F-22 Raptor in foreign service

[MikoLee]

This isn't a manufacturer I'm familiar with, according to 'scalemates' it's heritage is with 'Aeroplast' out of Poland. On first sight it reminded me of HobbyBoss, the box artwork the instructions and the whole simplified sprue layout is reminiscent of HB of China.



Quite a simple kit with soft details and low parts count, there's a little flash from this 2018 pressing from a ten year old mold .



The instructions are typical exploded diagrams in seventeen stages, colour callouts are from the Humbrol paint range and FS color standard numbers also listed, the decals? Remains to be seen?



I have three 'what if?' scenarios for this one, I'm going to do them all!!

Miko (looking forward to this one)

[kerick]

Lengthen the fuselage for the much discussed FB-22!

[McColm]

Or add parts from a Lockheed F-35B, maybe an EF-22 or RF-22.

[MikoLee]

Not sure the original mold manufacturers had access to the blueprints of the F-22, the cockpit is quite imaginative! I don't really like to complain and criticise model kits, I don't find it helpful for the hobby, but it's difficult not to mention some design choices of this kit. The cockpit is very basic and I was searching for the part I assumed I'd missed to complete the seat, but nope, it looks like this! The control panel is transparent, which can be a good idea, but maybe not with this one, the only other thing in the cockpit is a joystick, I think, it doesn't really look like one, not that the F-22 has a joystick, I'm pretty sure it has HOTAS controls. it's nice they've included wedge of cheese shaped rudder pedals, not sure why though?



I spent a while snipping cutting and filing bit's of sprue to add a little to the seat to make it a bit more interesting with masking tape seat harness, normally I wouldn't bother but that big dome of a canopy reveals everything! and what's with the hole at the back of the cockpit, there's no blanking piece?





Miko (this one is testing my modelling skill, which is a good thing)

[perttime]

The real F-22 has a side stick, right?

[Wardukw]

The real F-22 has a side stick, right?

Yep mate...F-16 style ..the only thing between the pilots legs is the release handle for the ejection seat and a couple  of displays on the instrument panel .

[MikoLee]

The real F-22 has a side stick, right?

The real F-22 has a side stick, right?

Yep mate...F-16 style ..the only thing between the pilots legs is the release handle for the ejection seat and a couple  of displays on the instrument panel .

Yep, it is HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick)

I'm not sure this thing is an F-22, not a Raptor at least, there are some quirky details for sure!

Lots of flash, the obvious type like this, but the subtle type that appears on the edge of mating surfaces causing gaps, test fitting is super important with this one



The hot end has some resemblance to an F-22, a bit basic but enough for me



The main landing gear bay is a well fitting box that slots into the lower fuselage, so far, the kits best feature!



I cannot fathom how the intake doors fit? There are two parts on the diagram A26, but there are four A26 on the sprue?



The lower wing parts I'll fit after the fuselage is together



Miko (it's called an F-22 on the box but no mention of the word Raptor?)

[jcf]

I don't really like to complain and criticise model kits, I don't find it helpful for the hobby, 

Umm, what do you think has driven the
improvements in model kit quality over
the last 50+ years?
 
It hasn't been people sitting back and
quietly accepting what's been thrown
out on the market. 

[killnoizer]

Hobby Craft mostly left some space for your advanced skills and own improvements . 

[MikoLee]

Umm, what do you think has driven the
improvements in model kit quality over
the last 50+ years?

For the the most part, I'd say technology, this kit is a short run from eastern Europe, without advancements in injection molding technology we wouldn't be in plastic scale modelling's second golden era. The availability of subjects is wider now than ever, accommodating even the most niche sub generas Secondly, competition with rival model manufacturers, customers complaining about minutia is of little or no consequence to mold designers

One reason I don't complain is the reason I'm here in this forum, having built plastic model kits for over half a century I've acquired some skills that allows me to overcome challenges presented by 'flawed' kits such as this, for me that's the fun part, assembling 'perfect' super detail accurate amazing kits that go together quickly easily and simply is really quite dull, may as well buy a die cast. The problem solving to create a good representation of the subject I'm building is my main goal

Hobby Craft mostly left some space for your advanced skills and own improvements . 

Precisely, the raison d'être of my modelling hobby, skills learned here can be applied in many of life's little conundrums

Miko (perfection is unobtainable)

[McColm]

The Airfix 1/72 Lockheed YF-22 Lightning II model simplified the instructions and makes a less complicated attempt although you do have to study the illustrations to see what the finished build looks like.
As for the HobbyBoss 1/72 F-22A Raptor this is a very challenging build although the Airfix parts don't fit this kit they can be manipulated or used as templates.
I hope these instructions will help you in your build.

Simple cockpit, air intakes and rear engine


This is what it's supposed to look like when the cockpit is assembled, wings and tail fins.


Final assembly, well when I said simple it wasn't for me I couldn't get the main landing gear to fit.




The HobbyBoss 1/72 F-22A Raptor cockpit assembly


Side weapons bays, main weapons bay, rear exhaust deflectors.


The overall assembly of the exhaust pipes and air intakes.



Good luck with the next step. The rear engine exhaust should fit snuggley and the two halves should have no gaps between them but they will around the wings.


The weapons bay doors and undercarriage.

[MikoLee]

A case in point from my last post.

I found myself wondering if there was a sprue missing? there's the gap behind the pilot seat and this, I need to engineer a solution to this problem, which is good!



the fit was acceptable, fixing with capillary action glue in stages beginning at the wing root then aft before joining the nose section, at this point I remembered I hadn't included anti tail sitter ballast, fortunately, the air intakes provide access! every cloud and all that! Ha!






After cleaning up the seams and filling the few gaps it's about ready for paint





Miko (might get this one done today)

[kitbasher]

Interesting post from McColm.  MikoLee why don't you check Scalemates to see if you can download Airfix YF-22 instructions.  Judging by McColm's post the Mistercraft and Airfix cockpit tub assemblies look remarkably similar.
The Mistercraft aircraft range is packed with products 'inspired' by (or using moulds of) other companies' products.  In other words you may have an Airfix YF-22 on your hands.

[MikoLee]

I hope these instructions will help you in your build.

Thanks McColm, it's interesting how different manufacturers go about parts brekdown, it seems these guys had better research than those a Aeroplast

[MikoLee]

Interesting post from McColm.  MikoLee why don't you check Scalemates to see if you can download Airfix YF-22 instructions.  Judging by McColm's post the Mistercraft and Airfix cockpit tub assemblies look remarkably similar.
The Mistercraft aircraft range is packed with products 'inspired' by (or using moulds of) other companies' products.  In other words you may have an Airfix YF-22 on your hands.

Thanks kitbasher, but I've moved on a bit since my previous post, it's true Mistercraft aka Misterkit do issue other manufacturers kits, this one according to 'scalemates' has it's origins with 'Aeroplast'

Miko (time to fire up the compressor!)