f5guy

You're killing me slowly Wolfpack 🤣 Fred.

Any word on a release date yet anyone? I'm not on facebook, so I don't see the updates. Seems like they're really taking their time releasing this kit. It looks like it's pretty close though! Fred K.

Hi Ken, I have some spares from the Hasegawa kit if that will work for you. I'm just up the road from you in Salt Lake City. Let me know if you're interested. Fred K.

Agreed 100%! Fred K.

Nice! I've got one and a C-40 on the way 👍 Also as "Kenny" said, a 737-700 kit proper is likely on the way as well. Who knows, maybe even a -600 and -900 at some point too. Life is good! Fred K.

I am SO with you there Mike! I'd love to see the Viking get a modern make over in 72nd scale 👍 Fred.

Hi Tony, I have their 32nd scale kits (A & E) as well, and the forward gear bay is indeed open as you state. One can only guess why the would close it up on the 72nd scale kit? Either of your assessments are a good guess though. Whatever the case, I doubt we'll ever see anything from the aftermarket to fix it, but who knows. As for Trumpeters 72nd A-4, A-6, and A-7 though.... I'll be sticking to my Fujimi kits. The jury is still out regarding the S-3, should they cover it. Regards, Fred.

I've not seen the Airfix Viking, so I can't comment on it. Having seen other Airfix kits from that era though, I don't think I'm missing much. I do have 7 of the Hasegawa kits in my stash though, so I'll just build them, and rescribe the panel lines if I feel up to it. I do wish that someone would do some affordable 3D intakes for that kit. I see that Metallic Details did a set, but they're twice the price of the kit. Anyway... back to the A-6! Fred.

Hi Mike, I just went through my large stash of Intruder and Prowler photo's, and not in one pic of the Intruders was the forward gear door closed while the jet was parked. But, as you mentioned, when it came to the Prowler, quite often the door was closed when the aircraft was parked. My guess is that they might indeed have a future Prowler kit in mind, or they had a Prowler for reference, and just assumed that the Intruder was the same. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the wing of their A-6 kit is the same as an EA-6B either, or visa-versa, which are quite different in reality. Also, I seem to recall in one of Kinzey's Detail & Scale books he mentions that the forward main gear door of the Prowler is slightly different than for the Intruder. I'm going from memory here, so don't hold me to it. It would seem that Trumpeter is on a kick to replace the gold standard Fujimi 1/72nd scale NavAir jet kits of late. Unfortunately they keep goofing them up with dumb, easily researched mistakes. For example: An A-7 with a squashed intake, and an A-4 with the wing slats not deployed. Now it would seem we have an A-6 with no forward wing gear bay. Great job Trumpeter 🙄 I've heard that they've got a new tool Viking on the way, which would be great as the Hasegawa kit is petty old, though still quite nice. A new tool Viking would be very much appreciated, but if they're going to do it, I'm not holding my breath. Thankfully I've kept my stash of Fujimi A-4s, A-6s, and A-7s, and Hasegawa Prowlers and Vikings..... HTH, Fred K.

Yes, very handy! Thanks! Fred K.

I had this thought as well. I think for some aircraft the ESCI probe will work, but perhaps not all. I seem to recall that there were a couple of slightly different styles of probe. For some reason I'm thinking that the Brazilian probe if different, but don't hold me to that 🤔 Fred K.

Yeah, you'd think that Twobobs would be all over this kit. They did some great sheets for F-5 aggressors from every USAF unit that flew the Tiger in 48th scale, including these "stenciled" jets. Surprisingly though, they didn't scale them up to 32nd scale when the Kittyhawk kit came out. One has to wonder if they'll scale them down for the Wolfpack kit. It seems like US decals makers, other than say Caracal, tend to shy away from 72nd scale. Pity.... Fred K.

I saw that too. Good news indeed! I also noticed that you get both the early and later style main canopies as well. The difference being the vent on the left side. Another good thing with the clear parts is that is looks like you get two blast deflectors for the F. Only one is needed. You can bet that I'll be using the spare on one of my ESCI/Italeri F-5B kits. They don't come with any. It should be close enough to accurate, and will help that kit out with a missing, very difficult to replicate, and very noticeable when absent part. The Wolfpack kit keeps getting better and better! Fred K.

Nice! Thanks for the update! Going from the box art pics, it looks like they're doing a pair of late model Tigers with the extended wing root LEXs and "duckbill/sharknose" nose cone. Both of those jets in the box art are former Swiss AF aircraft that were sold to the US Navy. Time will tell if the kit will have the parts for an earlier jet or not. I will start several of these the moment I get my hands on them! Fred K.

Thanks for sorting this out guys! So I'm thinking that when I build mine, if I make a vertical cut at the white line in front of the cabin door and insert a plastic plug there, that should do the trick? I'll be using decals for the windows and doors, so they'll be getting filled in anyway. One vertical cut instead of a complicated square cut should do the trick. Thoughts anyone? Also, Click2 Detail has just come with a set of 3D printed wheels for the kit to replace those Godawful kit wheels. I talked to Chris at Click2, and he mentioned that he has landing gear legs, and thrust reverser vents in the pipeline as well. Good news! Fred K. https://www.click2detail.net/store/p167/1%3A72_727_Wheel_Set.html

Yes, VERY helpful! thanks, Fred K.

Dang it...... I missed it! I was watching for it, but apparently not closely enough. I've got a pair of their DC-8 kits, and while I've not started one yet, they do look totally buildable. From the reviews that I've read there's some tweaks to look out for, but nothing major. I'm looking forward to it, and already have some decals on the way for the 727. Fred K.

Good to know! I was just debating starting this kit. I imagine they'd do a bunch of weapons to go with the bay as well. Thanks for the intel 😁 Fred K.

I'm SO looking forward to this kit! That Dream Model kit was such a rushed, poorly executed joke. Definitely a cash grab before Wolfpack does it right. Honestly, I'd like to see Wolfpack skip the weapons, except for the fuel tanks, a pair of AIM-9s, and maybe an ACMI pod, and give us the options to build any variant of the E or F in every kit. By variant I mean, the original round nose, or the later duckbill nose, no LEX's or the later LEX's, extended tail fin, ect, not the ability to build an E, F or RF, out of every kit. We all have plenty of dumb bombs in our spares bins, and the Tiger was never cleared to carry much more than dumb bombs and rockets anyway. So personally, I'd rather have the option to build a late version Singapore jet, or an early extended tail fin Brazilian jet, or any other version from one kit. To help offset the cost of the tooling, and keep the price down, ditch the dumb bombs. My thoughts anyway.... Fred K.

Hi Andre, Actually the tail ballast is fitted to the F-5F to counter the weight of the radar in the longer nose, so almost every F should have it. The only three that I am aware of that didn't have it were the original three Topgun F's 160964 through 160966 which had their radars removed to save weight. The RF-5E also has the ballast. HTH, Fred K.