Subject: Re: Hasegawa F-5N article
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "John McCormick" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:21:01 -0700

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: John McCormick 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 1:00 PM
  Subject: Hasegawa F-5N article

                          Hi Steve, 

                          I hope that all is well with you.  I'm hoping that you'll be good enough to publish this article on ARC. 

                          My Best, 

                          John McCormick  

                          1/32 Scale Hasegawa F-5N "Sundowners"  

                          by John "johnnymac" McCormick 

                          -------------------- 

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

                          I saw a built up version of this kit at a model contest a couple of years ago, and I really liked the color scheme.  So, I did a little searching on Ebay and found one that was reasonably priced, so I picked it up.  I had built the original version of the kit back in the late 70's, so I had a reasonable idea of what to expect.  While the kit isn't very detailed, the overall shape of the kit is pretty accurate.  Assembly was straight forward with no real fit problems.  

                          Typical of Hasegawa kits from that time frame, it has raised panel lines, so the entire kit was re-scribed.  This was the most time consuming part of the build, but I feel it was well worth the effort.  I also cut out and repositioned the outer wing flaps and rudder to give the kit a little more character.  

                          Seeing as it is an older kit, there isn't much by way of aftermarket sets available for this model.  The only thing that I could find was a Verlinden update set, which includes both cockpit and gun bay updates.  Seeing as this bird does not have any guns, those parts went straight into the spares bucket.  The cockpit pieces are an upgrade to the kit's parts, but the instructions are a real adventure.  I needed to do some serious research on the Internet to find enough photos to muddle my way through the cockpit.  

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                          The ACMI pod on the port wing tip was scratch built using bits of the kit's Sidewinders plus some photo etched bands from the Eduard F-4E (Tamiya)armament set.  The tip is made from a guitar string.  The AIM-9L Sidewinder on the starboard wing tip is from the Academy F/A-18C Hornet, and the cover for its IR seeker head was scratch built.  The fuel tank on the centerline of the fuselage was modified from one of the unused wing tanks that was included with the kit.  

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                          The model was painted with Model Master Enamels and Metalizers, and Future was used for the gloss coat.  The white portions of the kit decals were printed in a cream color, not white.  Consequently, I bought the Two Bobs decal set, and I had no problems with these at all.  I also used the paint colors that were spec'd on the Two Bob's instructions.  The kit's instructions specifiy FS36622 Camouflage Gray for the lightest gray, but Two Bob's instructions call for FS36495 Light Gray, which I think looks more accurate.  After sealing the decals with another coat of Future, I applied a water based black wash, and sealed everything up with good old Testors Dullcote.   The FOD covers on the intakes are scratchbuilt, and the RBF tags are from a Tamiya F-15E Strike Eagle.  

                          The project took a total of about 5 months, and while the kit isn't up to today's standards, I think that it builds up into a very attractive model!

                          John McCormick
                                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 

                         

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