WIP: Revell 1/72 F-16AM Viper – Construction & Finishing
This is another Shelf Queen that’s back on the assembly line. I found this kit while re-arranging the mess that was my storage. As you can see, I was quite a bit into the build already before abandoning it many years ago. Anyway let’s see how this Revell kit compares to the Tamiya and Hasegawa …...
Completed : Hasegawa 1/72 Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 30 Fighting Falcon
Kit InfoBrand: HasegawaScale: 1/72Media: StyreneMarkings: Xtradecals X00872 and kit The SubjectThe Lockheed Martin (originally General Dynamics) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter. It currently serves in 25 nations, with over 4,400 aircraft built. Commonly known as the ‘Viper’, it features innovations including a...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-16C Blk 30 Pt.2 – Painting & Finishing
Ok time to put paint onto plastic. For this build I’ve gone back to doing pre-shading: in this case, it’s black preshade over a base primer coat of light gray. In the 1980s, F-16C was still in its original sccheme of three shades of gray. I used AK 3rd Gen Pale Grey for FS36375 (bottoms, …...
WIP : Hasegawa 1/72 F-16C Blk 30 Pt.1 – Construction
While waiting for a spare canopy for my F-100F build, I decided to start on another SEAD aircraft, this time a 480th TFS Blk 30 F-16C based in Germany and deployed as part of a Hunter-Killer team with F-4Gs in the late 1980s. At this time, the HTS Pod hadn’t been developed yet so the …...
Completed : Academy 1/48 Lockheed Martin F-16A Fighting Falcon ‘TOPGUN 51’
Kit Info Brand: Academy 1688 Scale: 1/48 Media: Styrene Markings: TwoBobs ‘F-16 NSAWC Vipers’ 48-069 The Subject The Lockheed Martin (originally General Dynamics) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter. It currently serves in at least 25 nations, with over 4,400 aircraft built. Commonly known as the ‘Viper’, it...
WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.6 – Painting & Finishing
So we finally come to the meat and potato parts of the build: painting and finishing. I begin with a base coat of Mr Hobby Black Surfacer 1500 thinned with Mr Leveling Thinner which results in a smooth and semi-gloss surface. This is now my go-to base coat when I can spray outdoors. For the …...
WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.5 – Construction
It’s been a long WIP but it’s finally the last post for this one. The kit only comes with decals for the console details although it comes with detailed foot pedals. Very odd choice by Academy. There’s no open canopy option although I’ve always intended to keep this one closed anyway so I’ll live with...
WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.4 – Construction
Since I took the time to correct 1 aspect of the kit, I inevitably had to go ahead and try to correct the other more obvious ones. Unlike the Hasegawa kit, the missile rails here are separate but was designed to fit in a strange way with the connecting point being visible. The tab also …...
WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.3- Construction
The Aggressor F-16A usually flies clean without any pylons and stores. The kit comes with the holes for the pylons already open and will need to be filled. First I closed up the holes from the inside with plastic plates. I then inserted sprues that are trimmed to shape into the holes. I then cut …...
WIP : Academy 1/48 F-16A ‘TOPGUN 51’ Pt.2 – Construction
The gearbays on this kit are all bare. This is especially obvious when comparing them to the ones on the Tamiya kit. The intake when fitted leaves a noticeable step on the port side joint. Luckily it’s only a matter of trimming the slight mismold on the lower fuselage. Using both the Tamiya gearbay and …...
