Taiwanese F-32

[gooberliberation]

I picked up an Italeri X-32 yesterday, looking to make a quick build to cure my LMS(lazy modeler syndrome). And well, ive noticed that builds that take a couple nights are much funner than ones that last weeks/months. Its just a good feeling when you have a finished product pop out overnight when youve got a shelf full of partially assembled airframes. :dum:  Paints were all testors spraycans. (light sea gray, SAC bomber green, and Intermediate Blue(NOT purple ))



Heres the brief story: Boeing, having spent kaboodles of cash towards their JSF design, try to cover their losses by mass producing versions of their X-32 demonstrator to undercut the export business for the unfinished F-35.  To speed things up, they went with a near copy of the X-32, omitting the extra weapons bay and redesigned wing from their JSF bid.

Among the buyers was the Republic of China/Taiwan, who were looking for a STOVL fighter to use when the commies bomb their good airstrips. Sure enough, the People's Army takes out the major Taiwanese airbases, along with a most of their F-16s, Mirages and F-CKs. The F-32 Pelicans(named for their huge "mouth") managed to hold the fort until the cavalry came. After ROCAF bases were operational again and the USAF/USN gained air dominance over Taiwan, the surviving Pelicans were used to whoop donkey in the mainland.



My one big goof on this model was the right-side shark mouth. I think it was a bit of a Future-overdose trying to get that Monogram decal to stick. At first it came out really ugly, but now it isnt as bad as the picture suggests. I wouldve been fine without the mouth, but the HUUUGe intake demanded some decoration. Using a AVG P-40's mouth looks way right with nationalist insignia.



The bombs came from a hobbycraft hornet, the only decent ordinance in the kit. Not very stealthy, but looks meaner now. :ar:

To simulate exhaust from vertical takeoffs and landings, I made the bottom grimey by wiping a graphite lead sideways. Ive since made the wing bulges dirty too, even though I havent seen them dirty on the real thing.

[Tophe]

Uh...  Your model is very well done, very original... I am just sorry I am not able to say it is a beauty... Just it is nice, for a F-32    ^_^  

[anthonyp]

I love that paint scheme!  Anything with green AND blue in it is a good thing.  Gotta agree with Tophe, though.  The X-32 is not an attractive plane in its original form, but you do a good job of making it less than ugly  

Great job!

   

[John Howling Mouse]

You did this in ONE DAY?!

Aw man...!      

[Radish]

       

[gooberliberation]

Uh...   Your model is very well done, very original... I am just sorry I am not able to say it is a beauty... Just it is nice, for a F-32     ^_^

 at lest it got twin-tails, right? haha

I did one of these a long time ago for my nephew, my first reaction when i put it together was... holy crap thats UGLY

Sure, i did it in one day... but it shows, if you know where to look. The main reason for weathering the undersurface is to cover up some of the bubbling and lumping that resulted from spraying on layers of paint before drying properly.



Here it is again, compared to a MiG-37 of the same scale and manufacturer. Both are great for quick stress relief and can be mashed together in a couple days.

[John Howling Mouse]

Wha----?  Wait a second, what are the colors (and brand of paint) used on the little Ferret?   That's a great combination!

[Ollie]

I dig the F-32.  Now you've made me want one!

 

[nev]

I like the F-32, it has character.  Just like the F-4 and P-47    

[gooberliberation]

Wha----?  Wait a second, what are the colors (and brand of paint) used on the little Ferret?   That's a great combination!

Testors Modelmasters:

Russian Earth Gray and Topside Green, plus plenty of dullcote.  

[BlackOps]

The F-32 is one of the ugliest aircraft out there and I simply adore it! Thank you for sharing this one...too cool! I like the ferrets paint scheme also

I've got an F-32 waiting in the wings but haven't decided on a scheme for it yet.



Jeff G.

[lancer]

Beautiful F32. great looking colour scheme. For a quick build, it's a hell of a job...