This is Kinetic's 1/48 F-5A Freedom Fighter. My kit represents an F-5C (SN# 64-13315) assigned to the Skoshi Tiger Program of the 4503rd TFS at Bien Hoa air base, South Vietnam in 1965. The F-5C's of the Skoshi Tiger program served in the Vietnam War from October 1965 to March 1967.
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The Kinetic kit is a
good representation of the F-5 with good fit of all parts and minimal filler
needed. My only reservation is the deep and relatively wide cut of several panel
lines. I added the following enhancements to my kit:
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Wolfpack F-5A
Freedom Figher Cockpit set (WP48168)
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Eduard F-5A
Interior photoetch (FE619)
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Caracal Models
1/48 F-5A Decals (CD48015)
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External
differences between the F-5A and F-5C were relatively minor. The most
notable difference is the absence of the refueling probe on many F-5Cs.
Otherwise, only a few features on kit parts needed to removed or enhanced
with sheet styrene (armor plates). An excellent reference is Tambini's F-5
Tigers over Vietnam (2001).
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My F-5C is armed
with two 'daisy cutter' Mk 82 bombs and two CBU-52 cluster bombs from the
Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons kit A
Camouflage was the
standard SEA scheme of the Vietnam War. Considering the short service life,
weathering was generally kept minimal with a combination of pre-shading, color
modulation, various tints and shades of the base colors, oil pin washes and
filters, pastels and graphite pencil which were all scaled down with a thin coat
of flat clear.
Enjoy!
Eric Hargett
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