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Korean Aircraft Industries T-50 in 1/72 scale: building the Academy kit
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Another few models were assembled as described on page 1 with also the modifications [1]...[6] and included the landing gear.
PHILIPPINES
The second model was made as a FA-50PH of the Philippines Air Force. Some 10 FA-5-PH were delivered starting end 2015 and have the codes -001 ... 010. The jets have the gun nozzle/ fairing.
Besides the 5 mm lengthened wing tip missile rails, four pylons were fitted. These were found in the F-16 spares box but sanded flat (without bomb braces). The pylons were fitted on the inboard stations, some 32 mm from the center line and outboard stations 47 mm from the centerline.
The FA-50 model colours were to my unknown so I asked on Britmodeller forum. Some photos were looked at and it was suggested that the scheme is similar to the USAF Mod Eagle scheme with Fed.Std FS36251 and a pattern on the upper surfaces of FS36176.
I prefer Gunze Sangyo Mr Hobby acrylic paints but these FS colours are unavailable. I checked my official US Federal Standard colours deck and settled with:
FS36251 can be suggested with 90% 36231 + 10% white, mixing Gunze H317 and 10% white H1 making it lighter;
FS36176 can be suggested with 90% 36270 + 10% black, so mixing Gunze H306 and 10% black H2 making it darker.
Not only the model was airbrushed but also some plain decals on sheets in case small repairs were needed.
The Philippine decals came from the home designed decals looking at photos and OKI laser printed by a Third Party.
Note also the low visibility strip lights. The anti-collision lights were painted red and blue such as on the missile rails.
The landing gear and bays were brush painted gloss white. Wheel tyres were painted a mix of dark grey and black with white hubs.
Cockpit interior was painted mainly FS36231 grey for which Gunze Sangyo H317 can be used with black ejection seats as per kit. Harnesses were made from fine painted tape.
The canopy was hand painted with a fine brush. A black inside edge was applied with a permanent marker.
The canopy will be set open with a raised actuator/ bar made from a metal needle. Amidst the canopy a cross frame aft of the forward seat was made for the actuator. Inside the canopy frame, small locks were added from very thin stretched sprue. Inside the canopy frame, small locks were added from very thin stretched sprue and two small mirrors in the front frame and one in the mid frame from scrap.
Sidewinder missiles were added on the wing tips and the central fuel tank. On the fin top a clear light was added from a transparant bit. Small temperature probes and a pitot were made and added on the nose.
Many static dischargers were added and the final finish was a semi-gloss varnish.
PHILIPPINES
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[area: approx 300,000 km2 with many islands | capital: Manila | population: 107 million | GDP 3,500 USD per capita nominal ]
Some 10 FA-50PH were delivered starting end 2015 and have the codes -001 ... 010 flying with the 7th TFS "Bulldogs" of the 5th Fighter Wing. They are flown from Pampanga.
For more information about the Phillipine air force look at my F-5 page here...
... FA-50PH at Clark AFB, Phillipines....
INDONESIA The third model was made as a T-50i of the Indonesia Air Force.
I opted to make the unarmed T-50i model in the special blue-yellow scheme of the Indonesia Aerobatic Display "Elang Biru" / "Blue Eagle" Team.
The model was first assembled as described on page 1 but without the gun nozzle/ fairing. It also got a landing gear but no pylons. The wing tip missile rails were lengthened 5 mm with bits from F-16 spares rails.
The blue colour seems to be about FS15090 and the yellow about FS13591. For the blue Gunze Sangyo Mr Hobby H5 was airbrushed overall and the yellow swirls will be made with the decals.
The decals for the aerobatic display team had to be home designed which took a lot of effort, styding various photos. A photo and draw editor was needed.
I made for home use and a friend that also wanted decals drawings for the scheme and an "instructions" are seen here:
The custom designed decals were printed with an OKI laserprinter that also can print white and this is essential for the yellow patterns.
UPDATE: here you see 1 sheet. I later made an extra sheet with white patterns to put underneath the yellow for even better coverage.
If you are interested in a decal sheet, look at my special decal page here....
Note that the blue overall jet has yellow swirls in a pattern and I could not fully see all angles. The yellow pattern on the lower horizontal stabilizers had to "guestimated".
The decals were applied. They are on a single clear film so each needed to be cut out with fine scissors.
The landing gear and bays were brush painted gloss white. Oleos were painted silver and wheel tyres a mix of dark grey and black with white hubs.
Cockpit interior was brush painted mainly FS36231 grey for which Gunze Sangyo H317 can be used with black ejection seats.
The canopy was hand painted with a fine brush with a black inside edge applied with a permanent marker. Amidst the canopy a cross frame was made for the actuator. (not seen yet above). Inside the canopy frame, small locks were added from very thin stretched sprue. With inside two small mirrors in the front frame and one in the mid frame from scrap.
Final smaller details like static dischargers, probes and pitot were made as described earlier above. The anti-collision lights were painted red and blue. On the fin top a clear light was added from a transparant bit.
A gloss varnish coat was airbrushed with Johnson Future/ Pledge.
INDONESIA
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[ 1,900,000 sq.km on thousands of island | population > 270 million with some 700 local languages | Capital: Jakarta | GDP US 4,000 per capita ]
Indonesia was the first T-50 export customer. Some 16 T-50i were delivered starting September 2013 and have the codes TT-5001... TT-5016 flying with SkU 15. The trainer jets do not have the gun nozzle/ fairing, but in 2018 some were fitted with a radar and gun. Some 6 additional aircraft will be delivered in October 2024. The jets fly with SkU 15 "Topan" at Madiun/ Iswahyudi. They fly also in the special blue-yellow scheme with the Indonesia Aerobatics Elang Biru team.
For more information about the Indonesian air force look at my F-16 page here...
"Elang Biru" / "Blue Eagle" team T-50
... model set on the tarmac with the standard camouflaged T-50i jets in the background...
Nice new jet models completed in the World Air Forces in Plastic collection.
UPDATE: here you see 1 sheet. I later made an extra sheet with white patterns to put underneath the yellow for even better coverage.
If you are interested in a decal sheet, look at my special decal page here....
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Created this page Sept 30, 2022