Roland Pulfrew Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 So my second entry (I hope) into the LBAFGB will be a Kenyan Air Force F-5E in 1/48th. Wish me luck!!We shall start with the obligatory shots.The Kit:The Contents:The cockpit detail set; God knows why I bought this as the kit cockpit looks pretty good as it comes!!And the Decals:Decals for this build have been something of an issue as no-one seems to be able to produce the KenAF decal correctly. Note the erroneous matching width of the black, white, red and green bands on the Roundels of the Wirkd set and a missing white band in the International Hawker Hunters set despite it being shown correctly on the instructions:Still, I do have access to some custom made decals so hopefully some of these will suffice!And this is what I will be aiming to build: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc7676 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Great stuff, another 1/48 F-5, looking forward to seeing how you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Hi Roland The F-5 was obviously a bit of an export success story! Weird about those decals though, as you say. Good luck with your custom ones Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Pity about the decals being wrong across so many sheets although there looks to be a few interesting option on one of the sheets. At least the F-5s are helping to balance all those MiGs appearing in this GB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 Here we go then. My Bomber Command GB Lanc is pretty much complete and stuck as I've run out of matt varnish so I thought I would have a look at the challenge ahead of me. Here are a few shots of the kit parts as well as the resin detail set that I bought (unnecessarily?). Instrument panels with the kit part on the left: Cockpit tubs, with the kit part (albeit not built up) on the left: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 And now with a bit more of the kit detail added Despite my earlier reservations that I had bought the cockpit detail set unnecessarily it is now apparent that there is quite a bit of difference between the two, so I will be using most of the detail set. Anyone got any tips on bonding resin to plastic as I haven't really used resin in the past? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 The kit parts do look good but the resin certainly improves upon them so your money wasn't wasted Roland. As for gluing the parts; I mostly use a medium viscosity 'Superglue' that gives me a little bit of time to position parts in the correct place before it sets. Two part epoxy is also handy for larger lumps due to a longer setting time and its ability to bridge small gaps. Either way it'll be worth experimenting with the resin pour stubs to find what works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 And now with a bit more of the kit detail added Despite my earlier reservations that I had bought the cockpit detail set unnecessarily it is now apparent that there is quite a bit of difference between the two, so I will be using most of the detail set. Anyone got any tips on bonding resin to plastic as I haven't really used resin in the past? whichever adhesive you use make sure you give the resin a really good wash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 Right, time to crack on. Been doing s little bit of work on the cockpit of my F-5. Have to say the investment in the resin detail set was not wasted. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 That's certainly looking suitably 'busy'. The green display element looks particularly convincing Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 A great start on the cockpit, as you say the seat does look good. It will be nice to see a non-aggressor scheme on an F-5. It's a pity about the decals, particularly the Xtradecal set. I was also looking forward to building a Kenyan Hunter but as you say the decals are useless, hopefully they will rectify this when they re-release them later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 MM Hannants has the xtradecal set listed as being "reprinted and revised" but the website still shows the incorrect KAF roundels. Not sure whether it is the revised version or not though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc7676 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Looking pretty good mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caszerino Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Looking great so far, and I immensely enjoyed your Bomber Command GB build as well. I am with you on the decals, how disappointing! I bought some old ESCI decals for my Somali Il-28 before I had checked to make sure they were correct. Luckily they were, at least according to "Military Aircraft Insignia o the World". Been interested in African air forces for awhile now, but my best mate's girlfriend is Kenyan and she's one of the nicest people I've ever met (and absolutely gorgeous) so that makes this even more interesting to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Interesting! The 'sky sharks' as the lovely Yvonne calls them that zip around here, (Nairobi), are all grey, too distant to see if there is any variation in the grey but definitely no green. An interesting build and one that I shall watch Christian the Married and exiled to africa Edited January 15, 2015 by wyverns4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Wyvern Interesting that. I've never seen any KAF F-5Es in anything but the grey and green camo. I suppose it's possible that they've been repainted in recent years, so I would like to see any pictures of all grey KAF F-5s if you can find any. Picture here http://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KAF_F-5_Tiger_II_Jet_preparing.jpgis purported to be from 2012,although it is an F not an E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 We have been out here since August 2012 with sky sharks flying over about once a week unless there is a celebration/display due when the visits up to several times every hour! (and their formation flying is still shocking . As my camera was 'Mombasa-ed' we are unable to take any decent or near decent images. But I am happy to confirm that the only ones seen around here are in a grey scheme. I wonder if, as you suggest, there has been a repaint to make their front line fighter resemble other front line fighters, or, if the two-tone camouflaged examples are used up north along the Somali border? Given the limited numbers in use Occam's Razor would suggest the former... Oooo they are overhead now! Christian the Married and exiled to africa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Very interesting... I've seen drawings of grey Kenyan F-5Es but never a picture. All the pictures I've seen show the grey/green scheme, although some taken from a distance may look in a 2-grey scheme. It would be great if you could take some picture of these "grey sharks", we could try and understand if they are indeed grey now or it's a matter of the green having faded to a gre/green colour, resulting in an overall effect similar to an overall grey scheme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Been looking at those that have been flitting around this AM with my binoculars and there is no evidence of anything other than a solid grey. It might be a scheme comprising of two or more similar shades, as in some more modern schemes, but that I cannot deduce at present. My present camera will not take anything more than a blob, but we hope to rectify this situation soon. Will have a look to see if I can find any other info.... Since the failed KAF led coupe back in 1982(?), the KAF has had a very low profile... Christian the Married and exiled to africa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Christian, the profiles I've seen show for these Kenyan aircrafts the F-15 style paint scheme as used by the F-5E in Swiss and Chilean service. This scheme would look overall grey from any distance higher than 10 feet as the two colours are very similar. If, and I repeat if, the aircrafts you're seeing are in this scheme, it's no surprise they would look like a solid grey scheme to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 Wyvern. You are there so it would be great if you could obtain some pictures of an up to date colour scheme if it has changed. I was looking for additional references on the net and came across this picture: http://www.offiziere.ch/wp-content/uploads/18446_11.jpg According to the website it was taken on Independence Day 2012 (just over 2 years ago). From a distance the photo would suggest an overall grey scheme, but when you zoom in you can see the grey and green camouflage; just poor photography. There is a possibility that the second 'buy' of F-5s (ex RJAF?) were delivered in a grey scheme but there is no evidence of this on the 'Net, so piccies please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caszerino Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 I literally could not find a single picture of a Kenyan F5E that wasn't in grey-and-green camo scheme tonight. The only operators I could find using a monochrome scheme were Uruguay, Spain, and Switzerland. With the solid grey underside, and people observing them from the ground, I'm thinking this is where the confusion is coming from. But I'm no expert and I'm certainly not in Kenya! Shame Wyvern's camera got destroyed by the African humidity (which is what I gathered from him saying it "got Mombasa'd"). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Wyvern. You are there so it would be great if you could obtain some pictures of an up to date colour scheme if it has changed. , so piccies please. Don't go getting yourself arrested Christian! Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Pulfrew Posted January 22, 2015 Author Share Posted January 22, 2015 A little bit of s l o w progress, cockpit just waiting for a matt varnish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cooper Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 Christian, the profiles I've seen show for these Kenyan aircrafts the F-15 style paint scheme as used by the F-5E in Swiss and Chilean service. This scheme would look overall grey from any distance higher than 10 feet as the two colours are very similar. If, and I repeat if, the aircrafts you're seeing are in this scheme, it's no surprise they would look like a solid grey scheme to you. Any chance to see some of these profiles? Never heard about KenAF82 F-5Es being re-painted since their service entry, and this would really be a 'big surprise' (for me). (Plus, even 'most recent' photos of them - from about 3-4 years back - still show them wearing their usual camo.) I literally could not find a single picture of a Kenyan F5E that wasn't in grey-and-green camo scheme tonight. The only operators I could find using a monochrome scheme were Uruguay, Spain, and Switzerland.... ...and Austria, which flew a squadron of Swiss F-5Es on lease for a few years. ;-) That said: do Iranian Azarakhsh (green overall) and Simourghs (blue overall) - all of which are either re-builts of some ex-Ethiopian, or ex-Vietnamese, or Iranian F-5Es - count as 'monochrome'? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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