#065 J-20
Building the Trumpeter 1:144 kit of the Chengdu J-20 fifth-generation fighter of the PLAAF.
Notes
The Chengdu J-20 (成都飞机工业集团的歼20) is the third operational fifth-generation fighter stealth fighter aircraft after the F-22 and F-35.
It is currently in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force
The Kit
Trumpeter have 5 different kits of the J-20 at the moment in 1:48, 1:72 and 1:144. This is the 1:144 kit which is a cheap but fantastic buy - brilliant detail and a relatively easy build although in-flight conversion wasn’t really anticipated by the kit.
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| camo 1 | 70.989 Sky Grey | ||
| camo 2 | 70.870 Medium Sea Grey | ||
| camo 3 | 70.992 Neutral Grey | ||
| exhaust | 77.701 Aluminium |
Build Log
The kit details are very good for the scale. In-flight conversion wasn’t really anticipated by the kit, but not too difficult.
Cockpit details are just great:
No 1:144 pilot figures on hand so I made a quick-and-dirty stand-in from spare sprue!
Behind the scenes with the in-flight base. Getting cotton wool to look like realistic clouds is tiring.
成都飞机工业集团的歼20 Caught in-flight, the “Mighty Dragon” Chengdu J-20.. this is the Trumpeter 1:144 kit - fantastic detail, though it took a bit of conversion to get it nicely wheels-up .. including a hand-carved pilot!
Just remounted in a picture frame, and it’s now hanging on my “wall of flight”😁
Credits and References
- this project on scalemates
- Chinese J-20 Mighty Dragon Trumpeter No. 03923 1:144 8 on scalemates
Research References
- Chengdu J-20 - wikipedia
- Fifth-generation fighter - wikipedia
- People’s Liberation Army Air Force - wikipedia