51 replies to this topic

[phantom]

I am going to be building an F16 Agressor with two Bobs decals. Which F16 is the most accurate to use? If I buy any AM stuff it will just be the cockpit.
Thanks
Mike

[TimC]

I believe the closest you're going to get out of the box will be the Tamiya Thunderbird F-16. I also believe that to do an accurate Eielson block 30 aircraft, you'll need the "big mouth" intake (can't remember what the correct nomeclature for the large intake is but I don't think it's NSI..I think that's the small mouth) Anyway, someplace on the web there is a list of the things you'll need from the Tamiya CJ kit to add to the Thunderbird kit to make a correct Block 30 aircraft. Now if there are Aggressors at Eielson that are among the first block 30 aircraft, I believe they may have the GE engine AND the small mouth intake... I don't know and it may be that these are all US Navy Adversaries. Someone with way more knowledge of these aircraft than I will most likely reply with updated/correct information. Below is my favorite aircraft from Eielson and if is the set you're using as well, I have some questions about Twobobs color match for the dark blue. The FS equivalent does not seem to match up (read as come anywhere near) the color I'm seeing on this aircraft on my monitor.

Edited by TimC, 23 June 2012 - 08:48 PM.

[LSP_Kevin]

While I don't care much for the F-16, I have to say that is a fantastic photo!

Kev

[Daywalker]

While I don't care much for the F-16...

Kev

BLASPHEMY!!!

[LSP_Kevin]

BLASPHEMY!!!

Sorry Frank, I find all the pointy fast jets incredibly boring!


Kev

[TimC]

While I don't care much for the F-16, I have to say that is a fantastic photo!

Kev

Isn't it? I got it off the web but I can't seem to find the photo nor do I remember where I got it. Anyway, just for clarification, it's not my photograph and I've used it only for illustration purposes regarding the dark blue color that doesn't match the Twobobs decal sheet FS callout.

[csavaglio]

So, the kit to start with is the Tamiya Thunderbirds kit, which is a Block 32. You're going for a block 30. The difference is in the engine and intake. The Block 50 kit has the correct intake and tail pipe/fairing, but the heavy duty landing gear with the wrong gear, doors, etc.

What I did, since either a cow plane (black/white/grey aggressor) or the blue one pictured above is the last of 3 F-16's I planned on doing, is buy both the Tamiya kits and swap the intake and engine parts along with the donut part in front of the tail pipe and the rest of the airframe. This will give you a block 30 from the T-bird kit and a block 52 from the other. The block 52 can be done as a number of different schemes, including the Greek ones (like I did, with plenty of extra mods to make) or an USAF one like the Taxi Cab Viper sheet from TwoBobs. They have others as well. I think there was also a Tiger Meet one, but I'd check the block to be sure.

If you only want to buy one kit (the kit is a lot of fun to build though....), you can order the intake and engine sprues from Tamiya America pretty reasonable (less than 20 bucks total, I'd think), but you'll need to know the part numbers from the block 50 instruction sheet. I can help with this if you want to go that route.


The other thing to do is pick up a set of scab or reinforcement plates. These were airframe stiffeners that were applied to the outside of the aircraft in various places. You can make your own out of .005" styrene, or pick up an aftermarket set. They're pretty cheap. Crossdelta's are the nicest and most complete, I think. Orion also makes a set, but I don't care for them as much.

This is a good guide to modeling the F-16C blocks correctly. It's geared toward 1/48, but all of the notes carry over to correct scale.

http://www.usaf-sig....bout-the-f-16cd

Chris

[csavaglio]

That a/c also looks to be different shades depending on the lighting and photo.....

Twobobs has been known to be off on their color FS callouts at times, though. I'd just go by your photo reference.

C

[Daywalker]

Sorry Frank, I find all the pointy fast jets incredibly boring!


Kev

LOL, just messin with ya!

[Pete Fleischmann]

Sorry Frank, I find all the pointy fast jets incredibly boring!


Kev

You should fly it sometime.

It is fighter pilot nirvana.

Pete

[jmel]

So, the kit to start with is the Tamiya Thunderbirds kit, which is a Block 32. You're going for a block 30. The difference is in the engine and intake.

Depending on how accurate you want to go, there are still a lot of changes to be made to get to a true Block 30. The T-Birds kit didn't address several key differences from the CJ kit to be an accurate Block 32. They got close, though.

[Youngtiger1]

Mike, Here is a link that will help you with a lot of info on this subject....

http://zone-five.net...hread.php?t=231

[TimC]

I'm going to get myself a T-birds kit and have a go.... I've got the Reid Air Publications book and am going to order some separate sprues from Tamiya America so I can make a "real" Block 30 aggressor....along with some other mods necessary to backdate it to a true block 30. (some of which I will need to learn, some of which I already know about such as the leading edge flap hinge fingers {if that's what they're called}). Oh how I dislike models molded in white styrene...I'll have to live with it though.

Now all I need to do is find a reasonably priced (from a buyers perspective) 1/32 Tamiya F-16C Thunderbirds kit.

EDIT: Well it seems as though the Thunderbird F-16 has been discontinued http://www.tamiyausa...roduct-id=60316. I'll just have to wait until they release it again...hopefully with Aggressor markings like they did with the 1/48 kit.

Edited by TimC, 24 June 2012 - 08:02 PM.

[TimC]

You should fly it sometime.

It is fighter pilot nirvana.

Pete

I would have loved to fly this aircraft but I'm just a tad to old to fly it now and when I was "of the age" the F-16 was just entering USAF service. About the closest I'll ever get to flying it is Falcon 4.0 (upgraded to Free Falcon).

[Viper Enforcer]

I believe the closest you're going to get out of the box will be the Tamiya Thunderbird F-16. I also believe that to do an accurate Eielson block 30 aircraft, you'll need the "big mouth" intake (can't remember what the correct nomeclature for the large intake is but I don't think it's NSI..I think that's the small mouth) Anyway, someplace on the web there is a list of the things you'll need from the Tamiya CJ kit to add to the Thunderbird kit to make a correct Block 30 aircraft. Now if there are Aggressors at Eielson that are among the first block 30 aircraft, I believe they may have the GE engine AND the small mouth intake... I don't know and it may be that these are all US Navy Adversaries. Someone with way more knowledge of these aircraft than I will most likely reply with updated/correct information. Below is my favorite aircraft from Eielson and if is the set you're using as well, I have some questions about Twobobs color match for the dark blue. The FS equivalent does not seem to match up (read as come anywhere near) the color I'm seeing on this aircraft on my monitor.

The Eielson Block 30 Aggressors are late Block 30s, with the Big mouth (MCID) intakes. The Original NAVY F-16Ns were retired in the early 90s, but since 05 they have been flying Ex-Paki embargoed F-16A/B Block 15s. The Two Bobs colors call outs are correct; straight from the paint barn at both Eilson and Kunsan, where most were painted prior to the Block 30 for 40 swap between the two bases.

You can kitbash the Tamiya F-16C and CJ kit to get a Block MCID 30 and be left with a complete kit to build a Block 42 or 52. You can also order the sprues separate, though it's not as simple as one might think. We have a more simple Block 30 conversion in mind, but probably won't be out till early 2013.

So, the kit to start with is the Tamiya Thunderbirds kit, which is a Block 32. You're going for a block 30. The difference is in the engine and intake. The Block 50 kit has the correct intake and tail pipe/fairing, but the heavy duty landing gear with the wrong gear, doors, etc.

Chris

True, though as Jmel mentioned there are some other details to be aware of for a truly accurate Block 30 or 42/52 conversion; like the pre bulge area to the MLG doors. For the HWG (Heavy Weight Gear), the pre bulge actually starts on the LOX and ECS bay doors/panels. Tamiya is the only F-16 kit to correctly capture this feature, in both 48^th and 32^nd scale. In 48^th, the pre-bulge on the LOX and ECS bay doors/panels are separate parts.

The problem in 32^nd scale is that the pre-bulge (which is also more noticeable in32nd) is only on the exterior MCID intake assembly and not present on the NSI. This pre-bulge are needs to be removed for a Block 30, as it has the LWG. And of course, the pre-bulge needs to be added for an NSI Block 42/52; respectively. The rest is mostly panel line issues and some vent details, depending on how early the Block.


Mike V

Edited by Viper Enforcer, 24 June 2012 - 08:19 PM.