1/32 AFV RNoAF F-16 BM “712”

Gallery Article by Sten Arne B Brunsby on Oct 25 2012

 

 

So I had a jolly good Idea.. I don't know of anyone that's done a RNoAF F-16BM in ‘32nd scale. So I figured I’d give it a go. This is the AFV-WAY Overpriced boxing of the Academy F-16 I Sufa with some extra resin parts in it. 

But before we go into the build a quick history and explanation of the jet. F-16 B OCU 87-0712 was delivered along with its’ sister jet –0711. Both manufactured at the GD Forth Worth plant in Texas and ferried over to Norway in August of ‘89. These two was order as attrition aircraft after we had lost quite a few two-seaters. The jet was repainted in RNoAF colors and served with 331th sqd at Bodo AirBase all it’s time in the inventory. 

In late 2000 “712” had completed the MLU upgrade as one of the last jets in our inventory. But wouldn’t you know it.. just a few months after returning to duty it met it’s fate. During an incentive ride the pilot was demonstrating low level flying and crossed paths with a large bird, probably a seagull. The got a clean hit in the air intake and took the engine with it. The jet was flying very low 200ft and at close to 600 kts. The pilot got all kinds of failure indications and with the base although close, not close enough. The only option was to eject. He pulled up to about 3000 ft using the inertia and when the speed dropped down he initiated the ejection sequence.  Both him and the backseat passenger, a female communications officer made it safely out and was picked up by a SeaKing MK43B of NO 330 sqd after spending about 30 minutes in the north sea. 

My model is done such as it was on it’s last flight. I’ve talked to the pilot and he gave me very valuable information to complete the build. 

 

Click on images below to see larger images

In the kit you'll find an Academy F-16I Sufa + some resin parts, A-style tail, A couple of slammers, a recce pod and various other bits and pieces. 

The kit is decent however like most other kits the cockpit could have been way better, but also much worse, I'd give it a solid 7/10 for effort, in other words usable, but a resin pit would elevate the overall. 

The resin tail is a PITA to get to fit right, it has resin to fill in the space that would be needed for a C- style tail, alotta sanding/dremel sander is needed to get it flush, but with some elbow grease you'll get there. The rest is generally good and can be built without to much hazzle. AFV club has not taken the trubble to point out what must be changed to "down-block" it to a Block 15/20 MLU, so make sure to check your refrences. 

For a RNoAF jet the decals was a real challange. RNoAF jets are painted all over FS 36270 so most of the decals are way off, espessially walkways and such. so this I had to mask off and paint by hand. Took some time, but it turned out nice in the end. Masking was done using “Jammydog” very thin tape. 

I used Tamiya primer, an Gunze acryllics for the most parts here. some Vallejo and Tamiya for details. Decals from all over, tail number from Vingtor (www.vingtor.net), the rest from Zotz and the box. 

This turned out well, but I could do better on the decals, they where improvised and I had to take what I could get my fingers on.  I found out after I completed the build that Eduard does PE masks for stenciling.. now why I didn’t know that beforehand I don't know. 

The kit is not that bad, and I have 2 more in my stash. I’m gonna use more PE and resin for those builds though. 

Sten Arne

      

Photos and text © by Sten Arne B Brunsby