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Tamiya 1/48th F-117A Nighthawk


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Hi,

This is my latest build for the year, the Tamiya F-117A Nighthawk. A kit so easy even I could build it. I added the Aires cockpit just to make it more challenging and I have to say that this didn't work either. It's probably one of their easiest cockpits to fit with just a little care and patience required. The rest of the build was without problems and it was only after all the painting and glossing that it finally threw me a googly. It was more of my own making, to be fair, but Microscale putting their Liquid Decal Film in the same colour bottle as MicroSol was a bad idea and a near disaster for me. I had one of them Blonde moments that made a right mess of the underside of the plane when I dipped my brush in it and painted a nice stripe of Decal Film in the place that the first decal was going to go, OOOPS, or other words to that effect. one swift local repaint later and the decals could finally go on. I was going to do the Skunk Works option on this model but decided to go with 'Vega 31' from the Screaming Demons squadron. This was, it's claimed, the only F-117A ever lost in combat. I liked the simplicity of the scheme and am not disappointed in how it's turned out. Paint was a mixture of Valejo Model Air (great paint) and my usual Humbrol Acylics. Klear for the Gloss and Xtracylix Matt Coat for the, well, Matt.

Hope you like it and as usual comments welcome.

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Pete

Edited by Peter W
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Lovely build. I had the Italeri version which did not survive the attentions of my ex ... "que sera sera" in the immortal words of Doris Day. Makes we want to get of another and the Aires pit is something else

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Great job Pete. Shame it wasn't finished for the GB, it would have been a definite contender! Great job on the shading and the cockpit is a work of art. :worthy:

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Great one. Cockpit is stunning. Painting is great,as well.

One question: it should be F117 nighthawk. Why did you use Knighthawk? Is it just a mistake or by purpose?

Ha-Ha, I have no idea what you mean :whistle: It's a British thing, whenever I typed it I came over all Heraldic and typed the 'K' in front. the daft thing is I know it's a Nighthawk and yet it's not the first time I've had to correct it. Another one of them there Blonde moments :doh: .

Thanks to you all for the kind comments.

Don - I was dreading the Black finish and trying to break it up a bit but it turned out pretty good. At least I can break out the other black jets (SR-71 & TR-1's) now and, hopefully, give them a similar finish.

Rob C - Yes, it was disappointing not to finish it in time but Dons Lancaster was a very worthy winner in that group build and I'm sure it wouldn't have changed that outcome.

Cheers

Pete

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