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.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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
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AMT |
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Hasegawa |
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Revell |
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Italeri |
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