USMC F/A-20 Tigershark **DONE P5*

[Pepsi Concorde]

Hi everyone, I'm Pepsi Concorde and I'm new to this forum, although I've been a guest on here for a while.

This build will be a Hasegawa 1/72 F-20 Tigershark in USMC Markings, inspired by klintman's build, that I'm doing for a what-if group build over on Discord.
The basic backstory behind this is that just like they didn't receive the F-14, the Marines also didn't receive the F/A-18 A/B/C/D that they were famous for operating. As a result, they operated the last of their F-4s until Northrop offered them a version of their lightweight F-20, which was at the time struggling to find buyers. These aircraft were modified to serve both carrier and land-based operations and became known as the F/A-20, and the Marines purchase helped the Tigershark's sales, with it eventually being bought by other nations.

I will be using the print scale decals for F-18s in service with VMFA-212 "Lancers" and may or may not add a shark mouth for "artistic license" 
https://i.postimg.cc/MG1KVXCb/Screenshot-2021-11-04-at-11-56-33.png

The kit and decals are currently in the post, so while I'm waiting, does anyone here have any ideas for modifications I should make to the kit? I'm already thinking strengthened gear with carrier stuff, a dorsal refuelling probe as was proposed for the production F-20, some ECM wizardry and probably a single gun

[NARSES2]

Welcome aboard 

[Pepsi Concorde]

Thanks!

[Gondor]

Welcome aboard.

With regard to modifications to carry out, larger/thicker main wheels, you will also need to change the nose wheel to a twin wheel assembly with a bar for catapult launches.

Gondor

[Pepsi Concorde]

Welcome aboard.

With regard to modifications to carry out, larger/thicker main wheels, you will also need to change the nose wheel to a twin wheel assembly with a bar for catapult launches.

Gondor

sourcing new wheels might be difficult as most of my stash and leftover bits are in 1/48 but im sure ill find something

[kerick]

I believe it's the ESCI F-5 kit that has two probes, one for the left side and one for the right. You could snatch one of those.

[Pepsi Concorde]

I believe it's the ESCI F-5 kit that has two probes, one for the left side and one for the right. You could snatch one of those.

Might be a good idea, as those kits seem very cheap. I think when the kit arrives ill take a look at whats inside and what I've got and go from there

[diegoepoimaria]

Yeee, another F-20 fan!

Welcome aboard.

With regard to modifications to carry out, larger/thicker main wheels, you will also need to change the nose wheel to a twin wheel assembly with a bar for catapult launches.

Gondor

As said before, front landing gear should have the launchbar, and probably the twin wheel too ( I don't know any aircraft with the launch bar and a single front wheel ).
Also, a streinghtened tailhook is important.
Usually bigger wheels were fitted ( see the phantoms ) so maybe buged wheel doors, but that would be hardly noticeable.

Maybe bigger control surfaces ?
Like bigger tailplanes to help control it at low speed during carrier landing.

Usually NAVY ( and so USMC too ) had always used internal ECM , instead of external as the Air Force did, so I'd go with ECM bumps like the Hornet.
If I remember correctly, the F-20 was to have a single probe between the two guns , that can be retracted and totally covered by it's door.
Consider that USN and USMC use the proube and drougue system.
The F-5 has the option for a fixed probe tough, and you can use that instead, or scratch build the probe in the nose ( if you want to go with a single gun in the center, like the F/A-18's gatling ).

Add chaff and flares bucket, and you're set.


I love F-20, and I can't wait to see yours!

Good luck and have fun!

[kerick]

It works on the X-29 too.

[Pepsi Concorde]

Yeee, another F-20 fan!

Welcome aboard.

With regard to modifications to carry out, larger/thicker main wheels, you will also need to change the nose wheel to a twin wheel assembly with a bar for catapult launches.

Gondor

As said before, front landing gear should have the launchbar, and probably the twin wheel too ( I don't know any aircraft with the launch bar and a single front wheel ).
Also, a streinghtened tailhook is important.
Usually bigger wheels were fitted ( see the phantoms ) so maybe buged wheel doors, but that would be hardly noticeable.

Maybe bigger control surfaces ?
Like bigger tailplanes to help control it at low speed during carrier landing.

Usually NAVY ( and so USMC too ) had always used internal ECM , instead of external as the Air Force did, so I'd go with ECM bumps like the Hornet.
If I remember correctly, the F-20 was to have a single probe between the two guns , that can be retracted and totally covered by it's door.
Consider that USN and USMC use the proube and drougue system.
The F-5 has the option for a fixed probe tough, and you can use that instead, or scratch build the probe in the nose ( if you want to go with a single gun in the center, like the F/A-18's gatling ).

Add chaff and flares bucket, and you're set.


I love F-20, and I can't wait to see yours!

Good luck and have fun!

Very helpful diego, i think i will use the kits nose probe and make a casing for it on the side of the front fuselage like the f-5 has. Regarding wheels i can rob some from an old airfix f-18 i have and i think ill have to get chaff/flare buckets somehwere from the internet.

[Tophe]

does anyone here have any ideas for modifications I should make to the kit?

I would not say "should" but I have ideas for "could" (if crazy like me): for instance, no tailplane but 3 fins (or 1 fin + V-tail)

[Pepsi Concorde]

does anyone here have any ideas for modifications I should make to the kit?

I would not say "should" but I have ideas for "could" (if crazy like me): for instance, no tailplane but 3 fins (or 1 fin + V-tail)

Well Iran made a twin-tail F-5...

[Tophe]

You are right (I had forgotten): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HESA_Saeqeh
Will you build the single-engine Saeqeh 2?
(no need, this is just a fantasy idea. After gathering all ideas, make your own choice)

[Pepsi Concorde]

Maybe a future project idea...

[Pepsi Concorde]

You are right (I had forgotten): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HESA_Saeqeh
Will you build the single-engine Saeqeh 2?
(no need, this is just a fantasy idea. After gathering all ideas, make your own choice)

I wonder what the backstory behind that would be, as the original was created when they were running out of spare F-5 parts for obvious reasons, and who other than iran would operate it?