1/48 Northrop F-5a - Tiger Hobbies

[Blueskippy]

Here is my recently finished Tiger Hobbies F-5a Freedom Fighter. The kit is a release of the canceled Tan Models kit and was a thoroughly enjoyable process.
A search of fleabay unearthed this kit of one of my alltime favourite aircraft, and for £9.99 inc postage it was a no-brainer. The kit has plus's and minus': the soft detail, crater deep panel lines, generic look to the panelling, and inaccuracies are more than made up for by the overal superb fit, the fantastic decals, the finished look, and the PRICE!!!
The one Major let down are the exhausts, being no more than a double tube with zero detail.

Without any more babble:







The High point is surely the quality of the decals, I can honestly say I have never used better as far as settling down, and look goes.









Along side my Trumpeter T38c Talon II



The kit comes with 5 pylons but only 3 drop tanks so the JDams were added from the spares box, I know they are probably incorrect but they were all I had available and they give a good contrast to the grey.

I realise that the panel line wash is a tad (read MEGA) dark but this was a quickie just for fun, and in fact the wash used was the same as on the Talon,,, go figure.

In the end I am made up with this cheap, fun build, and have no hesitation in recomending the kit, if you are looking for a mm perfect replica you may be dissapointed, if you are looking for a fun quick build you will love it I am sure.

Ian

[patrickroos]

Ian, welcome to ISM!

Now, when I see Your build, and that Your 4 posts new, I'm thinking...there is an endless amount of very very talented modellers out there.
Glad You joined, thanks for sharing this beautiful bird.
Excellent build and cracking paintjob
(The Talon looks equally good)
Great skills bud.

[Blueskippy]

Thanks for your kind words.

[keithinflorida]

You've got to be happy with that. It looks great next to the Talon

[arilo76]

Wow you really build a great F-5, the paint work is really absolutely great

[Pacheco]

Nice paint work. Looks great.

[tferedo]

Beautiful F-5A you have there.

[Blueskippy]

Thanks to everyone for the positive comments.

[Opapapa]

That's a superb F-5!

Olli

[Homerlovesbeer]

Mate that look SWEET! Great paint job, she really looks the business.

[Avgas]

Great work on the fading, excellent stuff.