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

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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.

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!! 

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:

Finding a kit of the CF-116D is hard enough. 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

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

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

Finding a kit of the CF-116D is hard enough. 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.

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

Tony

Here are some pics of the front office

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.

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??

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

bump....

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

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