docdodj01

So, finally finished this kit! The excellent Revell kit. Made some liberties, since original photos of Emerson’s aircraft showed only stripes on the bottom, but mine has them completely wraparound. Anyways, here’s the finished kit.






 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

P-51B. PLEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

More pics

Calling this build done!

putting on the decals

 

 

 

 

putting on the decals

 

 

 

 

More details.  Also notice that I have also painted the landing gear bays, and detailed painted the necessary areas.

 

 
 
I have also painted the burner can, per photo references.  I'll weather the inside of the afterburner section later.

 
 

Once the underside was done, and dried, on to the gunship grey top. Again, the necessary masking was placed and paint applied.

 

Looking like a proper F-16ADF at this point!

 

Looking like a proper F-16ADF at this point!

 

With the tail corrected, the F-16 now looks much a proper A model. Will add more detail, clean out some seams, and hopefully by the weekend, off to painting!

Work on correcting the tail base continues. Here I am now, sharpening the front, making sure tail is symmetric, and removing any seams, scratches, or bumps

 
Here is the tail. Am very tempted to cast this one. Any potential takers?

 
For those who might be confused when I say the front of the tail should just go a little beyond a panel line, this is what I was taking about

The tail front should cross over that point. I have checked all references and it should be that.

Build of my pup is done! Basically OOB, with nylon monofilament, Ezline for rigging with DIY buckles and rings. Paint used is a local vendor of hobby paints, Armored Komodo brand.  Link to the actual build is here, 
Now on to the pics

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

After looking at different references, I came to the conclusion that the base of the tail looked to short in height and length. The tip of the tail base forward should reach at least the tip of the scab plate, reach a panel line.

 
So after much deliberation, I decided to correct this problem. I glued scrap styrene to the base of the tail to correct the height and length. here it is after shaving off a lot of styrene. Sadly, my sausage fingers broke of the tip, the reason for a glued in repair.

 
From there, I added apoxie putty to fill in the gaps, and the carefully sand it flush.
Here's where I am at the moment. Using the KASL F-16A tail, the Revell tail is almost as long

 and as tall as the resin F-16A tail

 
And when dry fitted on the Viper, it looks a lot better, to my eye.

 
 

After working on the cockpit, next in line is building the fuselage.

 
As expected, a step is present, so time to sand it down, rescribe, and then fit the tail. As for the tail, I have scribed in the panel lines.

Of course it wouldn't be an ADF version without the spotlight on the left side. I have a spare part from the kinetic kit that corresponded to the left side cheek plate part, but it was a little too short, and the spotlight hole was too big. sooo, back to the original tamiya part, eyeballed the hole, and viola.

 I used a clear sprue part originally for a missile head. fits will enough. Will try and fix the transparency later
And from there, the nose area done

 

So of course, I can't continue the build unless I change the cockpit. After looking at all options available (resin, PE, scratch, or steal parts from a Hasegawa kit), I finally arrived to a solution to convert the cockpit with minimal fuss.
 
Quinta Studio decals. Specifically a set made for the kinetic F-16A kit

I got a set, and after quick measurements and eyeballing it, The decals will need a little trimming. So off goes all the raised details on the cockpit, airbrush an interior grey color, and put on the decals. And here it is:

I now have a proper F-16A cockpit.

Starting on a new kit, this time, a Tamiya 1/48 F-16C block 25/30.  This will be converted into a F-16ADF, markings yet to be determined once I get my hands on the decal. Anyways, on with the show:
To start, I bought a KASL 1/48 F-16 conversion set, basically converts the spine of the F-16C to an A.

I have to say that this is not an easy conversion, you have to cut the kit wing part rear end into 3 parts, THEN, fit the replacement deck on the rear. So I went at it and got this.

Fit well enough, but has a step on both front and rear. But that's the thing to expect from resin replacements.  So now I just need to trim down the joins to fit better. 
 
Now of course, I did say I'm building an F-16ADF, and therefore I need a tail for the build, and ADF specific blade slicer antennas (there are 2). So enter my donor kit!

 
And here, in a nutshell is the plan:

 
 
Of course, there will be other changes like certain panel lines, beer can RWR, and piano hinges on the flaps to be deleted, but these would be done later. The biggest challenge would be the cockpit, specifically converting it from a C to an A.