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Hello I wish to present my 1/72nd scale Mitsubishi F-2A Hasegawa to you. I started this model from a box bought a while ago. It was a F-2 prototype boxing, hence the white plastic. That said, the parts provided by Hasegawa are the same for all their 1/72nd scale Mitsubishi F-2s be it prototype or operational versions. * The decals are from a (excellent) DXM decal sheet. * The engine nozzle is a Reskit nozzle which has the advantage of being more detailed and offering an open nozzle, which is often the case with parked F-2As. * The wheels are also from Reskit. Note that the ones in the kit are actually quite good. * The ejection seat is a Wolpack Design in resin that advantageously replaces the part supplied with the kit * Some of the cockpit detailing elements are photoetched and come from an Eduard PE sheet. The model is a very good Hasegawa, sharp and quite complete, quite close in its design to the F-16 kits of the brand. However, no part of the F-2 is common to those of the F-16 and it is easy to see that this model is much more recent in design than the F-16s. As usual with Hasegawa, the cockpit is simplified and will have to be detailed (photo-etched + resin seat), as well as the gear wells (scratch). All the F-2 boxes at the 1/72nd Hasegawa that I know of allow you to build either a single-seat F-2A or a two-seat F-2B. This means that it is necessary to join the front (specific A or and the rear (common part) of the upper part of the fuselage. Nothing complicated, a very small amount of dry fitting is recommended to perfect the adjustment. Even if this model is very good we can't deny the plus and advantages brought by the newer Fine Milds F-2s. The assembly is very traditional and starts with the cockpit and the construction of certain details that will quickly find their place when the fuselage is closed. In this respect, the integration of the Reskit nozzle requires preparatory work that it is better to prepare. Not liking this white plastic, I quickly applied a layer of gray paint as a primer... Before continuing with a general paint in the lightest blue of the camouflage obtained by mixing (Gunze 50% H56 + 50% H25 about - I deliberately modulate to have variations in shade) After several freehand attempts, I decided to use cardboard masks for the application of the darkest blue (Tamiya 3/4 XF17 +1/4 XF8 approximately) The radome and antennas are much clearer than the recommended H317 (Dark gull gray). I went for an H325 (Light gull gray) slightly lightened. The rest of the assembly is quite traditional and consists of setting up and painting the different details and antennas, detailing the landing gear and pipes in flexible metal wire then gluing, careful installation of the decals and simple weathering avoiding excesses. Best to you all Eric B.

Well I tried but the budget just wasn't there for it. So Im going with an F-2 instead of the A.N.G. F-16 I had hoped for. The markings are of the 3rd Squadron, the longest serving Squadron in JASDF history. Somehow I goofed and didn't get the third sprue in the photographs. Its there trust me. I will snap a photo and post it later when I can open the box up. I will be doing the single seat F-2A as the few F-16’s I’ve done have all ben two seaters. I happen to love the JASDF SEA SCHEME. It is just one of the coolest looking camouflage schemes. Ive done an F-104 in it and plan on an F-4 and F-1 at some point in the scheme. Ive even considered doing a Whif of an F-22 and F-35 in the scheme I like it that much. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments or add thoughts. Dennis