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AFV 1:48 F-5F Tunisian AF


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Hello chaps.

I'm very glad I can join in on this one. Since I have an AFV kit in the stash and the needed decals I can start straight away. Probably won't add a resin cockpit but I might throw in some aftermarket seats...

IMG_20151109_141522.jpg

the decals are for a single seat version, but I think I can handle the replacement numbers...

IMG_20151109_141621.jpg

Tunisians...

tunisiaY92508.jpg

cheers

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Thanks Giorgio. I totally agree with you, I love this scheme too. It took me some time to decide between this one and the dirty grey Jordanian I also like.

I'll try and do this one weathered out... still need to do some research on the subject though, armament and such...

Edited by vesthepes
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One aspect of the reaserch on these aircrafts is the type of radome and LERX: most pictures seem to show the tigershark nose and the extended LERX, however some, like the one you posted, seem to show the original style for both parts. I never understood if the aircrafts were retrofitted at some point with the new parts or they had a mix of aircrafts with different features

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Might it be that Tunisia received its aircraft in two separate batches, 8 F-5E and 4 F-5F in 84-85 then they received a further 5 F-5E in 89 which were ex-USAF (ex Alconbury), do you think this would account for the differences? As I could see online the Tunisian government has recently ordered a block 1 upgrade to them but couldn't see anything about any previous upgrades.

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Thanks for the input, I've also read about this current upgrade but can't find anything about some older ones...but I'm pretty sure that there were some changes like Giorgio said...

Does anyone know anything about those blisters on the side of the nose and in the rear of the fuselage near the exhausts?...

I know many companies from different countries offer Tiger upgrades (Israel, Brasil, Singapore, Italy?) to different standards (F-5TIII, F-5EM/FM, F-5S). Brasilians use the Italian FIAR Grifo radar as far as I know... but where do the Tunisians fit in this story?

Here's a photo without blisters...

Tunisia_F-5F.jpg

I think these are photos from the delivery, where you can also see them missing

4431991388_9e178c6e90_b.jpg

4457881682_617575621c_b.jpg

photo source via internet

Another thing I noticed is that the roundels on the side and the ones on the wings aren't the same size. The ones on the wing are double in size...which makes my decals half usable...

OK, I just found out those blisters are EWPS-100 radar warning receivers (RWR)...

Edited by vesthepes
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The RWR blisters appeared on many export F-5Es well before companies like IAI started to offer updates.

Regarding the various configurations it's very likely that the two batches supplied to Tunisia had different noses and LERX. The best way to find out would be to check serial and construction numbers and see if there's any logic...

Pity about the roundels in the decal sheet... as I have the 1/72 version of that same sheet, this is something good to know

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So far I found out this much...

Tunisia acquired eight F-5Es and four F-5Fs. These have since been
supplemented by seven ex-USAF F-5Es.
82-0634/0635 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92501 and Y-92503
82-0636 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92515
82-0637/0639 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92505,07,and 09
82-0644/0645 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92511 and 13
82-0640/0643 Northrop F-5F Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92502,04,06,and 08
some sources say four were supplemented, some say seven...
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welcome aboard to this GB.

for some reason I can't see any of the photos of your build (probably my end again, this isn't the first time it's happened!!), as i am dying to see what the AFV model looks like...plus your colour scheme!

Well good luck with your build and hope it's a trouble free and enjoyable build.

If Tom Cooper happens to drop by on this GB (he was present in the chat section....could try and ask him in there) then he would be the person who could probably have the answers you are looking for. Just go back into the chat section of this GB and find one of his comments and "quote" him with your questions. If he knows the answer he'd be more than happy to help..

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So far I found out this much...

Tunisia acquired eight F-5Es and four F-5Fs. These have since been
supplemented by seven ex-USAF F-5Es.
82-0634/0635 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92501 and Y-92503
82-0636 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92515
82-0637/0639 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92505,07,and 09
82-0644/0645 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92511 and 13
82-0640/0643 Northrop F-5F Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92502,04,06,and 08
some sources say four were supplemented, some say seven...

Thanks for posting the numbers, I'll have a look at the pictures I've collected of these aircrafts to see if I can make some sense of the various features

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Thanks Rich, yes I'll try and contact Tom Cooper, he sounds like the right person for the inquiry...

No build pics yet, I just opened the box yesterday...sorry if I'm wasting network bandwith with my posts, but I do not wanna rush things...

Well, here are some photos of the sprues, I assume I'll start with it later on today...

IMG_20151111_124954.jpg

IMG_20151111_125041.jpg

IMG_20151111_125123.jpg

A few years back I did an AFV F-5E, and I have nothing but good words for it. What I remember is I used the Aires cockpit, avionics and the nose gun which look awesome but weren't designed to fit all together at once... Without the resin, this should be a nice and pleasant build...

a4-002.JPG

Excuse me, for this going a bit OT...

cheers

Edited by vesthepes
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Might it be that Tunisia received its aircraft in two separate batches, 8 F-5E and 4 F-5F in 84-85 then they received a further 5 F-5E in 89 which were ex-USAF (ex Alconbury), do you think this would account for the differences?

Yup, that was the reason for differences re. noses and LERXes.

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OK, I just found out those blisters are EWPS-100 radar warning receivers (RWR)...

Yup, and they were added at a latter date (quite a few years AFTER delivery).

And regarding total numbers of TuAF F-5s: I'll check around. Might take a day, but I'm quite sure to have the answer... somewhere in 2-3 places of my library...

EDIT: Tunisian F-5s (together with their L-39/59 or whatever) have seen quite a lots of action recently. Although this is entirely unreported outside the country, they've flown hundreds of CAPs and even ground strikes against extremist gangs active in southern Tunisia (primarily along the border to Libya).

Edited by Tom Cooper
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Are I can see the pictures now, oooo a very nice looking colour scheme you have chosen!

The kit looks nice as well, similar and also a bit different to the Kinetic/Wolfpack one.

Plus that is a very nicely done model!!

I knew Tom would have some answers for us.

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Now to the issue of Tunisian numbers...

So far I found out this much...

Tunisia acquired eight F-5Es and four F-5Fs. These have since been
supplemented by seven ex-USAF F-5Es.
82-0634/0635 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92501 and Y-92503
82-0636 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92515
82-0637/0639 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92505,07,and 09
82-0644/0645 Northrop F-5E Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92511 and 13
82-0640/0643 Northrop F-5F Tiger II
for Tunisia as Y-92502,04,06,and 08
some sources say four were supplemented, some say seven...

This issue is slightly more complicated than this - also because (and that's next to never reported) Tunisian F-5E/Fs are not only having genuine registrations (Y-92..... etc), but wearing two-letter codes on their forward fuselage, too. The latter are in range IA to IP. The reason why are the latter so seldom reported is that most of photos were taken prior to delivery, or during overflights for overhauls in the USA - when these codes were either not yet applied, or removed.

Anyay, original Tunisian order was for six F-5Es and four F-5Fs, followed by two additional F-5Es. Think that if there is any kind of uncertainity, then because F-5Fs arrived as first, although manufactured after F-5Fs. Plus, that early 'follow-up' order for two additional F-5Es is little known. Anyway, FY-numbers were as follows:

F-5Es, 1st batch (deliveries between 30 November 1984 and 5 February 1985):

82-0634/Y-92501/IE

82-0635/Y-92503/IF

82-0636/Y-92515/IL

82-0637/Y-92505

82-0638/Y-92507/IH

82-0639/Y-92509/II

F-5Fs (deliveries on 30 November and 1 December 1984):

82-0640/Y-92502/IA

82-0641/Y-92504/IB

82-0642/Y-92506/IC

82-0643/Y-92508/ID

F-5Es, 2nd batch (delivered on 5 February 1985):

82-0644/Y-92511

82-0645/Y-92513/I?

So, that was the original complement of 12 aircraft (8 F-5Es and 4 F-5Fs) for the 15e Escadrille de Chasse.

In 1989, four ex-USAF F-5Es were delivered. I can't find their complete serials and other details, so can only say that the only available photo is documenting serial number Y-92521/IO. Contrary to the original fleet, these had no big UHF-antennas nor VHF-fillets on the base of the fin, and were painted in two shades of grey (prior to delivery).

Edited by Tom Cooper
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To complete the serials I have the following:

F5E delivered 1989

74-1532/Y-92517/IM

74-1535/Y-92519/IN

74-1559/Y-92521/IO

74-1566/Y-92523/IP

And for completeness missing codes from the serials above:

Y-92505/IG

Y-92511/IJ

Y-92513/IK

Courtesy World Air Forces Directory

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Oh, cool... Many thanks, JP!

To complete the list (and thus help VP, plus for everbody's records):

F-5Es, 1st batch (deliveries between 30 November 1984 and 5 February 1985):

82-0634/Y-92501/IE

82-0635/Y-92503/IF

82-0636/Y-92515/IL

82-0637/Y-92505/iG

82-0638/Y-92507/IH

82-0639/Y-92509/II

F-5Fs (deliveries on 30 November and 1 December 1984):

82-0640/Y-92502/IA

82-0641/Y-92504/IB

82-0642/Y-92506/IC

82-0643/Y-92508/ID

F-5Es, 2nd batch (delivered on 5 February 1985):

82-0644/Y-92511/IJ

82-0645/Y-92513/IK

F-5Es, 3rd batch (delivered in 1989)

74-1532/Y-92517/IM

74-1535/Y-92519/IN

74-1559/Y-92521/IO

74-1566/Y-92523/IP

All 'mysteries' solved, I would say, aren't they...?

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Thanks for your help everyone.

If I understood correctly, by the given facts, all F-5Fs came at once so they should all have same configuration regarding LERX and the nose? Which are which I still can't tell...

This is AFV plastic. I believe it is the same style nose as the ones on the TuAF photos...

IMG_20151112_175804.jpg

IMG_20151112_175906.jpg

IMG_20151112_180513.jpg

and the LERX

IMG_20151112_180635.jpg

Now there's another thing bugging me. If I make an F version before the RWR update (the kit does not provide the RWR blisters), that means the AC has to be all pretty and clean...and I want it to be dirty and weathered!

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Thanks for your help everyone.

If I understood correctly, by the given facts, all F-5Fs came at once so they should all have same configuration regarding LERX and the nose? Which are which I still can't tell...

Now there's another thing bugging me. If I make an F version before the RWR update (the kit does not provide the RWR blisters), that means the AC has to be all pretty and clean...and I want it to be dirty and weathered!

1.) Yup. LERXes but no shark-noses.

2.) Yup. Though... well, you can still weather her, that shouldn't really be a problem.

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All F-5E/Fs have LERX but these come in two flavours. The ones shown in the sprue shots are the original style that are generally associated with the original pointy nose. The ones retrofitted as a result of the F-20 program, together with the shark nose, have a less steep angle at the leading edge. The best picture I could find showing their shape on an F is this very good shot of a Swiss aircraft

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/photo/244628/j-3202-switzerland-air-force-northrop-f-5f-tiger-ii/

The aircraft you showed in the picture on the previous page looks to me one with the original nose and LERX as shown in the sprue shots

This picture shows aircrafts 92504 and 92508 with the original nose and with RWR. However I also have a picture of 92504 with sharknose, meaning this mst have been retrofitted at some point.

I've seen 92506 with the sharknose with and without RWR blisters, and this complicates things a bit... if the previous aircrafts were retrofitted with the sharknose while they already had the RWR, why was this one without RWR while already having the sharknose ? I'm starting to think that the original delivery included aircrafts with both styles of nose and Lerx

Here's a then new 92506, notice the shape of the LERX

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ncC-bkmx9c/UmiDky2iPbI/AAAAAAAAPkc/0pBtT669maQ/s1600/F5.jpg

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