1/72 YF-17 Cobra

[Vingtor]

When I published photos of my finished YF-16 prototype model a couple of weeks ago, I included my YF-17 model on one of the photos. Here are some more photos of the model.

The model was built some 16-17 years ago. Five modellers, I think, three in Norway, one in UK and one in US, from the rec.models.scale news group (anyone who remembers this?) had a common interest in the subject and we founded the "Cobra Club" to exchange information and modelling experience. Eventually two models were finished, both in 1/72 scale.

I based my model on the ESCI F-18 kit. The main modifications from the kit were:

• Fuselage spine removed, and replaced with a slimmer one.
  
• Rear lower fuselage contours changed, the F-18 "box" shape was rounded off.
  
• New wheel wells and undercarriage.
  
• A sleeker nose.
  
• Smaller LEX strakes.
  
• Slightly smaller wings. Re-scribed panel lines. The wings were moved a few millimeters forward on the fuselage.
  
• New horizontal stabilizers made from sheet styrene.
  
• Re-shaped fins.
  
• New vacuformed canopy.
  
• Decals from various sources. The Northrop Cobra logo was printed on clear decal film using a photo copier.
  

I finished the model in promotion colours and markings for the "CF-18L" that Northrop offered to Canada. The Canadians decided on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B instead.

Unfortunately, some of the photos are a bit out of focus.

Nils

Edited December 16, 2012 by Vingtor

[Vingtor]

Oh, I forgot. An article on this model was published in the July 1998 issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling (Vol.20 No.5).

Nils

[Parabat]

Aha! Finally we see this Cobra in all its glory. Superb model, it somehow looks faster than the Hornet!

[jimbuna]

Very nice.

[russ c]

Cool, Nice work !!

[heloman1]

Hi Nils. nice model you showed us there. I rather liked the Northrop ship it had a sort of F-105 look about it. It's a pity it wentt he way it did I think it lost some of it's sleak looks of a next generation F-5 fighter.

Colin

[bunnylurve]

Nils, that's so nice. Props!

[John B]

Fantastic work!

[Giorgio N]

It's a beauty Nils !

Not only it's a beautiful model, but the article you wrote has long been in my library and I'd love one day to try and build one the same way you did.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Giorgio N

[Plasticbutcher]