FAR F-5A Freedom Fighter
Just the basics in the ARII 1:144 kit.
Nothing to do really but assemble, Although I’d did this rather absent-mindedly months ago and wished now that I hadn’t as it makes the interior and remedial work harder. I’ll try not to crack it open but we’ll see.
Got this little resin pilot and seat from Heroes models. An altogether new painting challenge.
Original model has no pilot option so drilled out.
Trimming and shaping and scratching the cockpit to follow.
Those air intakes are all wrong and will need work.
Ditto.
First pass. Details and corrections needed.
Into the tub. There so much space I’ll need to fill in around him.
Comments
6 1 December 2022, 16:03
SpanjaardNice project 🙂 with resin and all, please do not send it to the shelf of doom, 1/144 needs love too 😉
7 July 2023, 13:16
Gary KitchenThanks Spanjaard. My issue is I'm a starter, not a finisher. The joy of unboxing and getting underway is my Achilles heel. 😄
7 July 2023, 13:21
Greg BakerI'm signing up for this one now... because a) I'm also afflicted with starters syndrome... addicted to the endless opportunities of a new set of sprues... and b) because this kit is a disaster - and I really don't say that often. As I said over on my own wall... the biggest problem with this kit is that it's not even CLOSE to 1/144 scale. I think it's more like 1/120 scale... which, if you're going to pair it up with an B727 might look odd. I have those Heroes pilots and even though they're very nice, you usually have to SQUEEZE them into a 1/144 scale cockpit. The fact that your pilot has room for a hot-tub and a mini-bar in his cockpit tells the tale on the size difference.
Hope that's not too negative. You've done some nice work on it so far, and if the scale doesn't really matter, I'd say go for it. I just remember hunting for that kit and then being EXTREMELY disappointed when I realized the issue. It's like one of those birds that lays it's eggs in another bird's nest - the parents end up feeding a monster that muscles all the other (regular sized) chicks out of their dinner. 😉
7 July 2023, 14:26
DutchGary, Great work thus far. I applaud your effort to open the cockpit and add the pilot. I have several of these 1:144 scale ARII/Otaki jets and there is no cockpit whatsoever in any of them, so your effort is laudable. As Greg pointed out, for some reason the Otaki F-5A kit is closer to 1:105 scale than the boxtop stated 1:144 scale. I still intend to display it in my 1:144 collection, but may have to get one of the Dragon / Revell F-5E kits in true 1:144 scale for comparison. Carry on! Kind regards, Dutch
16 January, 07:07
Łukasz GlińskiRespect for the perseverance in updating the kit 👍 Signing up to the starter club too 😄
16 January, 11:17
Gary KitchenThanks guys. New year new start. This is on the shelf of doom currently but I will get back to it at some point. I'm treating myself to a nice simple Airfix Mig-17 at the moment and a cyber hobby BF110 which I am enjoying. But I'm not giving up here 😄
17 January, 07:51
