Lockheed/BAe F-117B Owl

[RAFF-35]

I read somewhere recently about an offer that Ronald Ragen had made to Britain to be allowed to equip the RAF with F-117's. Apparently this offer was declined (but of course we'd say that we've declined this top secret, cutting edge weapon system, right?) anyways, so begins the build to illustrate what happened when BAe was allowed to play with this pioneering aircraft. Featuring new avionics, upgraded EJ200 engines, new control surfaces and electronic warfare moduals located in the tail, between the engines.

The kit is an airfix 1:72, I think that this kit is quite nice and as a result, has gone together very rapidly 

















First time I've ever polished a clear part before, I find it strangely satisfying and now everything on my work bench it at risk of becoming very shiny 

Now the deliberation, to paint the Owl in desert storm type cammo, which saw the most action for the F-117, overall dark green, which I imagine the normal scheme for the F-117B to be and could've been more successfully used in the Boznian conflict owing to its lower stealth profile, more advanced electronics and more accurate weapon systems. OR overall grey as would be seen when operating over Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000's as a 'normal' strike aircraft?

[RAFF-35]

With some help from my new friend, P-38 filler, PSR is over and done with in the blink of an eye, next stage, paint..... I think I'm coming down in favour of overall green 

[Tophe]

Interesting... Have you inverted the V-tail? that would be very nice

[PR19_Kit]

Green sounds good, like a tri-angular, squared off Harrier GR5.   

[RAFF-35]

Interesting... Have you inverted the V-tail? that would be very nice

Indeed I have  my thinking being that the tail now shields some of the IR signature and radar signature of the exhausts 

[RAFF-35]

Green sounds good, like a tri-angular, squared off Harrier GR5.   

Regrettably minus the VTOL but still hopefully more capable 

[RAFF-35]

Almost keeping up with dizzy's build rate today... amazing what poor weather can do for a build  here's the F-117b with its first layer of paint and canopy on for a mock up 

[sandiego89]

Ohhh, inward canted tails!  Maybe this was the secret aircraft that had the landing incident at Boscombe Down.......

[RAFF-35]

Ohhh, inward canted tails!  Maybe this was the secret aircraft that had the landing incident at Boscombe Down.......

Hahaha, I'd forgotten about that, but I suppose it does match the vague description, maybe it was an F-117b? 

[DogfighterZen]

I like that very much!

[TheChronicOne]

Awesome, dude! Go for the gusto, I like it.   

[RAFF-35]

Progress update: painting done, clear bits sorted. Now just need to add details, decals and a tincy bit of weathering 

[RAFF-35]

Finally finished... bit of decal silvering but ohh well.....

[DogfighterZen]

Nice!

[NARSES2]

Nice work sir 

Sometimes when I look at an F.117 in plan view my brain thinks it's a swing wing aircraft with it's wings fully swept ? Wondering if that would be practical either as a model or even in the real world ?