[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I know 'beauty is as beauty does' and all, but man, the Raptor is just hideous looking, isn't it?....as ungainly looking as the F-117 was (is), at least it was a fascinating sight to behold, but.......yeccccch.. It'll sure be a sad day when the last F-15 touches down at AMARC.

What kind of drugs are you on , Skunk-man? The F-22 is one great looking jet, nicer than the F-15 in any event (which I do consider a pretty good-looking jet in its onwn right)!

The test nose-boom on the FM model does detract from the beauty of the aircraft, which is another reason I'm waiting for a future version to come out.

Well, anyway, you know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder... But I'm curious, what's the opinion out there on how good/bad the Raptor looks? Maybe we should have a poll...

FVD

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by FormerViperDriver

Looks pretty good overall, but I'll wait for them to come out with one that does not have the test pitot boom on the nose, and does not have those silly bombs on the wings (they look like GBU-31 JDAMs to me, but not even accurate at that). Also, hopefully it would have FF, AK, or TY tail codes as on operational aircraft (Langley/1FW, Elmendorf/3FW or Tyndall 325 FW). Finally, it shoud have the current paint scheme on it, which is darker and "shinier" than the one shown here (which is correct for the test birds), and they should try to get the canopy tint (gold) right also. At that point, we have a deal...

FVD

I know what you mean i like the Langley raptors a little better here is a pic i have on my screensaver..These babys are sweet looking.
I like the metallic paint scheme a little better myself.
I 'm still going to get the Franklin Mint one untill they come out with another one...After all it's the only one being made at this time.
JP

[mustangdriver]

We have one of the prototypes in the NMUSAF, and I can say that the real deal is a big aircraft. I saw them fly at Oshkosh last year, and they were just amazing.

[aeroeng]

Thanks for the nice pictures Mark. Looks pretty cool. Shouldn't there be a little more cockpit detail (like different colors)? I'll probably hold off on getting one till they have a couple different ones to choose from.

[FormerViperDriver]

Starman, your pictures reminded me that the gold tint on the canopy only shows under certain sun angles. But it's there (just as on F-16Cs and such).

I sure like that "metallic" paint as well...

FVD

[STARMAN 352ND]

Just think for a moment here....With the F-16 being a USAF Thunderbird for as long as it has...When they retire her..
Will the USAF Thunderbirds fly these F-22 Raptors in the future ?
JP

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Just think for a moment here....With the F-16 being a USAF Thunderbird for as long as it has...When they retire her..
Will the USAF Thunderbirds fly these F-22 Raptors in the future ?
JP

Starman, I think the chances of that are about zero. Too expensive, and we have too few of them (even though I hope that with Rumsfeld gone, there is now a chance to get more than the 183 currently planned). The plan as I understand it is that eventually, they'll get F-35s, but that will be a long way from now...

FVD

[STARMAN 352ND]

All in all this FM F-22 would be a good one to have because it is after all the test plane.
Maybe next year we will see a updated F-22 by FM that will have the newer paint scheme.
Thanks Viper for the heads up on the F-22.
JP

[FormerViperDriver]

Starman,

Yes, the FM model looks good if you want a test bird. Main reason I'll be waiting (besides what I already mentioned) is that I already have a very fine 1/48 plastic model of the very same ("Raptor 1"), although mine does not have the test boom on the nose (it is in the configuration at the roll-out ceremony, I guess). Mine does have open weapons bays with all missiles in place.

Overall, I think that unlike the Mirage IIIs from FM (see my ideas on those in the appropriate threads), it looks like the F-22 can be recommended (even with those bombs on...). Price is a little high in my opinion, but OK, that's the current trend it seems.

FVD

[FormerViperDriver]

After looking at mhakl's great pictures one more time, another thing struck me belatedly: the inside of the cockipt should be predominently black, not light grey as shown. Lack of research, of sheer laziness/carelessness on FM's part? For $105, I would expect them to get these simple things right...

The bombs on the wings appear to be GBU-35s. Should be able to break those off easily, I hope (well, even better would be if they were absent from future releases of this model). The only way a Raptor will carry those (2 of them) is in the main weapons bays.

FVD