Zero77

Thanks for your help Nigel ! That's bad.... I hope they would rebox it one day.... Thay have made the molds for the MSI intake and PW engine, it would be a waste not to use them.

Hi, Is it discarded? It is still on the tamiya website as every other models, but it is not anymore available in any retail shop. The only way to get one seems to be ebay. That is quite strange, as the old F-14 is still available even if it is quite outdated (quite good, but needs tons of work to get it at modern standards) while trumpeter has released its own. This F-16 block25/32 was the only early C version on the market, and it was the perfect complement to the block 50 General Electric Powered with large MCID intake, as it permited to get an earlyer version, with a pratt & Whitney engine and the small NSI intake. The decals sheet was maybe less attractive for many modeller than a military scheme, but they could have reboxed it with another as they did with the F-4J.... That's a pity that those sprues with small intake and PW engine would not be available in any kit.... So, does anybody know why tamiya seem to have stopped production of this kit? Is there any aftermarket to make a good block 32 based on the block 50 kit?

Interesting discussion ! Thanks ! I did not know CMK has done a small intake. On the other hand, cant find a PW exhaust. CMK does not make any exhaust and Aires only makes the GE version. I think i will have to order a tamiya block 25/30 version (that is actually more a block 32 due to the PW engine).

I have just seen (thanks to Vandy HD pics) that the red 69 is PW powered. So it must have the small inlet duct. I had a tamiya F-16 block 50 in my stach, but it seems i will have to find a block 25/30. This thunderbird edition is now quite difficult to find. Is it out of production? It is the only way to get a small mouth and a PW engine exhaust. Even in aftermarket, i cannot find any PW nozzle (except getting the isracast israeli F-15 conversion in order to use the nozzles, but it is quite expensive for juste one piece, and it does not answer to the small mouth issue.) I thought it was a block 40, but it seems to be a block 32. Anyway, it is PW powered. http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/airframe-profile/2052

Another question, more of general knowledge than concerning modelling. How do aircraft combat training goes? I mean, how do they simulate fighting ? Is there any computer that simulate missile or canon shooting?

Super bug models is planning to make a set with everything you need (seamless intakes, exhaust, wheelbay, canopy and spine correction, cockpit....) for the E, F and G. I believe almost all sub-kits are already available, but some are still not finished, so the complete sets are not yet available. (i am waiting for mine since april.... but i still keep hoping !) I think he should hurry to release his full sets before a big producer like aires makes it. http://superbugmodel...in/32scale3.htm And quickboost has also released some little stuffs like ECS vents, early or late version. I have bought the late ones, and they are great.

Very clean paint job ! Can't wait to see it with full czech markings !

Thank you very much Vandy ! That's very nice.

And those inert munition decals would at least be useful for those captive sidewinders.

Thank you for your answers ! The aircraft i want to build is the 86-0269 with the new blizzard scheme with greenish-blue/white/grey colors, decal sheet from twobobs. Actually, i just wanted to know if i had to also order the inert munition decal sheet. I will, anyway, because there is a very good offer ($5 !).

Hi, I project to build a F-16C with an agressor scheme from Nellis AFB and i would like to know if aggressor aircraft carry some inert munition or no munition at all ? Thanks !

Yes they are very beautiful, a wonderful add on ! I have ordered one about ten days ago, but i have not received it yet. I hope it would be there next week. I have also ordered the Paul Fisher's wheels, which seem to look very crispy and muche better than the kit's ones.

A little progress in cockpit painting. Still some little touch up to do, but it is almost done. I take my picture with my cellphone (galaxy S3), the macro is great, but it is depressing as each tiny little dust of paint defect or so seems to be so big... I was quite happy with the result, but now i have shot the pics, i am not so....

Wow, very impressive paint job ! This cockpit looks great, and i especially like the leather effect. (i never manage to get such an effect that satisfy me). And the following build and painting is as good as the cockpit, i really love it... (and the Mig-3 is one of my favourite ww2 fighters) Tu fais honneur à la communauté des "french modellers" camarade ! J'attends la suite avec impatience !

My list : *Mig-25 *F-111 *Any french post ww2 aircraft : ouragan, mistral, mirage, rafale.... But there is so many i would like to see in 1/32 ! The real list is endless.... S-3 Viking, EA-6B, Banshee, F-106, Su-24, SR-71, etc....

Nice result with the covers ! In addition, it's more interesting and uncommon than FOD guard that we see on most kits (especially on kits without any aftermarket seamless intakes !) Concerning my intakes, with a coat of primer, the seam is still visible, especially at the entrance (the most visible !). I think i will try to add a bit more mr surfacer and remake the rivets. Another solution could be the wall paint filling method, but this way, good bye rivets... On the other hand, in the aerofax book dedicated to frogfoot, there is a photo of an intake, and there is not any rivet visible, and a long narrow panel on the lower part, positionned where there is the seam on the scale stuff. So with the tape + mr surfacer method, followed by a light smoothing with thinner and a light sanding it would look ok almost as the real thing.

For exhaust stains i use very thinned paint applied with several clear coats. I have some tamiya pastels but have not tried them yet. For a very dusty and rough effect, i have already used MIG pastels (MIG is for "Miguel". It is the spanish brand of Miguel Gimenez, a very skilled AFV builder). There is a lot of colors from white ashes to dark charcoal, and many other like shades of rust from light orange to dark brown. Here is the result, even if the effect is quite special, as i really wanted a rough surface (dont think i would be good for lateral exhaust stains on a piston engine airplane, but is nice on exhaust pipes) : Here on exhaust pipes :

Hello, I have started quite some time ago my new build. It is the now famous Trumpy Su-25, with aires cockpit, wheelbays, exhaust, Linden Hill decals sheet (will surely make the russian red 05), and pitot tubes from korea and also a set of wheels from Paul Fisher. Will use the akan paints (first try for me with those paints). I have already worked a bit on the exhausts and intakes, but i will post pictures later. I have also started the cockpit. Most of the little switches did not resist to the degreasing. So i had to rework them with copper wire (0.3 and 0.15mm). Here are some pics. This evening i will certainly begin painting.

That's quite true, I must say it inspired me ! Thank you, by the way. That's nice we are 3 people actually building a frogfoot. I think you 2 are better than me, and i can have good examples of how to manage to make this or make that. Maybe i could also inspire you with other stuff? We'll see.... (i have just started my buiding and still not making any topic about it...)

Super bug models is making one. I think it is finished and available now. I have preorder the full set with exhaust, intakes, cockpit, wheelbays, and so.... but he is still working on some parts, so i am waiting for it before starting to build the trump kit. But i think cockpit can be order now. http://superbugmodels.net/superbugresin/32scale2.htm

I am also buidling this bird, and if i can give you some idea, here is how i have proceeded in order to preserve as much as possible the rivets inside the intakes : First i masked everywhere but the seams : Then i puttyed the seams with mr surfacer (or with thinned tamiya putty with acetone or mr color thinner) : Here with the tape removed (yes it is still dirty) : Then with a cotton swab dipped in mr color thinner (or any lacquer thinner THAT DO NOT attack plastic), i wipe as much as possible the excess of putty in order to make it smooth, and then with some 600 and then 1000 sanding paper i wrapped arround a pen i gently sanded the seams, and then finished with micromesh 4000 still wrapped around the pen (for the round shape) : I know this is not the perfect solution, but it is the only one i have found to have an acceptable result, if one want to let the intakes without FOD covers. Hope it would help !

So have i, and i totally agree with you. Even the seat alone is a piece of art. And it is the same for the F-86 cockpit set. AMS products very good stuffs.

I have the Mig-21F-13 cockpit set but not built yet so i cant tell. On the other hand i have already used the Mig-19 one, and i found it quite correct but far from the quality of an aires or AMS one... I found the casting not so good and not very crispy, but the adjustment were ok IIRC.

The full size one :