Military Model Scene

As a modeller, is there enough time to actually build examples of all the models you would like to?  The answer for so many of us is that we have a loft, or cupboards, stacked with boxes of unbuilt kits.  So, the potential answer might be to join in the interests of a different group of collectors, and consider the ready built market of diecast models.  This one is made by Hobby Master, who are producing some super models.

The model comes in a smart blue box, the top of which folds open to reveal a clear plastic panel so you can see the model itself without having to take it out of the box, ideal for shop displays of course.  The basic airframe is ready built and with super quality satin paint finish.  It is a lovely model and the quality of diecast models is so good in comparison to what I remember of diecasts when I was young.  If you have not checked out these Hobby Master diecasts I would happily suggest they are well worth doing so.

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General Background
The Northrop F-5 tactical fighter was designed as an extremely manoeuvrable, supersonic fighter with a high rate of reliability at a low operating cost. The F-5 first flew on July 30, 1959 with the first customer delivery in 1964. The last of more than 2,600 F-5’s was produced in 1989 and about two-thirds of these are still in service with 26 countries more than 4 decades later. The F-5 was manufactured by Northrop Grumman and under license in Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

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The aircraft featured in this model was used by the South Vietnamese Air Force after the US left the war in Vietnam, and after the ir defeat by the North in 1975, this particular aircraft was given to Russia where it was put on display.

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Specifications :
Crew: 1

Dimensions

Length: 47 ft 4.75 in (14.45 m)
Wingspan:  26 ft 8 in (8.13 m)
Height:  13 ft 4.5 in (4.08 m)

Powerplant:  2 X General Electric J85-GE-21B turbojet
Dry thrust:  3,500 lbf (15.5 kN) per engine
Thrust with afterburner:  5,000 lbf (22.2 kN) per engine
Internal fuel :  677 US gal (2,563 L)
External fuel:  275 US gal (1,040 L) per tank in up to 3 tanks

Weight

Empty weight:  9,558 lb (4,349 kg)
Loaded weight:  15,745 lb (7,157 kg)
Max takeoff weight:  20,486 lb (9,312 kg)

Performance

Maximum speed:  917 kn (1,060 mph, 1,700 km/h, Mach 1.6)
Range:  760 nmi (870 mi, 1,405 km)
Ferry range:  2,010 nmi (2,310 mi, 3,700 km)
Service ceiling:  51,800 ft (15,800 m)
Rate of climb:  34,400 ft/min (175 m/s)

Armament

Guns:  2 X 20 mm (0.787 in) Pontiac M39A2 Revolver cannons in the nose, 280 rounds/gun
Hardpoints:  7 total (3 X wet): 2 X wing-tip AAM launch rails, 4 X under-wing and 1 X under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 7,000 pounds (3,200 kg) of payload.
Rockets: 2 X LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19 X / 7 X Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively) or

2 X LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19 X CRV7 70 mm rockets) or

2 X LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4 X Zuni 127 mm rockets) or

2 X Matra rocket pods (each with 18 X SNEB 68 mm rockets)

Missiles

Air-to-air missile:  4 X AIM-9 Sidewinders or 4 X AIM-120 AMRAAMs
Air-to-surface missile: 2 X AGM-65 Mavericks

Bombs:  A variety of air-to-ground ordnance such as the Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), CBU-24/49/52/58 cluster bomb munitions, napalm bomb canisters and M129 Leaflet bomb and laser guided bombs of Paveway family.
Others:  up to 3 X 150/275 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time.
Avionics:  Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 radar on early batch of F-5E

Emerson Electric AN/APQ-159 radar on later production F-5E

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I bought mine through Tiger Hobbies here in the UK.

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Robin