F-5B Freedom Fighter

Kinetic, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

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Continuing from Kinetic’s first issue of the F-5A single seat Freedom Fighter, a follow-up release of an F-B twin seater was a logical next step.

The parts breakdown of the F-5A kit already had the modelling world speculating around the release of a two-seat version in the near future.

The kit is basically the original F-5A kit with two new sprues containing the plastic and clear parts for the two seat forward fuselage.

There are 171 light grey injection moulded parts and 10 clear plastic parts.  Finally there are 11 photo-etched metal parts on one fret.

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Thumbnail panels:

The detail for the panel lines on the parts is quite sharp and with each new kit release Kinetic seems to improve with the sharpness of the detail.  The cockpit detail is quite good with raised detail on the cockpit side panels and instrument panels.  The raised detail should make it easy to paint and highlight the raised detail.  The detail for the ejection seats is one area that I will refer some criticism to.  There is no harness detail at all for the seats and the overall seat detail is very low.

The wheel wells and speed brake wells have very good detail as do the inside of the wheel well doors an area that is sometimes neglected by manufacturers.  Full intake trunking right down to the engine compressor face is provided.  Full-length afterburners including the turbine face are also provided.

The wings have positional leading edge and trailing edge flaps so they may be posed in the lowered or streamlined position. Separate speed brakes are provided, which may be displayed in either the open or closed position.  The canopy can be positioned open or closed and two boarding ladders are provided.

The undercarriage detail is very good and rounded off with split tyres that trap the wheel hubs which allows for more accurate and easier painting.

The modest photo-etched fret mainly comprises parts for the strip lights.

The transparencies are crystal clear and look easy to mask and paint.

Plenty of stores are provided to be displayed on the seven external stores pylons. 

External stores include:

• 2 x waisted wing tip fuel tanks

• 2 x underwing fuel tanks

• 1 x under fuselage tanks

• 1 x baggage pod

• 2 AIM-9B Sidewinder Missiles

• 2 AIM-9J Sidewinder Missiles

• 2 x Mk82 Bombs

• 2 x rocket pods

Markings

There are 19 schemes for 6 nationalities provided by Kinetic for this kit with the decals perfectly printed by Cartograf and the decals designed by Crossdelta.

The markings supplied are as follows:

1. F-5B number 72-0439 of the 25th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 58th Tactical Training Wing of the USAF in 1973 in the scheme of FS30219 Tan, FS34102 Dark Green and FS34079 Forrest Green upper surfaces and FS36622 Light Grey under surfaces.

2. F-5B number 72-0441 of the 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 58th Tactical Training Wing of the USAF in 1973 in the scheme of overall Silver with a Black anti-glare panel.

3. F-5B number 72-0441 of the 425th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 58th Tactical Training Wing of the USAF based at Williams Air Force Base in 1982 in the scheme of overall FS15450 Air Superiority blue with a Black anti-glare panel.

4. F-5B number 72-0441 of the Inter-American Air Force Academy (IAAFA) of the USAF based at Homestead Air Force Base in 1993 in the scheme of overall FS15450 Air Superiority blue with a Black anti-glare panel

5. F-5B number 65-13074 Ex Skoshi Tiger of the 602nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Wing of the USAF in 1973 in the scheme of FS30219 Tan, FS34102 Dark Green and FS34079 Forrest Green upper surfaces and FS36622 Light Grey under surfaces.

6. CF-5D number 116815 of 419 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 in the wrap around scheme of FS35488 Blue, FS35630 Blue and FS36293 Grey.

7. CF-5D number 116812 of 419 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 in the ghost wrap around scheme of FS35237 Blue, FS36251 Grey and FS36307 Grey.

8. CF-5D number 116809 of 419 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 in the lizard wrap around scheme of FS30118 Field Drab, FS33531 Middle Stone and FS34258 Green.

9. CF-5D number 116817 of 419 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983 in the overall silver scheme with a Black anti-glare panel and red wing tips and tailplanes.

10. NF-5B of the Netherland Air Force in the late 1970s – early 1980s in the scheme of RAL6014 Yellow Olive and RAL7012 Basalt Grey upper surfaces, and RAL7001 Silver Grey under surfaces.

11. NF-5B number K-4002 of the Netherland Air Force in the mid-1980s in the scheme of FS36118 Dark Grey and FS 36320 Grey upper surfaces, and FS36270 Grey under surfaces.

12. NF-5B K-4014 313 Squadron, of the Netherland Air Force in 1984 in the scheme of FS36118 Dark Grey and FS 36320 Grey upper surfaces, and FS36270 Grey under surfaces.

13. F-5B of 718 Squadron of the Royal Norwegian Armed Forces in 1970 in the overall silver scheme with a Black anti-glare panel.

14. F-5B of 718 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in the early 70s in the overall silver scheme with a Black anti-glare panel.

15. F-5B of 718 Squadron of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1970 in the overall silver scheme with a Black anti-glare panel.

16. F-5B number 64-133774 of the Greek Air Force in 1997 in the scheme of FS30219 Tan, FS34102 Dark Green and FS34079 Forrest Green upper surfaces and FS36622 Light Grey under surfaces.

17. F-5B number 64-133774 of the Greek Air Force in 1966 in the overall silver scheme with a Black anti-glare panel.

18. F-5B number 64-133774 of the Greek Air Force in 1998 in the ghost wrap around scheme of FS35237 Blue Grey, FS36251 Grey and FS36307 Grey.

19. F-5B number 13074 of the South Vietnamese Air Force, 522nd Sq, 23 Wing in 1969 in the scheme of FS30219 Tan, FS34102 Dark Green and FS34079 Forrest Green upper surfaces and FS36622 Light Grey under surfaces.

Once again a superb kit from Kinetic Models.  There is very little that I can criticise with this kit except for the detail on the ejection seats, which can be easily fixed with aftermarket detail or resin.

At USD$25.99 it represents great value too!

Big kudos to Kinetic for this excellent kit.

Thanks to Lucky Model for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2014 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2014 by Brett Green
Page Created 4 March, 2014
Last updated 4 March, 2014

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