Anybody know of an 1/72 F-5 kit which has the dorsal fillet tail?

rickshaw · February 04, 2013, 04:31:52 AM

I'm hoping that somewhere out there may be an F-5E kit in 1/72 scale which features the dorsal fillet tail, rather than just the bog standard one. What I'm looking for is one like this (third image down):

PR19_Kit · February 04, 2013, 05:19:14 AM

Surely a modeller of you calibre (viz the Meteor PR29) could knock up a dorsal fin for an F-5 in about 3 millisconds Brian?

I didn't know F-5s HAD dorsal fins, when and why did they fit them?

Dizzyfugu · February 04, 2013, 05:35:58 AM

It could be a Brazilian version, which is called F-5M - but I am not aware of a special kit?

rickshaw · February 04, 2013, 05:40:24 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 04, 2013, 05:19:14 AM
Surely a modeller of you calibre (viz the Meteor PR29) could knock up a dorsal fin for an F-5 in about 3 millisconds Brian?

Can I utter a piece of earthy Australian language describing the marital status of your parents at the time of your birth, which is considered downunder a term of affection?

Quote
I didn't know F-5s HAD dorsal fins, when and why did they fit them?

Apparently it was an optional extra. Many countries chose it but not the majority. Not sure if it really did anything special.

Dizzyfugu · February 04, 2013, 06:12:02 AM

AFAIK, it could only be an addition to the Brazilian aircraft. The F-5M was an update, and it received a longer nore with a more potent radar. I'd assume that the fillet became necessary in order to maintain directional stability - but I have no source for this. Anyway, scratching that piece should not be too challenging. I rather wonder about the relatively long front wheel strut? What's this?

Thorvic · February 04, 2013, 11:05:49 AM

Yeap

http://users.skynet.be/fb990055/duarte_photos_F-5EM.htm

Duarte F-5M conversion set although getting hold of one may be interesting.

http://www.model-craft.co.uk/

Dave at Model-Craft used to have it but his Brazilian sourced renge has shrunk quite a bit in the last 12 mths, but you could always ask.

G

rickshaw · February 04, 2013, 05:33:06 PM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on February 04, 2013, 06:12:02 AM
AFAIK, it could only be an addition to the Brazilian aircraft. The F-5M was an update, and it received a longer nore with a more potent radar. I'd assume that the fillet became necessary in order to maintain directional stability - but I have no source for this. Anyway, scratching that piece should not be too challenging. I rather wonder about the relatively long front wheel strut? What's this?

I've got pictures of it in Kenyan, Chilean and Brazilian service. None of which have an appreciably longer nose.

rickshaw · February 04, 2013, 05:34:21 PM

Quote from: Thorvic on February 04, 2013, 11:05:49 AM
Yeap

http://users.skynet.be/fb990055/duarte_photos_F-5EM.htm

Duarte F-5M conversion set although getting hold of one may be interesting.

http://www.model-craft.co.uk/

Dave at Model-Craft used to have it but his Brazilian sourced renge has shrunk quite a bit in the last 12 mths, but you could always ask.

G

Ah, yes, forgotten about that source. I notice he's disappeared from Evilbay as well, just when I was getting up to tackling his Super-Tucarno model.

I think I'll have to follow Kit's suggestion.

Captain Canada · February 04, 2013, 06:06:15 PM

Didn't they start with the LERX and fillet on the E and F models ? Pretty sure there isn't a mainstream kit in 72nd scale, you'd have to go 48th scale.

PR19_Kit · February 04, 2013, 11:36:24 PM

The double cranked LERX on F-5s started off on the E and Fs, but not all of them had the dorsals. All that's from a lengthy Google session of pics of the aircraft.