1/72 Italeri F-5F

[Fermis]

So, I got this sucker painted and attached more items than I normally would before the gloss and decals.
I deviated slightly from the instructions by going with orange for the fuel tank and installing only one missile on the tip rail.

This is "3210"...the model I am building.



I also found pics of it with a grey tank, and variations on the missile. Most pics I came across showed only one missile, and there were some to the right, some to the left. I went with the left, as that is the side to be displayed.





The gear bay detail is ok, for the scale, but the gears themselves aare a bit "heavy"....especially the nose gear forks.

[Thomas_M]

I really would love to know how on earth you get such a nice colour separation in this small scale? I have a F-15 around here and could need the help of a pro...

[Fermis]

I really would love to know how on earth you get such a nice colour separation in this small scale? I have a F-15 around here and could need the help of a pro...

I used Light and Dark Aircraft grey (MM enamels)...which are very close and almost indistinguishable from one another. I spray the light grey, as is....I add a little black to the dark grey. I did spray the dark first on this one, as masking the dark was way easier than trying to mask the light in this case.

[Thomas_M]

No mask, nothing? What nozzle and pressure did you apply? Man, this looks so good!

[Fermis]

No mask, nothing? What nozzle and pressure did you apply? Man, this looks so good!

I do mask...with poster-tac...just to make it easier.
I could do it without any masking, but it is slow and tediously hand cramping.
Not sure what size nozzle I have...I just have a cheap, 20 dollar, A/B from Harbor Freight. I guess I could look it up...but I'm feeling a little lazy! It is a pretty small tip, I could spray some German "spaghetti" squiggles in 48th all day long with it...but it's just a wee bit too heavy for that pattern in 72nd.

[Thomas_M]

Poster-Tac, or BluTac, or UHU-Tac: great stuff!

[BorgR3mc0]

Great paintwork Fermis. A pity that Italeri dropped the ball on that duck bill nose.

[Fermis]

Great paintwork Fermis. A pity that Italeri dropped the ball on that duck bill nose.

Thank you...and...the nose could easily be fixed with a little sanding...but for the sake of the OOB review, I don't want go too far away from whatchya get.

[BorgR3mc0]

I agree, for a review you should not do any hefty modifications.

[Fermis]

Got the decals on.
No issues...other than some #s not matching up, and a few that are not even called for on the guide.