Re: Which kit is better? Now A.W. Meteor...

[rickshaw]

I'm thinking about doing a two seat F-5.  Which of these kits is better?

Italeri F-5F
Revell F-5B
Matchbox CF-5B
Italeri CF-5B
PM F-5B

[The Wooksta!]

It's not my aircraft but the PM kit will be basic and crude, the Matchbox old, basic but buildable and ideal for whiffing.  Your choice is Italeri or Revell if you want a decent one.

[Weaver]

I've got two Revellobox ones, one of which I've built, and they're pretty poor IMHO. In particular, there's a huge moulded flaw in the thickness of the canopy which can't be polished out. Cockpits are rudimentary, fit is indifferent.

[kitnut617]

Top pic is showing an excellent book to get on the CF-5, the last chapter is on all the models you can buy of it and have a review of which ones are the better ones.

Next two pics is some of the comments made about the 1/72 scale kits. is it's any other scale you are, I can take a pic of that too

[ChernayaAkula]

If the Revell kit is this one....



... then it contains the Esci kit (as does the Italeri boxing). These are the bee's knees.

The F-5F by Italeri is, if you can get it, also the best representation of the type. Don't even know whether someone else did an F-5F in 1/72. It's a much sought-after kit and, at times, goes for crazy sums on eBay.

[Weaver]

I've got two Revellobox ones, one of which I've built, and they're pretty poor IMHO. In particular, there's a huge moulded flaw in the thickness of the canopy which can't be polished out. Cockpits are rudimentary, fit is indifferent.

Just to be crystal clear, the one I'm talking about is the Revell re-issue of the Matchbox one:



Review here: http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/viet/previews/Matchbox/pk39.htm

It might be that not all of them have the canopy flaw, but I wouldn't buy another without checking for it first.

[Mossie]

Hasegawa's T-38 is apparently a re-decalled F-5B, not got a good reputation though, supposed to be slightly better than the PM kit.

If a Talon will do, Sword have recentley released kits of the T-38C in both 1/72 & 1/48.  It's expensive, but supposed to be very good.

[kitnut617]

The Talon though isn't an F-5B, there's a number of subtle differences between the two from what I've read.

[PYF42]

Bonsoir
Matchbox is the best !!!!
For all models ! 
A nostalgic Matchbox'fan .
Regards
Fred

[philp]

Which 2 seater do you want to do?  The B is the early version based on the A and the F is the later version based on the E (Tiger II).  The ESCI B (Revell rerelease) is the best early version and the Testors/Italeri F is the best (and may be only) late version.

I have the F kit in my stash that I have been looking to swap for another E kit.

[Mossie]

The Talon though isn't an F-5B, there's a number of subtle differences between the two from what I've read.

I know, I was just suggesting it as an alternative if Rick wasn't too worried or happy to do a bit of knife work.  Hase's kit is actually an F-5B though.

[rickshaw]

I've got two Revellobox ones, one of which I've built, and they're pretty poor IMHO. In particular, there's a huge moulded flaw in the thickness of the canopy which can't be polished out. Cockpits are rudimentary, fit is indifferent.

Just to be crystal clear, the one I'm talking about is the Revell re-issue of the Matchbox one:



Review here: http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/viet/previews/Matchbox/pk39.htm

It might be that not all of them have the canopy flaw, but I wouldn't buy another without checking for it first.

Oh, bugger.  Thats the one I've just bought two of, off Evilbay!  Oh, damn, caveat emptor.   I've read a couple of reviews of it and they seem to be OK.  One had an excellent set of pictures and there was no flaw in the canopy.  Perhaps you just got a bad one (fingers crossed)?

[rickshaw]

Which 2 seater do you want to do?  The B is the early version based on the A and the F is the later version based on the E (Tiger II).  The ESCI B (Revell rerelease) is the best early version and the Testors/Italeri F is the best (and may be only) late version.

I have the F kit in my stash that I have been looking to swap for another E kit.

Mmm, I don't _presently_ have an E but might have one in the future. 

[anthonyp]

If the Italeri one is too rare, look for the Testors reboxing of it.  I see them all the time on shelves up here, as well as evil-Bay.

[rickshaw]

I assume the major visible difference between a F-5B and a F-5F was the nose shape?