I would build a F-117 out of the usual black.
In 1994 the USAF tested a F-117 with an experimental two (or three?) tone camouflage.
I made various researches in internet to find some photos of this F-117 to see how is applied the camouflage. The only photos found show the F-117 taken from the ground so the only visible side is the upper fuselage.
So, someone know if is there around a source for photos or drawings on that gray Stealth?
Thanks.
That was the Have Blue, not a F-117 The Have Blue was a Prototype to the F-117.
The Air Force is trying another experiment to see if the F-117 can be used during daylight raids. Holloman AFB has painted at least 1 Nighthawk in lo-vis gray to try this test.
Here is the link to the AF webpage: http://www.af.mil/photos/index.asp?galleryID=27
Mike
Cool new info!!
this is the better source found by me, at the present, on the Gray F-117:
I picked up the revell offering about two weeks ago and they give a pretty good history of the F-117/Have Blue, plus the markings are for the gray aircraft. I know for a fact the instruction sheet is for a gray aircraft.
That’s actually one of the FSD aircraft as it has the smaller tail (production F-117s had larger tails).
One of the two Have Blue prototypes was overall gray and the other one was in a three tone disruptive camouflage to hide it’s shape from Soviet satellites.
When the F-117 was first built, one of the FSD aircraft did indeed carry a three-tone distruptive scheme like the Have Blue’s to hide it’s shape and another FSD wore an overall gray scheme. Lockheed wanted to paint the F-117s gray since that actually offers better camouflage at night than black, but the Air Force said no.
F-117s 79-01782 and 79-01783 are FSD and were operated out of Edwards AFB
http://home.earthlink.net/~stealth_aircraft_photos/id9.html
782 is all-black and has flown with a special flag paint scheme underneath
So while all service F-117s are black, however 783 did fly with a version of the ModEagle scheme a few years ago and one of the Holloman F-117s was pointed in a similar scheme two years ago. The Air Force wass studying whether the F-117 stealth fighter is suitable for daylight operations. It wass repainted in a gray paint scheme, common to other fighters, to conduct tests that will determine whether the F-117 can be part of a “24-hour stealth presence over future battlefields. Basically, the Air Force was trying to squeeze out every last bit of value from the type.
Holloman’s “Gray Dragon:”
Then there’s this one…
I don’t know 795s story, but that could just be primer. Looks cool though.
From the info I’ve seen & read the AF is going ahead with the Ghost Scheme on the Nighthawk, because black is not as good as grey for camoflange even at night grey is far better, here’s something to think about the human eye only recognize up to 60 different shades of grey but most military aircraft are painted in those shades that the eye’s have a hard time trying to recognize them, so why have a black jet flying around during daylight hours? when you have grey jets flying in the dark of night without being seen anyways
That applies to night as well. A black aircraft can still stand out against the dark sky, especially if there are clouds or the moon is out. Gray is the way to go and why the F-15E, B-2, B-1B and B-52 are all dark gray.
Although after the recent proposal to retire 10 F-117s next year and the rest by the end of 2008, I’m suprised that they’d go through with that?
BTW - Somewhere at the house (probably down in the Batcave) I’ve got a magazine article about the Gray Dragon with some good pix in it. I’ll keep an eye out for it.
A really strange decision! Maybe the F-117 has in the his structure some material that degrade fast?
Thanks for this!
No, nothing that degrades fast. It’s been at least 23 years now since the F-117 became operational. That means that by the time the last one departs for whatever museum it’s going to, it’ll be at least 25 years old. It’s old stealth technology, operating costs are increasing and despite efforts to integrate it into daylight operations, has several limitations (ex. - subsonic, inability to defend itself, etc). The F-22 and F-35 will replace it in service although no official announcements have been made as to what Holloman will get to replace the -117. Other operations (such as the AC-130) have been discussed as being moved to Holloman.
Very interesting subject guys!.. I have just purchased the 1/48 Tamiya F-117A, and I have wanted to build it in the black… I guess, even though it really is not a very relevant platform now with the Rapter and co on its way. For me, this was the most unique aircraft in 100 years of aviation, and should be displayed as the black angel of death, that it was designed to be!
Chris
Hey Chris;
buy the Revellograms -117 and paint it grey and build the Tamiya’s black, then you’ll have both schemes but the one you like the most will be the better kit
Big news from TwoBobs this past weekend concerning Gray F-117s. He’s going to release a set of decals for them and you know the colors and color guide will be spot on!
72-055 F-117A Shades of Gray Bandits
48-120 F/A-18C VFA-131 Wildcats (Blue and Red CAG jets)
48-121 F/A-18C VMFAT-101 SH*% Hot Sharpshooters #2
48-122 F-16C Freedom and Unity Falcons (Green Mountain Boys ANG)
48-123 F-117A Shades of Gray Bandits
48-124 F-22A DT&E Raptors (Developmental Test and Evaluation)
48-125 F-22A OT&E Raptors (Operational Test and Evaluation)
48-126 F-22A First Fighter Raptors (Langley AFB)
OK so let’s pick this list apart. Some are in various stages of completion (I just finished the stencils on the F-22 stuff tonight) and others have yet to be started.
One of the subjects that I’m sure is jumping off this page is the F-117. Some of you might know that I currently work over at BAE in Mojave on the JSF Flying Avionics Testbed. A guy that I work with by the name of Bob Kay is a former 117 driver and a huge airplane nut. He’s currently our project pilot on the QF-4 program and got me connected with some folks over at Holloman AFB with the 49th Fighter Wing.
Well to make a long story short, we got the goods on the two tone gray jet over there along with a “heads up” on a NEW scheme that has yet to be photographed. Evidently the two-tone gray jet has been repainted to overall Gunship Gray!! As soon as my contact over there can get past the change of command stuff going on over there, the Gunship Gray references will be coming our way.
So it’s going to be a busy month over here at Twobobs so stay tuned. One of our “freshest” releases in recent memory and I’m sure these won’t last long once they’re released.
We’re going to aggressively be getting artwork done on these since Twobobs will be relocating in about one months time. I’m trying to lean forward over here and get this artwork out the door to the printers before that happens so the timing works out right with our move. Not moving far guys, just across town so we’ll still be here in lovely SoCal. More info to come when it becomes relevant."
