This is the very tiny Trumpeter 1:144 scale model of the Northrop/McDonnell Douglass fifth generation air combat fighter known as the FY-23 Lightning II ATF. Two were build for the 1991 Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) fly-off competition against the YF-22. Despite being faster (2300 km/hr) and stealthier, it was not selected, and both airframes are now in museums. Japan is working on a local version. The aircraft modelled here is in the USAF Museum in Ohio.
I wanted a weekend project for an IPMS lightning build session, so I built a Lightning II. It took four days. I used every part except the air intake grills. Oddly the decal set as printed is missing four decals for the outside of the tailplanes which are shown in the instructions. Paints are Vallejo. OOB.
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 Lightning II |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
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| YF-23 in the Northrop factory, which just so happens to be in my spare bathroom. |
