Aggressor Squadron

I've got to get a copy of that book, one of the birds on the cover is my TA-4J tactical backseat ride at VF-126. Cool!!  Yeah, that back seat is mine!

HooYah Deep Sea

I've got to get a copy of that book, one of the birds on the cover is my TA-4J tactical backseat ride at VF-126. Cool!!  Yeah, that back seat is mine!

 

Wow, I'm jealous. Models will have to do for me. Rest assured some scooters will be part of the squadron.

Finally finished the F-5F. They say the first one is the hardest. Leaving the cockpits open makes for a more dramatic look...

Now onto the F-5E. I would like to do number of these. After the first F-5E will be an F-20 in a fantasy scheme I suppose. 

I would like to do spome A-4's, Kfir, and an F-16, then possibly some foreign nations aircraft. 

I will post the final images of all the completed builds in my first post. Thanks for looking. 

Turned out nice.  Great scheme.  I would advise staying away from the ESCI Kfir...it was a bear.  But, given your work on this old Monogram kit, I'd say you can deal with it.  Let's see the rest of your aggressor squadron.

Thanks for the kind comments. The idea for this project is to use up all the kits in my stash which includes the Kfir. So I'll just bite the bullet and get'r done....eventually. 

Since you are doing the ACMI Aggressors, don't forget the Cubic KITS pods. We still gots to track 'em you know.

OH, yeah, and don't forget, on the A-4 / TA-4's, the slats are out when the bird is parked.

HooYah Deep Sea

Since you are doing the ACMI Aggressors, don't forget the Cubic KITS pods. We still gots to track 'em you know.

OH, yeah, and don't forget, on the A-4 / TA-4's, the slats are out when the bird is parked.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was able to get this weapons set which includes the pods...

Thanks for the heads up on the A4 slats, I did read that in an earlier thread on the A4's.

Now beginning the next F-5E, one for the Navy...

Here is the paint scheme for this one...

With this decal set I have a lot of exciting color combos to choose from...

I've got about a decades worth of work here 

Great looking models. i like that liquid masking product. I'll need to give it a try.

Now the forum is back up and running (supposedly) I am going to try and repost this for the third time...

After completing a Group Build or three, I have finally returned to this project. The F5E went together with a minimum of issues, at least a minimum for me anyway.

Like to F5F, I sealed the underwing stores slots...

Now it’s ready for paint...

The first color is Light Sea Grey...

After letting that dry, it was time to mask so I can spray the contrasting Medium Grey.

On the F5F I used a liquid masking agent and on a B57 I built for the Viet Nam Era Aircraft GB, I used a putty masking agent. For this one I wanted to try something different. At least less messy and easier to remove.

So, I am going to try paper masks. I scanned the decal placement pictures into my computer. I then inserted them into a Word document. There I could enlarge the image to approximately the same size as the model....

I then had these documents printed out. I needed to take them to a copy shop that could print legal size 8 1/2 by 14 inch. These pages would serve as a template for masking the model. The idea is to cut out the areas I wanted to stay Sea Grey and glue them onto the model with Elmer’s glue. 

Elmer’s glue isn't permanent and is removable with a little water. I only needed just enough glue to hold to paper in place.

The printed templates need not be precise, just close enough to replicate the camo design.

Here is the underside pasted up...

The paper masks are not completely sealed, the loosely fitted paper edges should yield a soft demarcation line, which is what I am after.

Here is the model pasted up and ready for the second spray...

The blue tape is used only as a filler here and there and to cover compound curves where the paper would have been in effective.

Now the Medium grey has been sprayed...

After the Medium grey has dried, I removed to paper masks. Let’s see what happened…

Well, the good news is the masks worked as intended, giving a somewhat soft edge. The bad news is the areas "glued" on lifted the paint in a number of areas...

I did not anticipate at all the paint lifting off like that. It’s a problem but not insurmountable. I did not prime the model first. Even if I had primed, for all I know the paint could still have lifted off revealing the primer beneath instead of bare plastic.

It was at least two weeks between spray session for the two greys, so I don't think that was the problem. Anyhow, I have some fixing to do, then I will clear coast the Tiger and move on to decals.

So that is where I am at with this project, I will post more when I get closer to the finish line. Thanks for looking.

Oh man, I had high hopes for the elmers option. A shame it pulled up the paint. I'm sur eyou can fix it and we can ogle the finished project shortly.

TheMongoose

Oh man, I had high hopes for the elmers option. A shame it pulled up the paint. I'm sur eyou can fix it and we can ogle the finished project shortly.

 

I think it worked pretty well actually. I painted the model in two sessions. The bottom side first, then the top side. Just about all of the lifting paint came off the top side. What I think happened is that the top side paint mixture was thinned too much, so there was a verfy fine film of paint on the plastic.

The next time I try the paper mask, I'll soak it off before trying to peel it away, maybe I can save the paint no matter how thin it might be.

Chemteacher

Some beautiful work. I have a soft spot for the Monogram F-5 kit. I think it’s a great kit and the F-5 is one of my favorite aircraft. During this COVID madness, I finished a 1/72 Academy F-16A from the shelf of doom and did it in the winter splinter camo using paints I had in stock. It’s not 100% accurate but gave me some practice.

 

I remember seeing your post. I thought WOW, I hope mine turn out that nicely. I have an F-16C I'll be adding to the squadron at some point.

I have the paint fixed on the F5. I then remembered I have to paint the engine exhaust. But before I did that, I had to repair the little rivits that I sanded off while seam sealing that portion of the plane. So I used Archers rivit resin decals and blended them into the existing rivits,  then painted a nice shiney aluminum...

Can't really tell which are the kit details and which are the resin decal strips. At normal viewing distance, it looks OK to me.

Now I'm ready for clear coat and decals.

Finished this bird today.  Added and ACMI pod on the left wing and a practice sidewinder on the right (for a little variety)...

Next up is my homage to top gun and the fictional MIG 28...

So in keeping with the F5 family I will be using an F20 Tigershark. I will be applying a fantasy scheme on a plane to model a fictional plane, sounds right to me.

So here is the kit I am working with...

When I was laying out the parts, I couldn't find a significant part and I thought my hopes for this build were about to be dashed. But, I didn't panic and I checked around all my stash hiding places and found the missing part. So let this build begin.

Oooh id been waiting on the finish for this. Well done! Looks like the camo repair went smoothly. your model shows really well. Love those archer rivets myself!

Excellent, Mark.

Very nice.  Great save on the camo.  Look forward to the family pic

Made some progress on the F20...I mean my fantasy MIG-28 homage...

I scavanged some under wing plylons from a Monogram MIG-29 to give the F-20 an "Eastern Bloc" feel.

Now painted in basic black, per "Top Gun"...

Here are the center line tank and Russian missles also taken from the Mig-29 kit. I modified the Sidewinder knockoffs by trimming back the forward fins to make is a little distinguishable from their western counterparts...

Here is my Mig-28 "Honcho" scavanged from an A-4. It's a work in progress...

Cool.  Ordanance looks great.

Well I finished my MIG-28 tribute build using an F-20 Tiger shark...

And a family photo with my other F5's...

This completes the first three of my Aggressor Squadron. Next up will be a 1/48 F-21 Lion. Or if you prefer a KFIR C2 in Marine Aggressor colors. Thanks for looking.

Love the missiles. This is the 1st of those Black Russian aggressors that i have ever liked! Missiles just threw it over the top.

"Danger Zone" is now running through my brain on a loop.

Very well done!

Man that turned out great!!  Love the family pic.  

Well done, Mark, it looks the part.