario
Posted by Jagdwolf on Sunday, April 5, 2009 4:53 PM

Finding a kit of the CF-116D is hard enough. Censored [censored] Know of any F-5B kits still around? However, with the Belcher Bits kit, I will be able to convert my 1/32nd Hasegawa Northrop F-5E into the only CF-116A (S/N 116705) used in the Aggressor role.

Hot-Pb, you missed USAF's 527th Aggressor Squadron based at RAF Alconbury, UK and the 26th AS at Clark AB in the Phillipines during the 1970s and '80s.

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Navan, Ontario
Posted by Jagdwolf on Sunday, April 5, 2009 8:30 PM

Posting these here for those who want some camo specs on the USAF Aggressor colour schemes, both old and new. Many of the older F-5E schemes adopted the wraparound pattern later on.

 

NORTHROP F-5E TIGER II

1972

 

 

1975

 

 

1980

 

 

New schemes

 

 

LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16C FIGHTING FALCON

 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Long Island, NY
Posted by Hot-Pb on Monday, April 6, 2009 6:25 AM
 Jagdwolf wrote:

Finding a kit of the CF-116D is hard enough. Censored [censored] Know of any F-5B kits still around? However, with the Belcher Bits kit, I will be able to convert my 1/32nd Hasegawa Northrop F-5E into the only CF-116A (S/N 116705) used in the Aggressor role.

Hot-Pb, you missed USAF's 527th Aggressor Squadron based at RAF Alconbury, UK and the 26th AS at Clark AB in the Phillipines during the 1970s and '80s.

LOL...you're keeping me honest Jagdwolf! Guess we do need to be thorough, this ain't you're average garden party group build after all. I have edited the front page accordingly...and added a builder to our GB Whistling [:-^]

As for the F-5B, Classic Airframes has a very nice one in 1/48. Are you looking for something specifically in 1/32?

And the USAF Aggressor colour schemes are fantastic!! I may have to build an F-5 aggressor to go along with the F-16.

 

Hot-Pb

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