Testors/Italeri | No. 595 | 1:48 | F-19 Stealth Fighter (What If!)

Robert Podkoński
I remember I was so much impressed with the shape of this F-19 when I saw it for the first time...it is a pity that it is only a fictional plane 🙁 Watching with pleasure and interest, of course 😉 Fantastic work, so far!

Pero Susinger
Yes, I totally agree: very interesting topic. I'm taking a seat.

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Watching 👀

Neil
Hi @Robert, thanks very kind! 🙂 I too can recall this kit when first released - it looked like a UFO to me at that time and took pride of place built on my shelf. I could only afford to build the 1/72 version then. I remained impressed when I first saw the (real F-19?) F-117 at an air show. 👍

Neil
Hi Pero and WhiteGlint, really great to have you aboard 🙂

Neil
Thanks for the likes guys 👍

Alex Rodionov
Wow. What a nice fantastic plane. A dream of shool years. Good progress. 👍

Neil
Hi Alex. Hope you're well. Yes indeed. It's one from 'back in the 80s' - imo the best decade! 👍😎

Robert Podkoński
It seems to me that you're approaching the finish line here, Neil 😉

Neil
Thanks Robert 👍 getting there - I'm so slow compared to many I know. Little time after work and kids in an evening for garage modelling!

Simon Nagorsnik
I somehow overlooked that, how could I not have noticed such a project?!
looking forward to your next steps
ps.:nice cockpit 👍

Neil
Hi Simon 🙂 thanks for commenting, very kind of you. I'm getting there slowly! 👍

Robin (WhiteGlint)
Luckily, scale modeling is no race. Take your time 😉
Coming along very nicely, Neil.

Remco van Haren
Great build! Looking forward to the actual end result.
I do remember seeing images of this "to be" stealth plane back in the eighties. Those were the days...

David R. Meizoso
There was this french videogame about a F-19 theft called "operation stealth", was a good one:
lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=2440

Neil
@whiteglint - indeed wise words and sage advice, like you say it's not a race 👍 nice to have you aboard. @remco - no arguing from me there, I'm sure my nickname gave you a clue as to my fav decade 😉 @david - yeap remember the old amiga games my friend 👍

Richard Cheals
Good work, Neil! I built the 1/72 version of this kit back when it first came out (and the F-117 was still hiding out at Groom Lake) and also have a 1/144 example. I think there's also another Italieri 1/72 to be built from my stash 😬 No doubt there are many similar "ghosts" at Area 51. 👍

Neil
Hi Richard 🙂 me too. I actually did make that 1/72 Italeri kit in my youth. It took pride of place at the time 👍 yeah who wouldn't wanna 'poke' around at Area 51 👽 thanks for commenting and saying that much appreciated. 😊

Nathan Dempsey
Great work so far Neil. Can't wait to see the finish.

Alexander
Looks really good indeed, I like your own decisions regarding the painting of certain areas. 👍 Will stay for the rest.

Richard Cheals
Too true, Neil; I'm just waiting for an SR-72 Darkstar kit to come out, plus a B-21, of course!!

It was the advanced technology of military jets plus my love of sci-fi which pulled my model building focus away from cars and this interest hasn't faded over the years. Plenty of very innovative aircraft in the works so we should have plenty of new subjects to choose from over the next few years.

Gerald
👍

Erik Leijdens
Interesting subject. Remember this one from when I was a kid 🙂

Neil
Thanks, @nathan @alexander @richard @gerald and @erik 👍 it's super kind of you each to comment on one of my builds. Chuffed! 😊 I'm getting close now to a gloss finish pre decal tryout - they're old so we'll see how they get on 🤞

Richard Cheals
Good luck with the decals, Neil, I'm just waiting for the clear gloss to cure (48 hrs) then it's decal time for my YB-58 👍

Neil
Thanks @richard 👍 hope decalling goes well for you also. Have gloss coated mine now prior to decal action 👍 🙂

Torsten
Beautiful construction and progress, there I watch now until the end 👍

Neil
Thanks very much Torsten, you are very kind and I appreciate your comment very much indeed. Glad to have you onboard my friend 👍

Mr James
I've never seen this before, what a wonderful thing. Great quality work going into it I see. 🙂

Neil
Hi Mr James 🙂 thanks very much for your comment 👍 and thanks to others for your likes also, much appreciated 👍

Neil
Hi all 🙂 Continuing to catch up... This time my version of the Italeri / Testors F-19 Stealth, completed back in 2022. I was simultaneously building the Italeri Nighthawk (recently uploaded too), so used both as a testbed for how to try and make a flat black look stealthy. I didn't do very well. But my Nighthawk black finish is better! Here, I learned how varnishes can completely obscure prior work with grey and black blends for example.

The original decals were unusable with this kit. So, as the whole thing is a work of fiction anyway... I just used what I had spare from other kits. I also decided to use both canopies supplied and leave removable (they call one a training canopy and the other the stealth canopy).

Thanks to all who showed interest and liked, it's very much appreciated from such a talented lot as you guys. Hope you like my efforts. 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Another great build of a nostalgic kit. I STILL have this one in the stash since it's original release.

Neil
Thanks very much Nathan mate 👏 don't forget to nudge me when it's on your work bench. I'll definitely be wanting to see your interpretation 🙂👍 I think I have it again somewhere also. Biggest issue here was the original decals were completely ruined.