F-22J Arctic Aggressor

[nev]

Only a couple of days to go.  Here is what I will be doing for my main course.

This



plus this



Plus this

[ChernayaAkula]

So will this be a JASDF bird or a USAF Aggressor? Either would make a nice contrast to the grey-on-grey real-world Raptors!

[philp]

I will be watching with interest as I have a similar idea only in 1/72nd.  Raptor is these markings.


Have the decals (also from TwoBobs) but still haven't been able to find a kit at the LHS.  Trying for the Revell kit but think the new HobbyBoss would also work.

[rafi]

I'm sitting front of my computer screen and waiting for pictures... 

Regards

[nev]

So will this be a JASDF bird or a USAF Aggressor?

JASDF.  Phil, looking forward to seeing yours - will make a great twosome eh?

Tomorrow is the day!

[Mossie]

Wondered when you'd get around to a F-22J nev!

[nev]

Work has started.  The initial impression when you first open the box is "whoa, this is gunna be good!"  The 1-piece fuselage halves look excellent




Although there is a little flash around some panel lines, but no biggie.  Otherwise looks excellent.


A couple of comparison shots of the kit and Wolfpack parts



All comments, questions, advice etc welcomed.

[nev]

<=== New avatar to go with latest build

First decision of the build - do I include drop tanks or not?  I'm kinda tempted cos they look so big and chunky....


Because of all that lovely weapon bay detail, and because I may not build another of this model ever again I'm going to open them all up and give it a full weapons load  The 4 x AAM-4s are from the Hasegawa weapons sets, the AAM-5s on the other hand...

I'm planning on modifying the IRIS-Ts from the Revell 1/48 Typhoon.  The plans below are slightly overscale....maybe 1/45.


I'm not looking for absolute accuracy here, just good enough that you can't tell from a cursory glance.  Its a 3 stage process as far as I can tell

1)  Replace rear fins with correct shape and move them back
2)  Reduce span of main fins
3)  Remove nobbly bits on nose
4)  Move main fins forward slightly.  I may not do this due to the way the missile body fairs into the gap between the fins.  That and I'm inherently lazy :whistle:

Surgery has also been performed on the cockpit coaming to allow the Wolfpack part to be inserted

L-R:  Kit part, resin part, WP instructions


I decided to go the old "chain drill" route using the point of my knife


Connect the dots, et voila!


A bit of scraping and fettling later and the replacement part slots in.


Simples!

As usual, all questions, comments, advice etc gratefully received.

[Captain Canada]

Very nice, Nevster ! I'd definately go with the wing tanks...like you said, just to big and chunky to pass up !

[ChernayaAkula]

Since it's a whif, go full monty and use the ramjet bits of the Meteors in the Typhoon kits to make AAM-6s out of the AAM-4s! 

[Mossie]

Nice resin bits!  I like the idea of the drop tanks, I don't think I've ever seen pics of the F-22 with them fitted.  How about scratching dome with more stealthy shape?  I remember seeing pics of some like that on drawings of the Tonka 2000.

[philp]

Looks right to me.

[Mossie]

Nice pics Phil, ta for sharing!  Yeah, I think that nails it!

[nev]

JASDF F-15 Aggressors also have their drop tanks marked up...

[Mossie]

oooooOOOOOooooo!