Help for the Kittyhawk 32nd scale F-5E/F. Your input is needed!

[f5guy]

Hello everyone,

     I was recently contacted by a designer from an aftermarket company regarding help with some projects for the Kittyhawk/Storm Factory 1/32nd scale F-5E/F kits. First and foremost on the list of projects is the cockpits. Anyone who has seen these kits can attest that they are very underwhelming at best. On top of that, they are 3mm too shallow, and it really throws off the look of the finished model. I am suppling cockpit pics of a Mexican Air Force F-5F, but there is interest in other cockpit variants as well. The standard F-5 cockpit will no doubt be covered, but perhaps some of the upgraded jets with multiple MFDs in place of the original instruments. Also, seat details are needed. Especially from those countries that didn't use the Northrop seat, like Iran. SO, if you have some good pics or info of any countries F-5E/F cockpits and seats, please post them here, or if you like, contact me via a message, and I will get them to the right people.

 

     Now for external upgrade ideas. Is there anything that you might like to see that you would actually purchase? New weapons pylons and fuel tanks were suggested. I suggested closed gun bay and shell chute ejector doors. The E kit only gives you the option to have both open. The F kit does not have this problem. I'm not sure about the RF-5E kit as I have not personally seen it. Any other idea's? The intakes and exhausts have already been addressed quite nicely. 

 

     The KH/SF kits are a great start for the F-5E and F, and with some love can be turned into a stellar build. If you have ANY interest in seeing upgrade products for these kits, NOW IS THE TIME! So please, if you have any idea's or photo's to share, please do so. As an F-5 junkie I beg you  Fred K.

 

Edited March 13 by f5guy

[thierry laurent]

Aggressor or adversary planes did not have guns. So, an empty front bay would be useful...

[eoyguy]

F-5Em of Brazil, new cockpit/seat (MB MK10LF),MFD IP, refueling probe and option for the vertical fin extension. And Derby missiles. That I would buy!

 

Edited March 13 by eoyguy

[Busman]

Just finishing off a F-5E so a few things that would have made life easier 

Replacement closed/open gun bay including nose gear bay to replace all those parts from the cockpit to the nose cone with/without RWS bumps 

New tail fin (stupid place for a join) with options for different types of fillet 

Rear fuselage cover with rivets 

Central weapons pylon that matches the contours of the fuselage and smaller fuel tank

AOA vane 

Early short LERX 

Canopy with out a vent 

FOD covers 

As you said new cockpit preferably for E/N and ejection seats 

(Exhausts,intakes,fuel fillers,wheels have been done already) 

 

 

 

[Martinnfb]

We should have a tweak list for this kit.

[f5guy]

1 hour ago, thierry laurent said:

Aggressor or adversary planes did not have guns. So, an empty front bay would be useful...

 

Not necessarily. In fact, I've only seen a few E/F's that had the guns completely removed. Usually they just put plugs in them. It might have something to do with throwing off the balance of the aircraft. Fred.

 

[f5guy]

1 hour ago, eoyguy said:

F-5Em of Brazil, new cockpit/seat (MB MK10LF),MFD IP, refueling probe and option for the vertical fin extension. And Derby missiles. That I would buy!

 

 

Thanks! This is exactly the type of input I'm looking for. Fred.

 

[f5guy]

16 minutes ago, Martinnfb said:

We should have a tweak list for this kit.

 

No doubt! There's lots of things to tweek, that's for sure! Fred.

[f5guy]

1 hour ago, Busman said:

Just finishing off a F-5E so a few things that would have made life easier 

Replacement closed/open gun bay including nose gear bay to replace all those parts from the cockpit to the nose cone with/without RWS bumps 

New tail fin (stupid place for a join) with options for different types of fillet 

Rear fuselage cover with rivets 

Central weapons pylon that matches the contours of the fuselage and smaller fuel tank

AOA vane 

Early short LERX 

Canopy with out a vent 

FOD covers 

As you said new cockpit preferably for E/N and ejection seats 

(Exhausts,intakes,fuel fillers,wheels have been done already) 

 

 

 

 

Excellent! Thanks!

 

I've just started an F myself, and thought the same thing about that tail joint..... what a stupid place to put the seam! Also a great suggestion from you and eoyguy about doing an extended tail fin for those export Tigers. And those rear fuselage rivets...  one of many things with these kits that makes me scratch my head and wonder what the heck Kitty Hawk were thinking Fred.

 

[thierry laurent]

8 hours ago, f5guy said:

 

Not necessarily. In fact, I've only seen a few E/F's that had the guns completely removed. Usually they just put plugs in them. It might have something to do with throwing off the balance of the aircraft. Fred.

 

Completely yes but the big ammo box is always removed and this is the most visible item in the bay.

[Palm-tree]

Already asked Reskit for 1/32 FOD covers, -they responded but no idea of timescale.

Could do with the refuelling probe plus fuselage plumbing for the F-5F version....it is longer along the fuselage side than the F-5E for obvious reason.

 

Some canopy rear-view mirrors would also be useful.

Edited March 14 by Palm-tree
Added rear view mirrors to wishlist

[Palm-tree]

12 hours ago, Busman said:

Just finishing off a F-5E so a few things that would have made life easier 

Replacement closed/open gun bay including nose gear bay to replace all those parts from the cockpit to the nose cone with/without RWS bumps 

New tail fin (stupid place for a join) with options for different types of fillet 

Rear fuselage cover with rivets 

Central weapons pylon that matches the contours of the fuselage and smaller fuel tank

AOA vane 

Early short LERX 

Canopy with out a vent 

FOD covers 

As you said new cockpit preferably for E/N and ejection seats 

(Exhausts,intakes,fuel fillers,wheels have been done already) 

 

 

 

If you can get hold of the Hasegawa kit the canopy does not have the AC vent. It is very close to the Kittyhawk part and so long as you showed it in the open state you would never know any difference.

[Kagemusha]

Definitely intake covers, as well as sensor covers.

 

 

Just posting this photo because I like the subject.

 

 

I would say camera covers for the RF-5E, but you'd probably only sell, maybe one set.

 

[Palm-tree]

Yeah- those covers look great and thanks for posting the pics of the -F's-lovely looking machine.

I am building one of these but pictures are relatively hard to find as they are all retired now.

 

 

Edited March 16 by Palm-tree

[scjh]

There was a 71 page SIG thread:

 

and the tweaklist compiled by @thierry laurent here:

 

 

For those that have the Zimi F-5E/F RF-5E kits, take a look at the gravity fuel fillters on the spine behind the cockpit.  They may have fixed the error, Kitty Hawk kits had them on the startboard side instead of port side.

 

SC