Subject: Re: F-5E Tiger II Submission
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:48:05 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: [email-masked] 
  To: Aircraft Resource Center 
  Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2011 2:04 AM
  Subject: F-5E Tiger II Submission

  "1/48 Scale AFV F-5E Tiger II" 

  by "Burt Gustafson"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of my AFV F-5E Tiger II. The Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II was part of a family of widely used light supersonic fighter aircraft, designed and built by Northrop in the United States, beginning in the 1960s. The F-5E Tiger II was used by American Cold War allies and, in limited quantities, served in US military aviation as a training and aggressor aircraft; Tiger II production amounted to 1,400 of all versions, with production ending in 1987.

  Because the F-5E has a similar profile as a MIG 21 in high speed flight, the USAF adopted it as one of the simulating opponents in air combat training. The F-5E Tiger II saw service with the US Air Force from 1975 until 1990, serving in the 64th Aggressor Squadron and 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and with the 527th Aggressor Squadron at Alconbury RAF Base in the UK and the 26th Aggressor Squadron at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. The US Marines purchased ex-USAF models in 1989 to replace their F-21s, which served with VMFT-401 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The U.S. Navy used the F-5E extensively at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) when it was located at NAS Miramar, California.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Construction
  I chose to build this AFV kit because the F-5E is a sharp looking aircraft, and because of a Fine Scale Modeler Workshop Review article that raved about the kit, especially the parts fit. I have to disagree with the Fine Scale Modeler article. I found that most of the kit parts were slightly oversized. This required a lot of sanding and dry fitting. The real problem of the kit was the fit of the canopy. It took a lot of filing and sanding and gap filling with white glue to get the canopy looking half-way decent. However, overall, the kit provides good cockpit and external detail. 

  Painting
  The kit provides the markings for two US Navy F-5Es of VFC-111 “Sundowners”. However I chose to dress my F-5E in the livery of the Alconbury Gomers. From 1976 to 1988, the USAF Alconbury Gomers of the 527th Aggressor Squadron, Alconbury AB, England used two different camouflage paint schemes on their F-5E Tiger IIs, New Blue and Grape. I went with the Grape paint scheme which consisted of three colors: Camouflage Gray (FS 35622), Intermediate Blue (FS 35164) and Dark Blue (FS 35109). 

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  The engine area and exhaust tail cones were painted with Alclad II Stainless Steel after a primer coat of gloss black. The landing gears and wheel wells were painted with Floquil Bright Silver. The radar nose cone was painted Semi Gloss Black.  All paints used were enamel based.

  Decals
  Decals for my F-5E Tiger II are from Twobobs F-5E Alconbury Gomers decal set. The set provides decals for three aircraft. I went with the decals for aircraft S/N 1535; they performed flawlessly.

  "Burt Gustafson"

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg 

  Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 13.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 14.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 15.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 15.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 16.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 16.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 17.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 17.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 18.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 18.jpg 

  Comments
  Overall building the AFV Tiger II was a good experience, the kit went together pretty well except for the hassle with the canopy. The kit provides nice detail and the Twobobs decals performed well. Canopy trouble aside, the build was easy enough that I can recommend it to anyone who has built a few models.

  Photos and text © by "Burt Gustafson"