Decal Manufacturer: Matterhorn Circle Decals

 

Title:  Peace Alps – Part Two

 

          F-5E/F Tiger II

 

Ref: MC72018

 

Scale: 1/72

 

Decals: This superb set of six sheets contain decals for a large number of schemes applied to the hundred and ten Swiss Air Force (SwiAF) Schweizer Luftwaffe Northrop F-5E Tiger II and F-5F Tiger II aircraft that served and still serve with the SwiAF across the forty years their service life, including the first F-5 to see service as well as a number of special commemorative and anniversary schemes as listed below.

The first batch of F-5 Tigers were delivered, which can be depicted by the decals, (serials J-3001 to J-3066 and J-3201 to J-3206) did not have the extended Leading Edge Wing Extensions (LERX) or the aerodynamically more streamlined shark shaped radar nose cones. The second batch (serials J-3067 to J-3098 and J-3207 to J-3212) delivered from 1982 onwards, were built from new with the LERX and the improved nose cone, again can be depicted by the decals.

As is the tradition, the last aircraft off the production line received special nose art, serial J-3066 became Peace Alps I and featured artwork of a ‘flying dove’ while serial J-3098 had the Peace Alps II titles above a artwork of a ‘flying witch’, both depicted by the decal.

Specific aircraft featured on the decal sheets include the following:

Serial J-3001 / L1001 which was built by Northrop in December 1977 and tested at Edwards Air Force Training Centre (AFTC) from April to October 1978. This was the first F-5E Tiger II delivered to Switzerland on 19th October 1978. Until 1997 she was operated by the Gruppe für Rüstungsdienste (GRD) later RUAG as a Test and System/Weapons evaluation aircraft.

Serial J-3003 with the 'Sinacat' titles from 17th August 2001 finished in the striking Tiger scheme.

Serial J-3004 based at Interlaken at the end of 2001 finished in a scheme to celebrate the last F-5 Tiger Overhaul and a scheme from 2003 to commemorate the closure of Interlaken Air Base (AB).

Serial J-3030 as seen in October 2017 and has been badly zapped by the maintenance crews who celebrated the last F-5 Wiederholungs Kurs' (refreshed F-5s) serving with Fliegerstaffel 8 (FlSt 8) 8 Squadron (Sqn) featuring the FlSt 8 ‘Shark’ unit markings.

Serial J-3038 serving with FlSt 19 finished in a 75th Anniversary scheme.

Serial J-3066 was the last F-5E ordered by the Swiss Parliament in 1976 under the 'Peace Alps' programme. Its first flight took place on 13th March 1981 and the aircraft carried the Peace Alps I badge on the nose surfaces until 1999.

Serial J-3074 zapped on the event to commemorate the closure of Buochs AB in April 2003.

Serial J-3098 serving with FlSt 19 with the unit badge on the nose from 1996 when it took participated at the NORKA Exercise. This badge was replaced with the Flugplatz Kommando 13 shield in 2012 was the last F-5E ordered as part of the Peace Alps II programme.

Serial J-3207 was a F-5F serving with the Überwachungsgeschwader.

Serial J-3212 was a the last F-5F delivered to the SwiAF.

Also includes three detailed double sided A4 colour placement guide showing side, upper and lower profiles as well as images of the aircraft.

 

Condition: mint