Okay, backstory decided and written, and thread renamed . . .
Northrop 'Eagle Claw'
Following the poor performance of USAF F-4 Phantoms in combat with North Vietnamese MiG-17s, the USAF deployed Sidewinder missile armed Northrop F-5s as a replacement, under 'Operation Dog Star'. They proved highly successful, able to match both the speed of the F-105 and F-4 bombers they were assigned to escort, and the agility of the NVAF Migs during a dogfight. However, following the introduction of the MiG-21 into the NVAF, the tables started turn back in favour of the Vietnamese. Northrop responded with an improved F-5, modified to a canard configuration, under the Northrop program designator 'Extreme AGiLity - Canard Lift Against Aft-mounted Wing', or EAGL-CLAAW.
A demonstrator, named 'Eagle Claw 1', was hurriedly designed, built and tested. However the USAF decided that it would take too long to bring the aircraft into production and service, and declined to proceed further. Northrop decided to retain the 'Eagle Claw', however, as a research aircraft for the upcoming LWF program. Many people still remember it's showstopping display at the 1975 Paris Airshow . . .
My model will depict the 'Eagle Claw' demonstrator as it appeared at the 1975 Paris Airshow.
cheers,
Robin.