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Mike Licari
7 articles

Hasegawa 1/72 F11F-1 Tiger (short nose)

January 6, 2015 · in Aviation · · 14 · 2.6K

Here's my -1 Tiger with the short nose. The nose is a resin replacement in the kit. All you have to do is cut off the longer nose from the fuselage parts and plug the resin replacement in. Mine fit with just a bit of filler, but I think that was more due to my poor job sawing the original nose off! The short-nose version also does not have the leading edge extensions on the wings, so these need to be cut off as well, which is a simple task.

The last picture shows the short nose and long nose versions side-by-side so you can see the differences. Both kits are fast, easy builds. The long nose version can usually be picked up at your favorite online auction site, but the short-nose version is hard to find.

Reader reactions:
5  Awesome

3 additional images. Click to enlarge.


14 responses

  1. Nice builds...nice photos as well, Mike. I have to say, after seeing the comparison, I'm partial to the long-nose version. Don't ask me why. 🙁

  2. Thanks Craig. And I agree: the long-nose version is just sleeker!

  3. Nice Tiger, a not so often seen bird, thanks for sharing.
    For the Tiger, i am with Craig but having both is very good, makes the collection very special.

  4. Very nice! This is one of the US Navy fighters that begs to be released in 1/48 by Hasegawa, Tamiya or Trumpy/boss!

    • I remember reading that the F-11F was the only fighter that managed to shoot itself down after flying into its own stream of bullets that it had fired! Hope this wasn't just an urban legend! 🙂

    • Well, there is the old Lindberg kit which can build up into a nice bird with a little effort. Yes, a nice one from anyone in 1/48 would be appreciated, but it would probably be a long nose variant.

  5. The models look good, nicely finished and photographed, Mike, and it's interesting to compare the two different versions. I'm with the majority so far in preferring the looks of the long nose, you're right, it just looks sleeker.

  6. Lovely build Mike, looks fine to me.
    Well done mate.

  7. Looking great, Mike. Seeing that this is your first post, welcome onboard iModeler!

  8. Thanks guys! I've lurked/visited this site for a long time so I figured it was time for me to share some of my work!

  9. Mike:
    Welcome!
    I didn't know that there was a short nose conversion, and in the kit.
    Thanks for posing both versions side by side. Great models.
    Favorite aircraft of mine, shame it didn't see longer use, I suspect because it was short legged.
    The Blue Angels flew them, and I did see a show they flew in them, circa 1967, at Pax River.

  10. Good to see these, often forgotten, type's of aircraft.
    Nice builds. Thanks for sharing.

    Regards,
    Dirk
    The Netherlands.

  11. Thanks guys! I like to build models of aircraft that are "off the beaten path" as frequently as possible. I have pictures of a BTD-1 Destroyer I built a few years ago, and am working on a SC Seahawk right now.

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