Subscribed! I’ve been working on this as well. I did the same f5 kit. Finished an esci Kfir as well. In the stash is an f-16n, a4e/f and an f18. What do you plan on building?
(The stick-in-the-mud part of my personality leads me to offer a friendly reminder that it’s the ‘zoomies’ in the USAF that call them ‘aggressors’; the USN/USMC call them ‘adversaries.’ [:D] Not sure which you have in mind; it rocks, either way!)
Specifically, the USAF squadron that is the training squadron for DACM training is/was the 420th “Aggressors” and they fly a variety of aircraft, including, F-5E (Mig-21 flight charateristics), as well as A-4Es, F-16s, and some F-18’s as well. All thse aircraft are used ot train pilots in dissimilar air combat maneuvering (DACM). They were teaching many various grops, and were originally used as Russian aggressor trainers. They spoke Russian (both on the ground and in the air), read Pravda, and even ate Russian foods at time.
The Navy and Air Force took different approaches to DACM. The Navy would send a few aviators per class to Top Gun, who upon completion of the course would return to their squadron and pass on what they had learned. The Air Force rotated whole units thru Red Flag where they would work on integrated strike and CAS packages. So the mud movers had to deal with the Aggressors as well as the escort fighters. CSAR was even factored in to Red Flag.
First off, thanks to everyone for the positive suppoprt. I 'd like to aplogize for the misleading title of this thread. As was pointed out the Navy and Air Force had different names for the Pilot training squadrons: Aggressors/Adversary.
I used the term covering both programs interchangably, so the models will be both Adversary and Aggressor.
This book is the inspiration for these builds:
It has a lot of great color pictures in many camo schemes of both Aversary and Agrressor, even helicopters! I will be relying upon it heavily.
The models I wil be building will be limited to the ones in my stash. Which will also include an F-16 and an A-4. I even have that ESCI K/Fir kit, which will be included too. About that K/Fir, I have a soft spot for Delta winged craft. If remember correctly, I bought that kit after the movie “Iron Eagle” came out.
I’m sure this is going to be fun and will run as long as it takes to get these done. Well, back to the bench.
It is fun to make kits in the “not usual” paint schemes. Agressors are the perfect chance to do so. I don’t know why, but I fully intend to do an A-4 in this Mig 17 scheme. Definately catches the eye.
Here’s an update on the F5-F. Cockpit is done and all the major fuselage parts added…
some seam filling and sanding, typical Monogram. I decided that since this wasn’t a “combat” aircraft, I chose to omit the armement pylons with the exception of the center line fuel tank. Here I filled in the attachment points on the model…
Here are the decals I will be using for this build and the F5-E. The “F” will get the “snake” paint scheme and the “old Ghost” for the F-5E…
Now I’m waiting on my paint order to arrive, then I will get to masking and spraying.
That’s coming along great. Very wise to opt for no plylons or ordnance. At most, aggressor aircraft may carry a drop tank, aside from a captive inert missile and ACMI pod on the wingtip missile rails.