There
aren't too many 1/32 scale F16 kits out there and this one seems to be on the
shelves at the moment. For your money you get 8 pieces of spruce, metal pieces
for an ACES II ejection seat, metal pieces for the forward RWRs and metal pieces
for the HUD arrangement. There are heaps of weapons and the necessary pylons to
carry all of them. These include 4 x AIM-9N/P missiles, 2 x early AIM-7s, 2 x
2000lb Paveways, 12 x Mk-82 bombs. You also get enough parts to build anything
from a Block 1 through to a Block 30 aircraft as it includes the tail section
and the rear section for the different engine types. A nozzle is included for
both the Pratt & Whitney and the General Electric engines. The airframe
includes a mixture of raised and engraved panel lines and includes decals to
cover 3 different aircraft. You also get a cool crew boarding ladder.
So
how does this all translate into the final product. Well the surface detail is
only average compared to a Tamiya 1/32 scale kit but having the gun bay
uncovered is nice. You expect something extra for this scale but the weapons are
disappointing and so replaced this with pieces from other kits. The Mk-82s
are Ok though. This is meant to be a Block 25 and therefore should use the
P&W engine however the nozzle included in the kit was crap but the GE one
was Ok so I modified the kit to accept the GE afterburner nozzle. Not accurate
to the original aircraft (84-1316) but better than using the P&W nozzle.
Aircraft
Information
The
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a jet fighter unit developed for the
U.S. Air Force under a special plan for light-weight jet fighters. The initial A
model was designed for all types of encounters among individual jet fighters,
but the Air Force wanted to replace the F-4 Phantom with the F-16 for
multipurpose objectives including air-to-air and air-to-surface attacks. In
response, the F-16A plus model was developed with the horizontal stabilizers
enlarged by 30 percent. This design was adopted for all A models from Block 15.
Thereafter production of the F-16 was shifted to the C model for higher
performance. Equipped with more advanced electronic equipment and a fire control
system, the F-16C model is designed to be ultramodern. It enables operation of a
new type of missile, the AIM-120 AMRAAM and its night-time attacks are more
accurate because it is equipped with LANTIRN.
The
F-16 Fighting Falcon (or Viper as it is known to pilots) has seen extensive
combat experience having seen battle in Syria, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan,
Pakistan. The Tally for the F-16 in air-to-air combat currently stands at 74
victories with no losses.
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Model
Description
The
model is out of the box except with the following exceptions.
- The
ACES II ejection seat came from a Tamiya F-15C kit which included 2. The box
metal ACES II was terrible and so was replaced. However I lost the fire
extinguisher sometime during the construction of the F15C kit so that was
scratch built from sprue.
- The
static discharges on the wings were filed off as they were oversized and
replaced with bristles from a mag wheel cleaner.
- The
static discharges on the horizontal stabilisers were omitted from the kit
but added with bristles from a mag wheel cleaner.
- The
front landing gear hydraulic lines were added with mag wheel bristles.
- The
rear landing gear hydraulic lines were added with fuse wire.
- The
pilot was added from the Tamiya F-15C kit, the Hasegawa one wasn't anywhere
near as good. Though I used the old style helmet.
- The
AIM-9M missiles came from the Tamiya F-15C kit. The kits sidewinders were no
good.
- The
AIM-9H missiles came from the Tamiya F-14A 1994 version kit as the kit
sidewinders were no good.
- The
Snakeyes came from the Tamiya F-14A 1994 version kit though the kits bombs
were surprisingly good!
- Weapons
Used
- 2
x AIM-9M Sidewinders on wingtip launch rails.
- 2
x AIM-9H Sidewinders on underwing pylons.
- 3
x Mk-82-0 Slicks on starboard underwing triple ejector rack.
- 3
x Mk-82-1 Snakeyes on port underwing triple ejector rack.
- 2
x 370 US gal fuel tanks on underwing pylons.
- 1
x centreline 300 US gal fuel tank.
- 1
x internal M-61 Vulcan cannon shown open for maintenance.
Construction
Notes
I
built this kit as 84-1316 which was a Block 25 aircraft (P&W engine though I
installed the GE one). The diorama was fun too and came out quite nicely. I also
tried the Model Master clear lacquer (lustreless) to seal the decals. This can
go on thick so you have to be careful and it smells too so wear a respirator. I
used Gunze Aluminium metallizers for the afterburner nozzles which I really
like. For the goldish tint on the canopy I used a mix of Tamiya X24, X26 and X27
mixed 50/50 with X22. This was then polished with Tamiya compound and good old
fashioned toothpaste!
The
soldier is a from Dragon and the diorama base is basically a piece of carved
wood. Enjoy! To see more visit my website at http://users.zipworld.com.au/~wksdave
David
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