Right,
Here's my one week entries. As with any of my builds, they're always overambitious, and what I have is...
A Saab SK-37S of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). Yes! Singapore, with its fierce independence and love of ABBA in the 70's, went with the independent route and purchased the Saab Viggens from the Swedes. With relationships being better with the US than most other nations in the region, they were able to get away with the getting the Volvo RM8 engines without any objection from Pratt & Whitney. A proposal for A-4s were floated to Singapore but they wanted something with a little more oomph, and Sweden's use of the Viggen mirrored Singapore's needs perfectly (the sting US to US military imports were lessened by Singapore's purchase of brand new F-20s as well).
What I have here is the trainer SK-37, as an alternative to their really cool TA-4S. So, similar paint scheme, drop tanks, etc. The Matchbox kit is a simple one, and I'm resisting the urge to scratchbuild a cockpit, etc.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Orf3i62rr50/VSKl8PuI22I/AAAAAAAAE2A/_CrdW_UVd4Y/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252003%252C%25202%252031%252027%2520PM.jpg)
What's that you say? Doesn't sound overambitious? That's because I'm not building one, but TWO whatifs for my One Week build, this time with modifications! Not only did Singapore buy the F-5, eventually they bought the F-20 to replace the F-5!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WcDWxZPlyDQ/VSKl8LWheyI/AAAAAAAAE0g/Xt3TPCe93KE/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252002%252C%25209%252047%252052%2520PM.jpg)
Construction started off with painting the erm...cockpit....
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DYYJ6QM000w/VSKl8O1ZCDI/AAAAAAAAE0c/UDfc_uiI-Wk/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252003%252C%25202%252048%252058%2520PM.jpg)
While that was drying off I worked on the F-20 as well. The rear mechanism was pretty cool until I realized that it was meant for an open canopy...so I lowered it to make the rear deck look busy but unfortunately it still didn't fit, so off it went...
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ll5BxO8CgHU/VSKl8lO8aJI/AAAAAAAAE1A/V9HsikBrDqs/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252004%252C%252012%252007%252054%2520PM.jpg)
Basic assembly is done, canopies placed, masked and ready for paint...
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6vUNx6YMkAQ/VSKl9WYD-YI/AAAAAAAAE08/hGZhtSJ8NS0/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252004%252C%25206%252018%252038%2520PM.jpg)
As the Viggen's paint scheme is more complex, I started off with that. Somehow it doesn't seem quite right. Maybe the lighter shade of green is too light?
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YZRLPR2reDA/VSKl_fC5CfI/AAAAAAAAE1c/-FXzt2AMbPk/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252005%252C%25202%252018%252002%2520AM.jpg)
Looks Pretty good Tom from here, :thumbsup:
hmm that scheme realy suits the Viggen
The colours look good to me - I always thought that the US greens in the SE Asia scheme were too close in shade.
Your paint job looks great! The colors are fine and your airbrush work is well done.
Viggens are always good. The paints are Swedish equivalents, never quite going to match up. :thumbsup:
Loving the paint on the Viggen!
Woah....nice entrance Tom ! Love the way that Viggen looks...no problems there ! Two great whif ideas. Close enough to reality ? Subtle /
:cheers:
Two excellent ideas! Nice one errrr two! :thumbsup:
Thanks guys. A coat of Future is on the Viggen now. Unfortunately, in my hurry to get my builds going, I neglected to soap/wash the sprues and put some primer on the Viggen, and that shiny late production Matchbox plastic is pretty slippery....have a lot of paint chipping so I'll have to go back and patch it up.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gdyL3S1Xg1Q/VSPn-g56n9I/AAAAAAAAE2w/C0-hCCmni2g/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252006%252C%252011%252022%252036%2520PM.jpg)
So while that's going on, here's what's happening with the F-20S....
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5M2GdZbZoMw/VSPn-t9apQI/AAAAAAAAE2o/NQrzbL94nU4/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252006%252C%252011%252022%252055%2520PM.jpg)
You'll notice that the bird slicers are of uneven lengths. That's done on purpose as I tend to put them in long, then sand them to the right length/shape. This ensures that all the blades are of the same length/angle.
A few hours later after the glue had cured and the blades have been sanded to shape....
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rVkmq9S8xmc/VSPn_Js3NWI/AAAAAAAAE20/5ltRtKC4HMY/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252007%252C%25201%252019%252051%2520AM.jpg)
The F-20S also got some tiny chaff/flare dispenses undersides, from the spares box. I think those came from an Italeri A129 Mangusta. Shapes are a bit uneven as I had to sand them down to shape, I will do a little bit of more refining before I call those done. Couple more things to stick on top, but I'm leaving those out until I know I won't have to turn it upside down as much.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jrGU3a0UGpM/VSPn_QDrqQI/AAAAAAAAE24/cOLPONF5r_8/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252007%252C%25201%252019%252059%2520AM.jpg)
Lost a day's worth of work due to work emergency which lead to me coming home late, and repairing scratched paint. I've also spent too much time cleaning up my airbrush from using Vallejo paints so I'm tossing those as I spent half my paint time cleaning the gummed out bits in my nozzle! :banghead:
While the Viggen is drying out time to turn my attention back to the F-20S. Attached refueling probe (nicked from a Hobbyboss F-5), preshaded and nose painted dark gull gray. The rest of the paint job will go on tonight.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cmY0XZZLdvk/VSVKwG62SNI/AAAAAAAAE30/0TTAFGLXR2g/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252008%252C%25201%252009%252017%2520AM.jpg)
So the paint on the F-20 is pretty much done. Just need to put some Future on it and then it's decals.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gk2nTH_77b4/VSXOqKgsMHI/AAAAAAAAE4k/cgxCsBj_azg/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252008%252C%25208%252049%252006%2520PM.jpg)
Great stuff ST ! Really got a modern look to that F-20 !
:tornado:
Both are looking great. Especially like the SEA camo on the Viggen.
Looking good Tom! :thumbsup:
I like them both but the camo on the Viggen does look very good, both are gorgeous things! :wub:
:cheers:
Well, I couldn't meet the deadline - but I got this far. Correcting paint issues and troubleshooting took too much time :banghead: :
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Ma6kx42chf4/VSvKrivS5jI/AAAAAAAAE5g/VXmNuoIxb48/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252013%252C%25208%252029%252028%2520AM.jpg)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HoxYcTG3eBI/VSvKrofHzuI/AAAAAAAAE5c/Z7L5c8fFGGo/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252013%252C%25208%252028%252045%2520AM.jpg)
I'll keep at it and it'll be done soon.
Well you're getting two great-looking models out of it , so it's still a win. :thumbsup:
Well guys, thanks for the encouragement. The JA-37ST will have to go back to the paintshop. I'm just not happy with it.
On the other hand, the F-20S is finally done. I have a club meeting today, so please excuse the car it's on and the office buildings in the background. So in this reality Singapore liked the F-20 enough to fund partial development and got the first batches to replace their F-5s (which they sold to Thailand and the Phillipines), and bought the F-16 anyway. The F-20's fast scramble time, small size and similarity to the F-5 made it ideal for deploying rapidly from highway strips (awesome video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBMD4QTSyqM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBMD4QTSyqM) <-HERE!)
Anyway I've built it for a mid-2000's model, with AMRAAM capability. Pretty much what the current F-5S standards are. Nicked the refuelling probe from a Hobbyboss F-5, AMRAAMs and Sidewinder rails from an Italeri F-16, and Sidewinders from the Revell Typhoon which I'm currently battling. I'll take better pictures when I'm home and have time to clear a space.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CKzb7VWh43U/VTE0Bjl2PpI/AAAAAAAAE6M/YHVbH7bZoEY/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252017%252C%252012%252011%252050%2520PM.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JPHR8ErOuIg/VTE0Bpc9jqI/AAAAAAAAE6c/D38a9IndKU8/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252017%252C%252012%252011%252058%2520PM.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wnTw84_OGE0/VTE0BmTKiTI/AAAAAAAAE6Y/mjMxCAAAkuc/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252017%252C%252012%252012%252007%2520PM.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3XZeX3x-GA4/VTE0Cf4vFsI/AAAAAAAAE6g/bgNmIeTtDEM/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252017%252C%252012%252012%252021%2520PM.jpg)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-juAAsoJ6qa0/VTE0CgSZSQI/AAAAAAAAE6k/Pg-0dFrhAFw/s640/Photo%2520Apr%252017%252C%252012%252012%252034%2520PM.jpg)
The F-20 is pretty! :thumbsup:
I now the deadline is passed but it's good to see a build concluded through this thread. Had been toying with moving my build to one of the regular threads but no, I'll keep it here.
Very pretty F-20, BTW (:thumbsup:), looking forward to the Viggen.
I think it's well known I'm not a fan of this family of aircraft but that is one nice model :bow:
Looks like she's flying low over the Hyundai Sea :thumbsup:
Great work ST. I love the F-5 and all her family....such a sleek and sexy aeroplane. Great job on this one. Love the updates you've made, and the weapons load looks perfect for a scramble fighter. The hook is a nice touch as well, really brings the underside to life.
:cheers: :tornado: :wub:
Great job! Looks very good with the amraams on the wing tips. :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Never mind the deadline - it looks really good! :thumbsup: