Italeri | No. 829 | 1:48 | Lockheed F-117A Stealth Nighthawk
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/7/8/9/1677789-49836-57-720.jpg)
2021/22: OOB build of the vintage '90s Italeri 1/48 kit.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/3/7/7/1118377-49836-31-720.jpg)
Fresh plastic... It's so stealthy I don't know where the main body is!
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/3/7/8/1118378-49836-82-720.jpg)
This kit differs from many others as wings must be attached and of course ensured they sit right also. I still maintain I need one of those flashy jig things I see others on here with.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/3/7/9/1118379-49836-64-720.jpg)
Not technical and/or accurate, but it's a pretty tidy cockpit that offered opportunity to paint some detail.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/3/8/0/1118380-49836-59-720.jpg)
Tamiya paint used here as well as my usual Vallejo choice.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/3/8/1/1118381-49836-79-720.jpg)
Mating of wings and fuselage... Wing is slightly propped to ensure correct angle.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/3/8/2/1118382-49836-42-720.jpg)
These old kits are never completely compliant! I believe some manufacturers don't expect you to join wings to fuselage. Italeri however, do!
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/3/8/5/1118385-49836-47-720.jpg)
Adding fish weights in nose, clamping and armament assembly/priming.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/3/8/3/1118383-49836-19-720.jpg)
Minor cockpit tweaks, gaps will be filled.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/3/8/4/1118384-49836-43-720.jpg)
I had to damage edges to ensure fit, but will make good afterwards.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/3/8/7/1118387-49836-80-720.jpg)
Still needed filling and sanding etc.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/3/8/6/1118386-49836-61-720.jpg)
1500, 2000 and 2500 wet and dry.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/3/8/8/1118388-49836-36-720.jpg)
More tweaking of the base black primer.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/3/8/9/1118389-49836-56-720.jpg)
sand, sand and a little bit more sanding!
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/3/9/1/1118391-49836-17-720.jpg)
This is first pass at creating some highlights and tonal range within the black.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/3/9/0/1118390-49836-62-720.jpg)
These old kits have minimal panel line detail - it's not a Hasegawa I acknowledge. So just trying best to get some colour interest in an otherwise flat surface.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/6/4/4/1180644-49836-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/6/4/6/1180646-49836-62-720.jpg)
Adding some grey tones.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/6/4/9/1180649-49836-47-720.jpg)
Masking for panel painting.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/6/5/1/1180651-49836-26-720.jpg)
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/6/5/2/1180652-49836-67-720.jpg)
Painted.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/6/5/7/1180657-49836-34-720.jpg)
Exhaust base silver painting.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/6/5/3/1180653-49836-84-720.jpg)
Working to add some 'scratchy' surface detail and painting of air intake panels with Hataka black.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/6/6/3/1180663-49836-10-720.jpg)
The scratchy surface staining will be toned down.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/6/6/2/1180662-49836-63-720.jpg)
Streaking and adding greys to panels.
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/6/6/4/1180664-49836-59-720.jpg)
Endeavouring to create variables of exhaust staining by using diluted Vallejo paints.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/6/6/7/1180667-49836-76-720.jpg)
Adding flat (first pass) grey tones to panels. The scratchy paint effects will be toned down also.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/6/6/5/1180665-49836-42-720.jpg)
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/6/6/6/1180666-49836-88-720.jpg)
Masking/painting undercarriage.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/3/4/8/1185348-49836-52-720.jpg)
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/3/5/6/1185356-49836-27-720.jpg)
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/3/5/0/1185350-49836-79-720.jpg)
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/3/5/2/1185352-49836-32-720.jpg)
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/3/5/1/1185351-49836-79-720.jpg)
IN PROGRESS. UPDATED: 15/3/22...
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/3/5/3/1185353-49836-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/3/5/4/1185354-49836-47-720.jpg)
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/3/5/5/1185355-49836-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/7/9/0/1677790-49836-81-720.jpg)
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/7/9/1/1677791-49836-75-720.jpg)
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/7/9/2/1677792-49836-78-720.jpg)
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/7/9/3/1677793-49836-29-720.jpg)
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/7/9/4/1677794-49836-50-720.jpg)
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/7/9/6/1677796-49836-66-720.jpg)
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/7/9/7/1677797-49836-90-720.jpg)
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/7/9/8/1677798-49836-61-720.jpg)
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/7/9/9/1677799-49836-26-720.jpg)
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/8/0/0/1677800-49836-18-720.jpg)
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/8/0/3/1677803-49836-47-720.jpg)
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/8/0/5/1677805-49836-96-720.jpg)
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/8/0/6/1677806-49836-62-720.jpg)
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/8/0/7/1677807-49836-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/2/9/9/1685299-49836-24-720.jpg)
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/3/0/0/1685300-49836-98-720.jpg)
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/3/0/1/1685301-49836-12-720.jpg)
Komentáře
62 17 September 2021, 08:06
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Hi Arif 🙂 thanks very much 😊 very kind. I'm a bit further along now too. So the blending looks better... Must get some of the newer pics on here 👍
19 December 2021, 17:48
![](/profiles/img/48972-166-s.jpg)
Watching, of course, with pleasure 😉 From time to time I am tempted to purchase a Nighthawk kit... 😉
19 December 2021, 18:07
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Hi Robert 🙂 you're always welcome. 👍 I have four of these in the stash. This is bash one, i thought I'd build this simultaneously with the F-19 and U2c also currently on the bench... I spie myself a trio of stealthy builds on the radar mate! 😉
19 December 2021, 21:34
![](/profiles/img/34514-638-s.jpg)
A little bit late but here I am😬!
Looking forward to your next steps Neil
20 December 2021, 09:11
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Hi Konrad and Ricardo 🙂 welcome aboard, thanks for your kind words. Hopefully I'll do your interest justice 🙂 👍
20 December 2021, 15:20
![](/profiles/img/108467-993-s.jpg)
Looking good
Yes I think most of us don't have all the best tools we like to have
But its turning out very nice
Look forward to see what its going to look like
7 March 2022, 11:28
![](/profiles/img/65866-287-s.jpg)
I've got the Tamiya kit in the stash, but haven't attempted it yet due to the large surface area and being overall black. No easy task to break-up the monotone colour like your doing. Following 👀
7 March 2022, 16:51
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Hi Jv, Nathan and James C 👍 thanks for commenting. Yes, updated some imagery today, you're right @James C - I'm trying(!) to accomplish that... Very much glad to have you here mates 🙂
7 March 2022, 17:19
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Thanks very much WhiteGlint and Roland, very kind 🙂 great to have both of you here 👍
9 March 2022, 21:39
![](/profiles/img/49836-612-s.jpg)
Hi all 🙂 So I'm still catching up... I've got around to taking reveal pictures for many of my previous build albums. I shall be updating each and including a few build notes in the description too - especially on the bits I messed up! Broke! Dropped! etc. This time I present my version of the Italeri Nighthawk, completed back in 2022.
As usual I made a few mistakes on this build, not least broke (and lost) the antennas on the leading edge. Of course, I could have made something else work, but to be honest I've got this aircraft several times more in the stash. So I'll just make a better job next time! Hahaha! The aged decals with the kit were also completely unusable, so on this occasion I had to buy an aftermarket set.
I learned a lot about how to try and mimic/paint that stealth finish, my next effort will be better. I also used a healthy dollop of artistic licence too in highlighting the angular shape/edges. Thanks to all who showed interest and liked, it's very much appreciated from such a talented lot as you guys. Hope you like my efforts. 👍
5 March, 09:51
Album info
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk is a semi-retired American single-seat, twin-engine stealth attack aircraft that was developed by Lockheed's secretive Skunk Works division and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). It was the first operational aircraft to be designed around stealth technology.