Hobby Master: 1/72 Northrop RF-5E Tiger II 30085 Model
The Northrop F-5 tactical fighter was designed as an extremely maneuverable,
supersonic
fighter with a high rate of reliability at a low operating cost. The F-5 first
flew on July 30,
1959 with the first customer delivery in 1964. The last of more than
2,600 F-5’s was
produced in 1989 and about two-thirds of these are still in service with
26 countries more
than 4 decades later. The F-5 was manufactured by Northrop Grumman and under
license
in Canada, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain and Switzerland.
In August 1997 the ROCAF began to receive their single-seat RF-5E’s to
replace the aging
RF-104G. Seven low-hour F-5E’s were converted by Singapore Aerospace and
given the
name “Tigergazer”. To accomplish this, existing radar and one M39 cannon
were removed
and the nose extended 8 inches. Six openings were added for the new cameras and
ballast
added between the engine exhausts to balance the additional weight of the new
nose. RF-
5E 5501 serial 83–0085 and formerly F-5E 5315 was assigned to 401st TFW,
12th TRS
“Tigergazer” at Hualien Airbase. On July 1, 1998 401st CW relocated to
Hualien and
Taoyuan Air Base Command was established at Taoyuan and took control of the 8th
TFG.
The 4th TRS was activated under the control of the 8th TFG and took over the
RF-5Es at
Taoyuan.
Features
- 1/72 scale pre-finished.
- Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.
- Professionally painted.
- All markings are pad applied for superb results.
- Crew figure.
- Comes with display stand.
- Landing gear can be displayed up or down.
- Extremely sought after by collectors.