Four jets come to mind to me in sales to other countries. The four that I can think of are the Mig 21, F-5, F-16, and the Phabulous Phantom. Tiger33
Take no noice of all of the above [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Its the F-4 Phantom , us Brits Used the FGR Phantom ( F4K orM)
and we also used the F4J(UK)
Thanks guys – I’m surprised the B-52 doesn’t have more advocates! What other jet aircraft has a rock band named after it? [(-D] Possibly more than any other aircraft – maybe even more than any other weapons system – the B-52 has been the US big stick in its post-war geopolitics.
As you will all note, the Phantom was on my short list too. A truly remarkable and famous aircraft. F86 and MiG-21 seem to be tied for 2nd place finish here, with the A-10 (!!!) as third.
Keep it coming! What, no Foxbat? [;)]
If it’s to be the Phantom, I might invest in one of those Tamiya monstrosities.
I think the MiG 21 is a good example of the form and function in the post WWII era. Altough is not a 'fancy-nice" plane as american jet fighters, it is still being used around the globe almost half century it was conceived and flown for the first time. I’d pick up that plane.
Francisco
And don’t forget the cocktail, a bit on the sweet side but tasty…[D)]
The F4 (any variant) was the first that came to mind, but what about the B52? Instantly recognisable, and with a longer service life than the F4 (AFAIK)
Tom
I would have to say the A-10, but I have always been drawn to the ruggedness of it. But the Phantom would have to be my second choice. Bryan
Ah…a Skunk Works spyplane has a rock band named after it…their singer is Bono…
Larry Dunn…are you dead set on 1/32 scale? You may want to read Scott Craig’s review of Tamiya’s 1/32 F-4E…(Scott goes by MusicCity here)
http://www.craigcentral.com/models/default.asp
What about 1/48? Hasegawa makes an EXCELLENT F-4, particularly their F-4E.
Add another Fishbed vote.
The MiG-21 was the first to come to my mind when I read the question. Among the reasons:
Most produced post war jet fighter (including non Soviet built ones and the Chinese J-7 Skybolt series)
Still in significant service nearly 50 years after its initial conception and design.
Proven combat record.
Loved by its pilots
Respected by its adversaries.
The Czech Republic will soon be getting rid of the last of its MiG-21s. I was fortunate enough to be at an airshow back in September and saw a two ship of Fishbeds shoot over in full afterburner to open the show. A sight not to be forgotten.
Some things get old and some things that get old become legends.
The MiG-21is, beyond any doubt or argument, a legend.
No, not at all, in fact, smaller would be better. It all depends on what aircraft, though. No 1/32 scale B-52s for me! [:p]
Thanks for the link – I’ll take a look at the website.
(Looks.)
Beautiful job! 290 hours? Eeegah, sounds like the amount of time carving my Mack NO prime mover out of the block of resin it came in! [(-D] I’d rather spend around twenty hours.
I’ll vote for B-52, I am a big plane lover anyway. However, since the aliens will be presented with this aircraft of yours, you may want to think about the B-2. They will probably relate to it better, and us knowing their technology is better than ours, might think we have better technology than we actually do, and might be a little less apt to take us out.[:D]. But, if you aren’t wanting to show them our best technology then I would use the F9F Tigercat.[:o)]. lol
Good luck!!
I would choose the F-4.
On the Mig 21: It’s kinda like the AK-47 of fighter jets. It’s reliable, cheap, was developed in Russia, and is now used everywhere. It’s a nice plane, but if you want something that most people would agree, “Looks Good”, I’d go with the Phantom. Good luck.
wetmonkey
For me, THE military a.c. during the period in question has just gotta be the Rhino. It has served in multiple capacities for multiple nations and typifies the big, brutal, increasingly sophisticated aura of its time. It also has a certain personal appeal; the E-model was still the hot ticket when the Air Force was putting me through college. I couldn’t wait to strap on a slatted, slotted '4E and kill MiGs like my dad did in Korea. Never got the chance as things turned out.( We weren’t feuding with anyone by the time I graduated.) I still have great memories of sitting with the other cadets by the runways at Homestead AFB & watching the mighty Phantoms thunder down the runway & kick in the ‘burners. My intended prey, the Russkies’ ubiquitous MiG-21, is for sure a close second.
I have to say the F-4E. All the things stated above are true. It is what inspired the F-15E. The Air Forced learned from the F-4E that an Air Superiority fighter could play the air-to-mud role and still be an effective fighter. Although surpassed by other jets now, the Germans can still outfly a lot of people with their F-4F’s and I have been told by more than Luftwaffe pilot that they would rather go to war with their F-4’s than their Migs.
Plus, look at my sig picture [:)]
This is redundant but I see no other contender for quintessential-F-4E Rhino.
Weeell, if it came down purely to a duel of the kits, which aircraft has just the flat-out best kit in 1/48th – the F4E or the MiG-21?
For the 1/48 MiG-21, you can do the Academy kit, its a nice one, but with the drawbacks that come with Academy decals. Kopro makes a 1/48 MiG-21 as well, but its older and more challenging.
As for the F-4E, you’ve got plenty of choices. Revell-Monogram recently reboxed Hasegawa’s unslatted F-4E for their Pro Modeler line.(The FSM Review should be archived on this site) Italeri also has a 1/48 F-4E on the Market right now, but I don’t know much about it, it could be a rebox of old Esci molds.
Hasegawa did a whole line of 1/48 Phantoms and they are said to be the best 1/48 Phantom kits out there.
If you want to scale down to 1/72, Check out Revell Germany’s new MiG-21 F-13 kit. She’s gorgeous and an early version (which I think are more attractive than the later beefed up versions) Bilek also has a few different 1/72 MiG-21 kits, but they do take quite a bit of work to get right.
in the mid 80’s I built a Fujimi 1/72 F-4E in ANG markings (actually the 30th Anniversary Phantom of the Missouri ANG) and I wouldn’t complain a bit about it.
Looking forward to seeing the finished kit of whatever you chose.
If the true intention is to tell the aliens our aviation history with one modell, from 1946 to 2005, well:
Then I think a pretty old model, that has modern sleek lines for it’s time, should be okay.
Jet engines: Yes
Supermodern: No
What I come up with is the Gloster Meteor or Hawker Hunter, preferring the latter.
If you would like to tell the aliens about our guided missiles (don’t explain our technology! unless you can exchange it for the hyper-rays), a few years later might be okay. A4-Skyhawk then?
Mig21 seems an okay option aswell, but what will they think if we make an example of earth with a communist aircraft? It won’t better the trade with them, I reccon…
Someone already pointed out those four Irishmen with the lead vocalist who has a hard time counting (uno, dos, tres, catorce(!))
But there’s also a band out there with the name “SR71” and I just saw on iTunes the other day a band with the name “Bell X1” (okay, so not a jet, but still had a band named after it).
Oh, and to the topic at hand - Rhino!
Thanks. I’m surprised that Hasegawa doesn’t make a good MiG-21 kit.