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

Hot-Pb wrote:

The 2009 Adversary/Aggressor Duty Roster: Jagdwolf - Hasegawa 1/32nd Northrop F-5E into the only CF-116A (S/N 116705).

Uh, Hot-Pb, 116705 was the only CF-116A (CF-5A) done up in Aggressor colours and markings, NOT the only CF-116A. (We had quite a few CF-116As in service.) And from the looks of things, I may be able to do a CF-116D (CF-5D) in 1/72nd scale after all. (Joy!!!)

Jagdwolf wrote:

Hot-Pb wrote: The 2009 Adversary/Aggressor Duty Roster: Jagdwolf - Hasegawa 1/32nd Northrop F-5E into the only CF-116A (S/N 116705). Uh, Hot-Pb, 116705 was the only CF-116A (CF-5A) done up in Aggressor colours and markings, NOT the only CF-116A. (We had quite a few CF-116As in service.) And from the looks of things, I may be able to do a CF-116D (CF-5D) in 1/72nd scale after all. (Joy!!!)

Looks like my cutting and pasting needs a more precise sprue cutter!! 

And since this group build includes the USN and USMC adversary squadrons, just have to include these specs as well. The A-4s and F-5s incorporated much more informal patterns and colours than those specified by the USAF aggressor squadrons, and many were applied for a very short period of time. Colours were usually mixed by the unit rather than being any standard FS colour. In regards to the F-5Es and F-5Fs, a number were adorned with the colours used for the "Old" Ghost, Grape/Blue and Snake schemes, just not the actual pattern.

As for international adversary squadrons, the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) has the Hiko Kyodotai. Established at Tsuiki on December 17, 1981, they operated five Mitsubishi T-2s in the aggressor role. March 16, 1990 saw the unit transferred to Nyutabaru and converting to the F-15DJ. Today it employs seven F-15DJs and one F-15J.

The primary colours of the Hiko Kyodotai F-15DJs remain the two-tone Ghost Greys, with individual single secondary colours (black, green, blue) tacked on to break up the standard pattern. More recently, additional secondary colours were added to the schemes. 

Mitsubishi T-2

Boeing F-15DJ

Jagdwolf wrote:

As for international adversary squadrons, the Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) has the Hiko Kyodotai.

Oh I love the Japanese F-15DJ's in their garish glory. Are there colors they don't use?! Haha...I love this one:

 Someone should do set for the GB in 1/144 scale!!!

Jagdwolf wrote:

Picked up the 1/72nd scale Italeri "F-5B Freedom Fighter" kit this evening, and it features markings for CF-5D/CF-116D Aggressor "05" (S/N 116805) from 1979 in the non-wraparound "Lizard" scheme.

Jadwolf,

Splendid!! I'm really curious to hear your impressions of that kit. Is that a repackaging of the ESCI kit?

 Hot-Pb

From what I've seen, it appears to be. I don't have the ESCI kit, but the photos of that release match exactly to the Italeri sprue setup, so the odds are pretty good. As for the model itself, Belcher Bits will be shortly producing the Canadair CF-5A/CF-5D decals, including the "Aggressor" Bort numbers, in 1/72nd scale. (He already has the 1/4th scale set out.) My dilemma: which of the five Aggressor schemes do I finish it in? (As one person PM'ed me to suggest, I can always buy the other nine F-5B kits and single F-5A kit and do them all!)

Canadian Forces CF-5 Aggressors
116705 CF-5A ‘05' Ghost
116805 CF-5D ‘05' Lizard
116806 CF-5D ‘06' Faux Pas II - FS35550 and FS36473 with FS36263 as blending overspray
116807 CF-5D ‘07' Grape
116809 CF-5D ‘09' Lizard (wraparound)
116812 CF-5D ‘12' Ghost
116815 CF-5D ‘15' Faux Pas - FS35488, FS35622, FS36280
116819 CF-5D ‘19' Ghost
116821 CF-5D ‘21' Ghost
116824 CF-5D ‘24' Ghost

This GB needs a little boost - so here's a few progress shots.

NOW she's starting to look like an Aggressor !

I'm working from a few photo references and a rather blurry copy of a discontinued decal sheet that I was able to find on Two Bobs Decals' website.   So I decided I'm not gonna get really picky about duplicating the scheme exactly.  After laying down the first coat of the green - I think I'm gonna have to scale down the color a bit.  It looks too dark compared to my photo references. 

The brush painting looks terrible after just the first coat - but it always looks that way.  It'll get better.

So - how are all you guys doin' ?

Chris

Bossman wrote:

This GB needs a little boost - so here's a few progress shots. NOW she's starting to look like an Aggressor ! I'm working from a few photo references and a rather blurry copy of a discontinued decal sheet that I was able to find on Two Bobs Decals' website.   So I decided I'm not gonna get really picky about duplicating the scheme exactly.  After laying down the first coat of the green - I think I'm gonna have to scale down the color a bit.  It looks too dark compared to my photo references.  The brush painting looks terrible after just the first coat - but it always looks that way.  It'll get better. So - how are all you guys doin' ? Chris

Hey Bossman!

She's looking sweet. First one in the build to actually look aggressive!  You just painted the camo pattern demarcations by hand? Impressive. Myself, I'm just getting started. I finally have everything I want together and have just cut my first sprue!

Tony

Tony,

That looks like quite a set up !  All the makings for a beauty.

Late tonight I finished painting the first coat of the wrap around paint scheme.  Whew !  That was ...  how should I say ...    laborious.

Chris 

Hi just want to keep an eye on this GB and might jump in a bit later

vetteman42 wrote:

Hi just want to keep an eye on this GB and might jump in a bit later

Great Vetteman42...you're always welcome! Give a hollar if you feel aggressive!

Tony

Hey fellow aggressors! I was surveying some Red Flag schemes and came accross this Viper. Does anyone have any idea what it's carrying on the center pylon?

Tony

Jagdwolf wrote:

Hey Hot-Pb, if you get wind of someone else wanting to do a Canadian Aggressor CF-5D/CF-116D, I picked up the Belcher Bits 1/72nd scale "Canadian Forces CF-5 Aggressors" decal set recently. If they need Bort numbers, please let them know I have extras. Thanks.

Hey Jagdwolf,

Absolutely!  Great to see folks sharing. Do you know if Belcher makes these decals in 1/48 scale as well? Of course in 1/48 scale I still think from what I've read the Monogram kit seems to be the best available in an E model (Classic Airframes makes an A). But I keep hearing rumours "someone" is tooling up to release an F-5E this year in 1/48.

Hot-Pb

Hot-Pb wrote:

But I keep hearing rumours "someone" is tooling up to release an F-5E this year in 1/48.   Hot-Pb

For those interested I found some information on the rumored 1/48 F-5E Tiger II release from Academy on ARC's forum:

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=177349&hl=Academy%20F-5&st=60

I'd love to see it released before this GB is over! I'm dying to do a half way decent Adversary F-5E from VFC-111.

Hot-Pb

I'm finally rolling on this build in earnest!. So this is Tamiya's 1/48 F-16C that will be done up in an Arctic Agressor scheme. So far I'm very impressed with the engineering of this kit, they put alot of thought into how the parts fit together. Anyhow, here's some pics to try and get this GB a bit more lively. The cockpit I'm enhancing with Eduard's PE set, my first try with their self-adhesive line...still not sure if I like this better than having to apply my own glue or not. I also have the undercarriage PE set...the Tamiya instructions have you start the undercarriage rather early in the build. Anyhow...actual progress! YAY! 

Hot-Pb

Nice detail work !  Looking great so far.

Chris

Hey agressors!

You know, I haven't done a newish Tamiya kit in some time and I'd forgotten how much of a pleasure they can be to assemble. This one is just falling together and the fit is just wonderful. I can tell this won't need much filler at all. There is one seam where the front and rear top panels meet that may require a little attention, they don't meet quite flush. But once painted in agressor camo I don't think it will be too noticable. So here's some updates. I'm priming everything white as I go since the undercolor for the arctic camo scheme will be light gray. The exhaust can is the Aries set painted with Alclad metallics. I had intended to also add the Aries ACES-II resin seat but it's a little too wide to fit in at this point. Since I'm intending to go canopy closed, I'm happing just sticking to the kit seat. So I painted it up, added some Eduard photoetch and finished off the cockpit, and closed her up for paint. The stiffener plates are from Crossdelta.

Hot-Pb

Finally some paint. I'm primed with tamiya white spray as I assembled and then I did some pre-shading. For the three tone white/grey/black camo I'm using pollyscale IJA light gray, tamiya xf-54dark sea grey, and xf-69 nato black. For the nose I used xf-24 dark grey. I'm going to work up the landing gear next.

 Tony

Hey all, there was a very interesting posting at the Aeroscale site today with some test photos of AFV Club's upcoming F-5E Tiger II release:

http://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=5504

it looks very nice and if it comes out before our little GB is over I think I see that I may be doing another build before this is over, love thsoe VFC-111 Sundowners!

Hot-Pb

Hey everyone, so I think I'm all done. Some minor boofoos, but overall I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. It's a splendid kit, I really recommend it and the Afterburner decals are great. If AFVClub actually comes out with their 1/48 F-5E soon I may do one more for this build! Thanks for looking, here are some pics:

 Tony

Tony,

Thats...                Stunning !

Beautiful job man.

Chris

Bossman wrote:

Tony, Thats...                Stunning ! Beautiful job man. Chris

Thanks Chris,

the aggressors always do have a bit of a pop and this one was quite a bit of fun. The Tamiya kits are often so nice (and generally painless) to put together... it makes me cringe looking at the Classic Airframes kit I have staring at me next!

Tony

Well, I'm finally getting back to this build after taking a break for a few months.  The main body painting is nearly done.  I've just started application of the decals. 

I'll have to do some touch up painting because of the method I'm using on the decals.  I'll try to condense the story...

I saw shots of this Marine Aggressor F16-N a while ago when someone posted pics on the A/C forum.  I found out that a company had produced decals for this - but they have been out of production for a while.  So I'm thinking I'm going to have to do some pretty fancy paint work in order to pull it off.  Then one day while perusing the spare decal folder I noticed some leftover decals from a 1/48 A4-M.  The "MARINES" text is almost a perfect fit for this 1/72 aggressor.  The only problem is that they're all grey - and the text I need is Dk Green and Lt. Camo Grey.  No problem.. lay down the grey decals and use them as a painting guide for the appropriate colors using a teeny tiny brush.  I'm about halfway done - some touchup is still required.  Not all the decals will get this treatment.

  I'm kinda goin for the general feel of the camo scheme and not even attempting an exact duplication.  It's definitely not a show winner.  But it'll look pretty good from a few feet away. Should progress a little more quickly from here.

Chris

Woohoo Chris. Sweet! That has got to be one of my fav schemes for the Marine bird. Can' wait to see it completely done. Looks good to me, no need to step feet away mate.

Your decal text touch-up truly impressive, and in 1/72 no less. Geeze.

Tony

OK - I'm calling this one done for now.  If I can find some appropriate number decals for the tail and nose (a small # 42) I might apply them later.  But for the most part she'll stay as she is.

No weathering on this one.  I added a bit of scratchbuilt detail to the cockpit and I added detail to the inside diameter of the exhaust nozzle with some 0.010" styrene card stock.  I just trim a cone to fit inside, then I pull it out and scribe the feathered detail on it, run a black wash over it to pick out the lines, detail it with a little pencil work, glue it in place and - Voila !  It's not a resin detail piece - but it looks way better than just a blank, smooth surface.

Here's the pics:

Still looking forward to seeing some other aggressive birds.  Hope you guys haven't forgotten about this GB

Chris