1/48 Hasegawa F-16A IDF

by Rafi Ben-Shahar

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These are two Hasegawa "Fighting Falcon" kits painted in the Israeli Air Force color schemes. The first belongs to the "Flying Wing Squadron" and the second belongs to "The Negev Squadron".

There are little modifications to the kits that include chaff and flare dispensers, situated at the base of the fin and also another pair hidden between the lower stabilizers. The dispensers were scavenged from the Hasegawa F-4E kit. One kit has the Black Box resin cockpit included. The building is simple enough although a lot of attention is required to properly smooth the inner walls of the air intake. You would also be required to eliminate the annoying seem line at the top of the canopy with a very soft glass paper. One kit was a 'C' version that was modified and received an 'A' model tail and instrument panel, but retained the gun muzzle cover of 'C'. There were such modifications on real aircraft although I doubt it whether #290 had undergone such a process. 

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Painting was in accordance with the popular color practice among the Israeli IPMS members for IDF schemes (no arguments there), and included Humbrol paints Nos. 119 and 121. The light green and light grey paints were mixed and matched with original chips. The decals are from sheet #22 of IsraDecal. Very difficult to go terribly wrong here. Like the aircraft, the kit is beautiful and the cleft between the canopy and fuselage results from my reluctance to attach canopies to completed models because I am sure that the kit will be revamped in the future.

Rafi

Photos and text © by Rafi Ben-Shahar