1/32 Revell TNI AU F-16A

Viper in the Dragon Nest

by Alex Sidharta

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  Indonesia Independence Day 

 

This is the third camouflage used by Indonesian Air Force (IdAF/TNI AU) F-16s since the year 2000 after the three-tone blue-grey camouflage (often called as “Blue Spot”) and the “Elang Biru” aerobatic team colors of bright blue and yellow.  The colors itself were a result of a competition held by the base commander at that time.  Indonesian F-16 pilots also commentted that this camo was very effective in the air, decreasing visual sight significantly compare to the earlier colors.

 

In the miniature form, finding colors that matched was no less difficult.  Even after using FS 595b color charts.  I had to scrap at least 4 models before I finally found that Gunze Acrylic’s IJN Grey and Humbrol 115 Russian Blue is the closest.

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Revell’s big scale F-16N boxing needed a lot of modifications to make it (well, at least externally) an F-16A-15OCU.  A-type fin from Hasegawa with resin parabrake housing is used as the main recognition of TNI AU Vipers.  Thank-God Revell gives a PW engine exhaust instead of GE engine.  Modelers who want to build an F-16N from this kit must have more problems than me.  Other things I did was scribing the 10-square panels on the fuselage, adding details in the cockpit and scratch-building a simple intake duct.

 

The model itself is not bad for a 80s-era kit. But surely can’t be compared to current standard kits like the Academy or even Tamiya. I used minimal filler on this one. And amazingly, the Hasegawa fin fitted perfectly on the Revell’s slot.

 

Using Zotz’s Vivacious Viper 2 decal sheet, which fixed perfectly on the glossy surfaces, the look of an Indonesian F-16 was emerging.  But I had to hand-paint some stencils near the canopy as I missed-out on the fact that these were supplied in the decal sheet.  Ouch! Zotz even includes the bright-orange strengthener-plate on the back as a decal.

 

 

I think there’s no other perfect way to prove whether the colors match the real thing or not than bringing the model to the place where the real thing belongs.  I had the opportunity to present this model to the Squadron and at the same time, compared the color to the real F-16.  The result was satisfactory….

 

Now my model belongs to the Indonesian F-16 Squadron, side-by-side with the real F-16A serialled TS-1608 in the Dragon (Indonesian F-16 Pilot nickname) Nest.

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Below are other TNI AU F-16 models I've built; AMT 1/72 F-16A TS-1610, Hasegawa 1/72 F-16B TS-1601, Revell 1/72 F-16A TS-1612 (with Diorama) and Italeri 1/48 F-16A TS-1606.

Hope you all enjoy it....

Alex

  

  

  

AMT

  

Hasegawa

  

Revell

  

Italeri

Photos © by Alex Sidharta & Dhani Iskandar, and text © by Alex Sidharta