Ivan Ivanovich

Dang! Totally forgot those Saudi F-5Es. Good point on that! Singapore F-5Es/IFR probes: Pre-F-5S upgrade (F-5E) -> IFR probe mostly installed during deployments/ferry flights or during aerial refueling drills. Rarely installed during every-day squadron ops. Post-F-5S upgrade -> IFR probe permanently installed.

Given all the mods and upgrades, there's enough potential to keep smaller aftermarket companies busy for the next two years. In theory... Whether all of the desired sets/upgrades/corrections would sell well is a different story and will be subject to careful consideration from each manufacturer's individual business perspective. Harold already did two seats - sort of generic items (F-5E/F, RF-5E) if you leave out more recent KF-5E/F upgrades, Brazilian AF first-batch F-5Es and "Mike" upgrades and IRIAF F-5E/F models. Gary has just announced to tackle "Trunk-gate" - again, generic item that will go with each of the KH F-5E/F, RF-5E boxings. Potentially sure shots, but Gary and Harold have yet to see whether actual sales figures will meet their expectations/projections. WARNING: PERSONAL JUDGEMENT: Further potential "low-risk" options solely based on available and future KH kit marking options: ADF fillet - fixing the FAB F-5E and FAM F-5E Kitty Hawk markings, also characteristic for Chilean, Indonesian, Kenyan, Moroccan and Tunisian F-5E/F models. IFR probe - fixing the FAB KH marking option, also characteristic for Moroccan and Tunisian F-5E models. IRQ/BRQ7A seats - fixing the current KH FAB and IRIAF marking options as well as the upcoming IRIAF F-5F markings. F-5N pre- and post-2008 IP layouts - improving/correcting the current KH F-5N marking options, and depending on the timeframe, correcting the ROKAF markings. The "pre-2008" US NAVY/Marines IP layout is virtually identical with the E1-/E3-coded IPs found in any F-5E aircraft with production RWR installation, e.g. Swiss AF F-5Es. Note: I'm deliberately leaving out the rather "esoteric" and comprehensive FAB F-5EM, FACH Tigre III and RSAF F-5S/T upgrades. Upcoming F-5F marking options: We have yet to see productions sprue shots to determine which IP options will be included. Assuming the recently published F-5F marking options are final, you'd need, technically speaking, at least four different front/rear IP layouts, an F-5F IFR probe and two different seat types (Northrop Improved and IRQ7A). By the way, two of the proposed marking options are RSAF F-5T models. Once published, actual sprue shots will tell us if they did their math. I, for one, seriously doubt so... (I think I'll have sauteed Salmon of Doubt for dinner...)

Nyet. The IRQ7A/BRQ7A seat is not included.

3.5 millimetres. That's quite a bit. This is great news! One less thing to worry about... For USAF, NAVY/MARINES F-5E a set of early NLG doors would also be extremely welcome. The rear NLG door in particular is a totally different animal. NAVY/MARINES F-5N models alone would need two different instrument panel layouts: pre- and post-GPS mod. ADF fin fillet, IFR probe... Just saying. It will be interesting to see how/if the Tiger II-specific aftermarket will evolve over the next, let's say, twelve months...

I'd say it's rather a question of timeframe and general availability at unit level. Generally speaking, the seat-chutes started to be replaced/phased out during the mid-1950s. Not much room for personal preferences; you wear what's issued. Only a few examples... 1953: 1954/1955: (instructor on the far left with seat chute, para-raft and cushion attached to harness) 1956: 1962:

Yesssss! Seems like Kitty Hawk answered my prayers... RSAF "853" would be another stunning scheme. Only problem: extensively modified F-5T airframe - radome needs some mods, new cockpit arrangement and fixed IFR probe mandatory. The same applies to "855", by the way.

Intake trunks, intake covers and new two-piece nozzles - bring 'em on! (Six E-models in my stash and planning to purchase at least one F boxing)

It depends on the parachute type. If a seat-pack parachute was worn, the seat pan cushion was not provided, provision of the rear cushion was optional. Early 1950s feature. If a back-pack parachute was worn, the rear cushion was omitted and a seat pan cushion was provided instead. 1960s onwards. Flotation devices were commonly part of the personal flight equipment - torso harness/Mk2/Mk3/Mk4 vests/life preservers, etc. If required, para-rafts were attached to seat-chute harness. (Source: various NAVY T-28 NATOPS and applicable USAF T.O.s) HTH

Какой молодец! Black is beautiful. I Love it. Five years have passed since the GAF Phantom Pharewell...tempus fugit...

TAMIYA X-20 or X-20A? X-20 = enamels, X-20A = acrylics A couple of suggestions based on my personal experience with TAMIYA clears: Switched to Gunze Mr.COLOR LEVELING THINNER > contains retarder > extended "open" time to ensure a smoother and more homogenous finish. Wet-in-wet application on larger parts > 50:50 thinning ratio, applied at pressures between 1.2 and 1.5 bar (depends on your individual airbrush setup). You may also lightly mist a fresh coat of Tamiya Clear with Mr.COLOR LEVELING THINNER prior to applying another coat of Tamiya Clear. Make sure the screw cap as well as the thread of the jar are clean of any paint residues and carefully wipe away excess paint. I usually decant 50% from a fresh bottle into an empty and clean Tamiya jar and top up the rest with Mr.COLOR Leveling Thinner = ready to use and less prone to thickening.

Sneak preview from the F-5E assembly guide: "Sprue Q" (camera equipment included, clear parts not shown) I must admit that I'm not really into those Tiger II-lamprey crossbreeds. Meh... De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.

Except for the RF-5E prototype/demonstrator the potential options should be no-brainers. Late F-5E airframes altogether. A 32nd scale Tigershark would be a personal dream come true. BMW Grey, of course. As long as that kit would come with two different forward fuselages... (82-0063 and 82-0064 had a modified fwd fuselage)

"Stressed Skin Effect" tutorials: Rato Marczak Klaus Herold HTH

Said finish was actually painted - aluminised polyurethane topcoat. Applied in a similarly elaborate manner on a model, one might be tempted to approve "Wowsers! Stunning NMF!". Looks rather convincing, doesn't it?

Dead-right! It's a Vinten Vicon recce pod.

Steve... Maybe you'll find this thread over on BM helpful. So judge yourself: FINISHED! Russian Aircraft Cockpit Interior Turquoise & Emerald Comparison Chart

F-5A converted from an RF-5A airframe with Martin Baker MK12 bang seat.

The return of the tortoise...err...turquoise. "Toothpaste light". Since we're talking about Venezuelan Flankers, here you go. Taken from the backseat of an FAV Su-30MK2:

Хорошая работа! Terrific job and finish. Top-notch!

It's an SUU-21/A practice bomb dispenser in closed configuration. Videoaviation 1/32 SUU-21 Bomb Dispenser Open

Presuming the CAD shots of the single-seater are preliminary ones, mostly looking like a C with some random -5 features, all we have to do now is waiting for a firm release date and shots of actual production sprues to be published. Can't wait to see the 2000C/-5F/-5 being released.

Just for the CAD record, Jennings did:

Whether you like it or not. Messerschmitts and Focke-Wulfs will never die and will remain popular subjects. And as long as melted styrene will be injected into moulds, we will see new state-of-the-art Bf 109 and Fw 190 kits being released. Instantaneously, and as sure as pizza is pizza, we will see another wishlist being compiled, another missed opportunity being deplored and another kit wish remaining unfulfilled. If you don't like pizza with Wuerger topping at all, you won't buy it - no matter which pizzeria has one on the menu. Life goes on, and at the end of the day it's just another first world problem. Just my two kopeks...

Hands down one of the best/most promising MiG-23 paint jobs I've seen for a long, long time. You're doing a bang-up job on your MiG!