Norwegian F-5A Freedom Fighter

New project on the bench 

Dry fitting the cockpit. The pilot is from a Revell F-16 kit, but differences from a F-5 pilot is hard to spot in 1/72 scale. 

It starts to look like a F-5. The kit needed a little bit of filler, but nothing major. The biggest challenge is the tail where you will have a significant gap. I filled it with styrene strips and rescribed the panel line. Next step is a coat of primer to reveal where the kit need more filler/sanding. So far the kit has been enjoyable. 

 

A bit of paint. I discovered I have some more work to do at the wing root. 

 

Building and most of the basic painting is done. I used pieces of Evergreen styrene rods for the guns since the ones supplied with the hit have some nasty seam lines and flash. 

Canopy is masked and glued. Drop tank painted and glued. Some detail painting done to the engines. I´m close to the decal stage. 

Started the decaling process. The decals are of good quality, but the insignia colors are to light. Both the red and blue should have been much darker. 

Slowly getting there. All decals are one, some weathering using Tamiya panel wash, some light blue oils and a post shading with heavily thinned white paint 

 

Finished my F-5A