1/32 Tamiya F-16CJ

 Fighting Falcon On line build Part.2   Steps 7-11 

by Steve Bridges

--------------------

 

Part II – Engine assembly

The GE F110 engine in this kit is a kit all unto it’s own.

I decided that for this F-16, I’d build it with the engine permanently mounted in the airframe, but not until I had painted some the detail parts.

Step 7 covers the assembly of the fixed stator blades and the 1st stage of the compressor.  I sprayed both parts with MM Aluminum, and used Tamiya Sky (XF-21) on the compressor blade hub (part H24).  After assembly, I masked off the front and back, and sprayed the outside with MM Titanium.

The gearbox assembly was painted per the kit instructions. For the center section of it, I used Testors Gold (in the ¼ oz bottle).

Click on image below to see larger image

Step 8 consists of attaching the inner parts of the engine nozzle, and the final turbine stage and flame holder.

I didn’t follow the painting instructions on the flame holder – I just sprayed it Desert Storm Armor sand (like I did on the Academy F-18), and sprayed the final compressor stage burnt iron.

Looking back at it, I probably should have followed the instructions on the flame holder, but I like the way it looks.

Click on images below to see larger images

The combustion chamber of modern jet engines is always a challenge to get to look right.

 I finally figured out a way to make it look decent.

 I first spray the combustion chamber flat white.

Click on images below to see larger images

After that is dry, I lightly airbrush Testors Jet Exhaust over the white, just enough to change the color a bit.


After that, I try to streak the engine nozzle petals with some burnt metal.

A note on the sink marks that are on the engine parts – they aren’t visible once the engine is assembled!  I put everything together with tape to make sure, and you can’t see any of them on the outside of the parts once the kit is assembled There are a couple of  the inside of the engine between the flame holder and final turbine stage that you won’t be able to see without a bore scope inspection of the engine.

Click on image below to see larger image

After the interior of the engine is assembled, it’s time to assemble the outside.  The parts all fit tightly, and if you do want to finish the engine for display, the seams won't be much of a problem.

Click on image below to see larger image

Click on images below to see larger images

The after part of the fuselage went together well, but I had a couple of small spots to fill with Mr. Surfacer 500

Click on images below to see larger images

When I first finished the exterior of the engine nozzle, I sprayed over all titanium, like I had done on the dozens of 1/48th F-16’s I built, but it didn’t look right, so I re-did it.

Here was the sequence of painting.

I painted the exterior of the inner engine nozzle parts (parts K3) with MM Burnt Metal before fitting the "turkey feathers".

 I then sprayed the exterior of parts K8 (the “turkey feathers”) MM Stainless steel.  Once that was dry, I masked off the turkey feathers with Parafilm-M, and carefully cut away the parafilm from the recessed areas on parts K8, and sprayed them MM Titanium.  Once that was dry, I masked off the engine nozzle with more Parafilm-M, and sprayed the small ring at the ends of parts H9/H10  with MM Aluminum.

Click on image below to see larger image

Once that was dry, I masked that off with more Parafilm (we are up to 3 layers now), and sprayed the rest of the natural metal area with MM Titanium.  Once that was try, that area was masked off with more Parafilm to protect it during the rest of the assembly.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bridges