Northrop NF-5

History

Text about the development.

Versions.

Text about version.

Information about Dutch aircraft.

Northrop NF-5A K3040, photographed at the Static Show at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, September 1981 at air base Soesterberg.

Northrop NF-5B K-4017, photographed at the Static Show at the Open Day Dutch Air Force, September 1984 at air base Soesterberg.

Video's Northrop NF-5 RNlAF

Serial overview Northrop NF-5A and Northrop NF-5B

Serial overview Northrop NF-5A

Serial overview Northrop NF-5B

Of the Northrop F-5 quite a few different models are available. Most of these kits are of a different type F-5 than the NF-5, which differs at some points of the F-5.
In fact, the only correct models are those of ESCI / Revell / Italeri.
In the scale 1/48 as far as I know, no models of the NF-5 are issued. You may convert an existing model of an F-5A/B.

1/72nd Scale

Kits

• Airfix
  • Kit 123 / 01043 / A50081: Northrop F-5A, missing several items of the NF-5, such as tip tanks and nose gear.
• ESCI
  • Kit 9032: a (N)F-5A kit.
  • Kit 9038 : a RF-5
    • Both kits 9032 and 9038 were released early eighties and are based on the same moulds. With both kits one is able to built a quite good and adequate model of the NF-5A. Both are equipped with two types nose gear, two adequate tip tanks, one centreline tank and two underwing 150 gallon tanks and also two sidewinders. Paul Gols mentions some minor shortcomings in MIP nr. 1, 1986, such as the hinges of the canopy, the incorrect location of the passive ECM on the vertical stabilizer and the lamps are to large.
      • Check building of a model of the NF-5 by M. De Vreeze for more information.
  • Kit 9035 A NF-5B.
• Hasegawa
  • kit number AO16:250;N is also a model of the original F-5, though this kit has decals for an aircraft of the RNLAF, but the tip-tanks are not correct, you'd better replace them with those from the Hasegawa T-38 Talon model.
• Italeri
  • Kit 1275 this is the same kit as the ESCI NF-5B kit.
  • Kit 1241: this is the former ESCI kit no 9032
• Matchbox
  • Kit PK-16: A Northrop F-5A; it has the same shortcomings as the hasegawa kit, though the tiptanks are better.
  • Kit PK-39: A Northrop F-5B; same kit as PK-16, with extra parts.
• Pioneer
  • Kit PM203: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
• Revell
  • Kit 4343 a release dated in 1986 of originally ESCI kit 9032. This kit was equipped with decals for an aircraft painted in the first display scheme. The blue colour on the decals is to light of shade. Some years ago Revell re-released on of the former ESCI kits
  • Kit 4314: The same as the former NF-5B kit of ESCI
• Wolfpack
  • Kit 17201: Northrop F5A ''Freedom Fighter'' (ex ESCI)
  • Kit 17203: Northrop F5A ''Skoshi Tiger'' (ex ESCI)

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from Superscale and the kit.

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the last overall grey colour scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from the kit and of Dutch Decal set 72010 and 72016.

A model of the Northrop NF-5B in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from several sets from Superscale and the kit.

A model of the Northrop NF-5A in the default delivery scheme.
The kit used is the ESCI kit; the decals used come from the kit and Dutch Decal set 72010 and 72016.

A model of a Northrop NF-5B, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.

A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI kit, built by Adri Kleijn.

A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.

A model of a Northrop NF-5A, the ESCI model, built by Adri Kleijn.

Modelling add-on

Many sets are intended for a Northrop F-5A/B/E and not specific to an NF-5A / B
Parts of these sets might be useful for the NF-5.

• Aeroclub
  • Set V163: Northrop F5A/B Undercarriage
• Eduard
  • Set SS168: Detail-set F5E Tiger (Italeri)
• Flight Path
  • Set 72-126 / 72-126B: European Air Force Access Ladder Set (Macchi 326,G91, F5) / F5 Freedom Fighter/T38 Talon.
• Model Technologies
  • Set MT0058: F5E,F/F20/X29 Canopy Detail Set
• True Details
  • Set 72404: Northrop F5-T38 Ejection Seat

Decals

• Allmark
  • set S6: a set representing the 'Double Dutch'-team in 1988. The set offers two versions, the early scheme, without the "Double Dutch" badge on the fuselage and the later scheme. Decals for 5 x NF-5A's of the 'Double Dutch'-team are provided, K-3012, K-3014, K-3042, K-3054 en K-3072.
• Modeldecal
  • Set no 97: the same subject as Allmark S6
  • Set no 30: provides decals for an Dutch NF-5 in original standard colour-scheme.
• Dutch Decal
  • Set 72010: provide decals for Dutch NF-5's.
  • Set 72016: provide decals for Dutch NF-5's.
  • Set Dutch museum planes 2: provide decals for Dutch museum planes such as Seahawk FGA50, Sikorsky S58, NF5B, Do24.
  • Set72080: Dutch Jets (Meteor F MK4/8, Lockheed T33, NF5A/B).
  • Set72081: Serial and registrations KLu Meteor F MK4/T7/ F Mk8, Lockheed F104G/TF104G, NF5A/B, F16A/B).
• Super Scale set
  • Set no 72-135: provides decals for an Dutch NF-5 in original standard colour-scheme.

1/48th Scale

Kits

• Tanmodel - Tigerhobbies
  • Kit 48002: Northrop F5C Skoshi Tiger
  • Kit 48001: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
• Testors
  • Kit 7521: Northrop F5A Freedom Fighter
• Kinetic Model Kits
  • Kit K-48021: Northrop F5B Freedom Fighter

Modelling add-on

• Scale Aircraft Conversions
  • Set 48193: Northrop F5A, CF5a, NF5A Landing gear (Kinetic)
• Eduard
  • Set E49-619 / FE619: Detailset Northrop F5A Interior Self Adhesive (Kinetic)
  • Set E48-750: Detailset Northrop F5A Exterior (Kinetic)

Decals

• Dutch Decal
  • Set 48045: F86K Kaasjager and NF5A/B (KLu).

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Northrop NF-5A

Northrop NF-5A K-3003 in the three tone camouflage pattern at delivery.

Northrop NF-5As in the three tone camouflage pattern.

Northrop NF-5A K-3061 in the three tone camouflage pattern applied to some aircraft from about mid 1983.
The original RAL colours are replaced with the Federal Standard colours as applied on the General Dynamics F-16. Aircraft stencilling remained unchanged.

Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a third colour schema, the so called F-16 scheme; aircraft stencilling and colours remained unchanged.

Northrop NF-5A K-3028 in a variant of the third colour scheme. The serial has been moved from the nose to the tail in its original size.

Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a variant of the third colour scheme. A fake cockpit has been added to the underside of the nose.

Northrop NF-5A K-3058 in a variant of the third colour scheme.The serial has been applied on the tail in smaller size. Soon the stencilling was replaced with a toned down version.

Northrop NF-5A in the two tone camouflage as applied from about mid eighties.

Northrop NF-5A in the two tone camouflage as applied from about mid eighties and in the so called QRA configuration, because not enough F-16s were available to accomplish this task.

Northrop NF-5A K-3062: Special scheme because of conversion of 314 squadron from NF-5 to F-16.

Northrop NF-5K-3045: 1988 Special scheme because of conversion of 313 squadron from NF-5 to F-16 and the Dutch Championship Football 1988.

Northrop NF-5B

Northrop NF-5B K-4003 in the three tone camouflage at delivery.

Northrop NF-5Bs in the three tone camouflage.

Northrop NF-5A K-4014 in a three tone camouflage pattern as applied from 1983. The original RAL colours have been replaced with the Federal Standard colours as used on the General Dynamics F-16. The stencilling was unchanged.

Northrop NF-5B K-4012 in the second test camouflage scheme, the so called F-16 scheme combined with toned down stencilling.

Northrop NF-5B K-4009 in the two tone standard camouflage as applied from about mid eighties.

Literature.

Websites.

• NF5.nl
• Strijdbewijs.nl; Northrop NF-5
• Northrop NF-5
• Scramble.nl: Northrop NF-5
• Photo's Northrop NF-5A on Airliners.net

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