Hi
there, this is my first model in over 10-years since I made the 1/48th
Italeri F-117.
Anyway,
I agreed to build the RF-5E Tigereye as part of a group build and that was an
opportunity for me to jump back into the hobby. The model is a kit-bash
consisting of the recce nose from the Airfix RF-5E, main fuselage with extended
LERX from the Italeri Swiss F-5E Tiger, and refueling-probe from the Italeri
ESCI re-boxed F-5A. The kit was otherwise OOB except for the decals with came
from the Aztec Freedom Fighter sheet.
Most
of you would notice it’s not very well built….especially with the puttying
for the recce nose-to-fuselage joint which drove me nuts, but I had to get to
into this hobby after years of procrastination and self-denial. I wanted to
depict the aircraft in a “what-if” configuration, so I used the LANTIRN pod
from the Hasegawa weapon set to depict the Rafael Reccelite pod on the
centerline. For self-defense, there’s the rudimentary AIM-9S Sidewinders.
The
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) had eight single-seat F-5Es converted to
RF-5E Tigereye reconnaissance configuration. Conversion was carried out with
Northrop-Grumman acting as consultant, which includes a navigation and weapon
delivery system (NWDS), Litton LN-93 RLG-INS, GEC Avionics Atlantic FLIR pods
and RS-700 IR linescanners, plus the Elisra SPS-2000 series RWR. Two General
Electric J85-GE-21A afterburning turbojet engines each rated at 22.24 kN (5,000
lb st). There are rumours that the RSAF has also adopted the Python-4 with the
Display And Sighting Helmet (DASH) but well….nobody is confirming or denying
it….
Enjoy!
Philip
Click on
images below to see larger images
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