It's a bit late for the Singapore National Day this year, but its still on time for a symbolic submission for Air Force (Singapore) Day (1st Sep). I have always fancied 2 seaters, and usually try buy and build them first before the single seats. However there are some a/c which doesn't come in 2 seats or at least didn't have the chance to reach that stage. One of them is the F-20, of which Singapore considered buying once, but eventually went for the F-16. I have 1 Hase 1/72 F-20 of over 15 years which I built when I was still very early into modelling and of course results aren't impressive.
Soon it was broken up and relegated to the spare parts box (always very handy having things which u think u don't want). Some years later I got a 2nd F-20 trying to build to better standards but during the intervening time decided to experiment on a 2 seater and only eventually started work 6 months back, and have to stop because of health reasons. When I was well enough, I finished the structural modifications: I took out the scrapped F-20 and cut out the cockpit and fitted it as a plug into the new F-20. Flaps were cut and drooped for the a/c to look more menacing, build a refueling probe and AIFF blades . I tot it would be nice to do what was not done b4, having a fictitious F-20T s seater (not unlike the F-5T the RSAF has!) in RSAF colours but I never come around to finding appropriate decals (the closest was perhaps AZTEC's but it wasn't released for quite some time-do they do 1/72?)So I just managed to put on a Lionhead.
Next was the Typhoon 2 seater which I bought as part of my collection, and thought of building it in RSAF colours only relatively recently. Well, for the record, it doesn't mean I'd prefer the RSAF getting the Typhoon, I'd instead prefer the one that "almost" won the Rokaf fighter competition some time back. Again the headache was lack of decals. So dressing was minimal and I hope this posting will hint some decal makers as I intend to put the logos of current RSAF F-5 Sqn markings on them. Mark Goh |
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Photos and text © by Mark Goh