Revell (Esci) 1/72 F-5A Freedom Fighter
Hellenic Air Force (HAF), started receiving the F-5A in 1965.
Hellenic Freedom Fighters offered their services for 36 years, including their later use as “introductory planes” for F-16 and Mirage 2000 pilots, clocking a whopping 364,647 flight hours, while 23 memorable pilots lost their lives flying with them. The type was withdrawn from HAF in 2001.
Taking into account that, at least upon delivery, only Greek insignia and codes were painted over the previous ones, it is no surprise that HAF F-5s sported a variety of camos, ranging from “NMF”, to SEA, Asia Minor, Aegean Blue, Dutch Gray Blue, Norwegian Gray and Aegean Ghost, deeming the specific subject a modeler's haven!
As for the type itself, little can be said than hasn't been said: small, highly aerodynamic and a potent performer, offering low costs, ease of maintenance and great versatility, this very successful plane loudly proved that, at times, less is more.
This is the 1986 Revell reboxing of the original 1983 ESCI mold, which, by all means, is a nice kit that can solidly hold its own today.
https://modelingmadness.com/review/viet/us/usaf/fighters/pen5.htm
Happy Modelling!
This Freedom Fighter turned out wonderful, Spiros @fiveten
A very elegant early jet which is clearly shown in this NMF scheme.
This oldie definitely deserved your skills to be turned into this beauty.
Glad you liked it.
Thanks for liking it and thanks again for tour wonderful present, my friend @johnb!
Excellent final result Spiros(@fiveten). I too enjoy building older classic kits in addition to the more modern stuff. Always good to challenge ourselves to improve and older kits are the perfect medium for that.
Thanks so much, my friend @clipper!
Nice work Spiros!
Thanks a lot, my friend @rickshad
Very nice Spiros! The F-5 is such a pleasing aircraft.
Thank you very much, my friend @thevid!
They are beautiful aircraft and so is your model, Spiros! 👍 Great job here, my friend! 🤩
Thank you so much, my friend @garybrantley!
Nice and different
Thanks m friend @blackadder57!
Excellent Tiger, Spiros.
That’s a splendid kit - good enough for Wolfpack to use the molds even though they are from the ‘80s.
Great MM post also, my friend.
Thank you very much, my friend @georgeswork!
Oops…
I said ‘Tiger’ when it should be ‘Freedom Fighter’ as your title, as it is an F-5A
Well, it's nevertheless a Tiger, my friend @georgeswork!
What a nice piece of work - a lovely little aircraft. Did you encounter them 'in the flesh' during your career?
Thank you kindly, my friend @christopher! Yes, the plane was still active during my first air force years!
Built this one years ago. Great to see a fresh take on it. Well done Spiros!
Thank you very much, my friend @bapowellphys!
Nicely done Spiros, I love it in the silver paint scheme.
Thanks a lot, my friend @v1pro!
Another beautiful model from your works. I like the planes in the Greek livery. Techmod offers an Ansaldo A1 Ballila in a Greek livery and I'm thinking of building in that livery.
Thanks so much, my friend @milantesar!
Ah, yes! The Ballila! Such a great modeling subject. Looking forward to see it in Greek livery tackled by your excellent skills!
Love the sleek look of the F-5 (and the T-38, which my dad flew as an IP), and this one looks great in Hellenic colors. Well done!
Thanks so much, my friend @gkittinger!
Nice looking build, Spiros
Thank you kindly, my friend @gwskat!