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Esci F-16A cockpit in 1/12 scale


Mark Jackson

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I thought I would have a go at an oldie but goody kit, Esci's 1/12 scale F-16A cockpit.  When this kit was first released it was ahead of its time.

 

 

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For some modellers the "A" pre MLU (Mid Life Update) is just antiquated but I have fond memories of seeing lots of Belgian and Norwegian early block "A" versions take off with the smell of JP-5 and enough noise to blow the wax out of your ears. 

 

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There's not millions of parts but enough to provide a good level of detail and a few parts require a helping hand to make them look more realistic and correct.  The cockpit tub has lots of switches and detail moulded in to it.

 

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Esci launched two cockpit kits in the 1980's, this one and a F-104 Starfighter one.  One thing which surprised me was the size, 1/12th scale seems huge but certain parts are still small, the instrument dials for one.  You could go to town on just the ACES seat and display it on a plinth or next to a 1/32nd scale F-16 model.

 

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The kit provides a beautiful instrument panel with various decals for the dials etc, some of these are good - some not so good.  So I searched the web and got busy with Paint Shop Pro to produce a set of instrument faces which seemed just right for a block 10 Falcon.

 

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When printed on to paper and cut out they look much better.

 

The kit supplies a sort of fabric harness for the seat, but it's brown!   No problem though, it scans fine and with some computer magic a set of different coloured straps could be printed.

 

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Extremely nice to see one of these cockpits actually being build !!!

I've got both issues (F-104 & F-16) in my stash, so I will be following this one with interest.

Please don't hesitate to cover each & every step of Your build.  :)

Sure wouldn't mind getting a copy of the instruments.    :whistle:

 

Keep up the good work !!!

 

Regards Rudy.

Edited by Shujaa
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Having started building the seat I am both impressed and disappointed with some of the details; some features should be there and some either require moving or rectifying.

 

 

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The fit of the seat sides and seat pan is not brilliant and the whole thing looked skew-whiff.

 

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Looking good

 

One of my first submissions to LSP was this kit............

 

Builds up quite nice.......and with your additional touches as seen...........will look even better ..............

 

Rgds

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Nice venture :)

love the preparation of what's going to be done with the gauges.

 

 

If i had to redo this, i'd convert this to a more modern block, like a 50/52 or a MLU :)

i destroyed mine i build 25 years ago when i built a 1:1 scale of the thing :)

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