FCM 72046: F-5B/E/F

One of the many nations to operate the F-5, Brazil has been one of the largest and longest users of the type. Initially getting F-5Es, it ordered some F-5Bs for training before getting the F-5F version. This particular sheet has about 14 different markings options, covering the time period of 1985 to 2002. From the look of things, none of these are the later F-5EM versions, so you should be able to reproduce these using the base kit. Note that some of these have the additional dorsal fin filet and an air refueling probe. These will also have the larger upper fuselage radio antenna. To my knowledge, there is no upgrade set for these items so you'll have to do a bit of scratch-building to properly duplicate these planes.

As I mentioned, this covers a considerable period of time and so you have a number of camouflage options available from the simple to the more complex. I have not shown all of them, but the above gives a good idea of what is available.

For kits, most of us will head to the ESCI kit on the F-5B and the still very nice Italeri kit for the F-5E/F, though there are others now available for the Tiger II. The decals are superbly printed by Microscale and you get FCM's great markings instructions, now printed on higher quality paper.

 June 2018

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