AntoineG Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Hello happy folks, Among all my 'serious' builts, I decided to have a bit of fun and do a quick built of a what-if plane. The story is quite staight forward. In the early years of the 21st century, the Canadian Armed Forces were looking for a replacement to their ageing CF-188 Hornet. Due to budget restriction and higher reliability of modern engines, it was decided to select a single engine aircraft. So the Dassault Rafale, Boeing F-18E and Eurofighter Typhon were out of the game. That left Saab with its Super Gripen, Lockheed Martin with its X-35 and Boeing with the X-32. Considering previous experience with Boeing field support, the airframer guarantee that it fighter would enter service before the competition and a good discount (from non-official sources), the CAF opted for the newly named Boeing CF-189. Thanks to the fact that Canada was the sole launch customer, the development process was quite quick and the first squadron was declared operational in 2017. Fifteen years later, the CF-189, nick-named the "blue whale" thanks to its big-open-month-like-inlet is still the main fighter for the CAF and has demonstrated high reliability and operational flexibility. It is not rare to see them in various airshows all around the word under special livery schemes like the one designed for the 2032 International Air Tatoo. The basis is Italeri Boeing X-32 in 1/72. Decals are from Belcher Bits. Colours are 'inspired' by Canadian CF-5 grape scheme. The built is basically OOB with only the ejection seat harness added and some brake pipes. Lot of masking tape was used.... Hope you like the result despite the poor quality of the pictures (it is difficult to get good natural light this period of the year) Cheers, Antoine 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Love you've managed to make a fugly aircraft look half decent. Nice work 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 A very clever rendition of the X-32, nicely done too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted December 2, 2019 Share Posted December 2, 2019 Great whif, very smart colour scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Marvelous paint scheme! But, isn’t it a bit like putting lipstick on a pig? 😉 💄🐷 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempestwulf Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 What an absolutely brilliant concept 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 How beautiful in its ugliness! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 It might be ugly, but it always looks happy. Very nice build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 That works. I'm liking. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 Great scheme, gives a totally new look to a retro kit, I once did one as a RAF 16sqn display machine in a gloss black scheme - great fun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vingtor Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 An F-32 would have been a quite different looking bird than the X-32, had it been selected for production. I am planning to model the X-32 one day though, as I have a softness for prototypes. Nils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted December 3, 2019 Share Posted December 3, 2019 That's hoofin mate...BZ to you👍😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHx Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Looks like you had a 'whale' of a time building this one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick231 Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 I've always liked this aircraft. I got my built 1 out earlier as I'm building an F-35A then found this thread, what a coincidence! Fantastic work and I love the special scheme. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntoineG Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 23 hours ago, Maverick231 said: I've always liked this aircraft. I got my built 1 out earlier as I'm building an F-35A then found this thread, what a coincidence! Fantastic work and I love the special scheme. I do find it has more "character" compare to its competitor. Looking forward to see tours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Bloody hell, that’s ugly. Love it. Graham 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangseat Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Inspired! Like. With all the flak F35 has had, imagine if they had selected F32...🤯 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Now that's a whale tail you don't mind seeing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ad-4N Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Very imaginative. Well done. Excellent use of color and whimsy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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