Tamiya F-16A Block 10

[jmel]

This took most of the past two years to finally finish. It clearly won't win any contests, but it looks OK on the shelf. It depicts the very last F-16 to depart Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, on July 28, 1994. This was number 2 of a two-ship that departed for AMARC. Once it got airborne, it brought up its gear and made a hard left turn to pass over the 906th ramp and the many people gathered to watch it go. I was there as a kid, then found the same jet at AMARC in 2007, still with its artwork on the fuel tank.

 

I started from the Tamiya Thunderbird kit, with the vertical stab coming from a Hasegawa kit. All of the Block 10 items are scratchbuilt, to include the smaller horizontal stabs and cockpit. This is one of those projects that seemed simple enough, but once I began looking more closely at the Block 10s, I realized how different they are from the kit's Block 32. There's a lot of work to be done, and it kicked my butt!

 

Jake

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the below pic, you can clearly see the absence of wheel hubs. I have been waiting on the promised early Viper wheels from Sierra Hotel Models for two years now, but I've given up hope of ever seeing them. The good news is I've sent refs to another individual who has already began to make them.

 

[jmel]

The kit gear was cut up and repositioned to represent the gear in transit as it is being retracted. Another item that seemed simple enough, yet still tortured me into submission.

 

Fuel tank artwork. When I shot the jet in 2007, all of the signatures had long since worn away, but the 'Boneyard Bound' script was still there.

 

 

 

Homemade decals. I drew them on paper, scanned them, edited and resized in Photoshop, then printed with a laser printer.

 

Scratch built travel pod.

 

[Tony T]

Wow, another work of art! Beautifully done by you, as usual!!!

[Daywalker]

Cheers Jake, love that in flight display! As much as I do like to see them in their natural element, seeing this one mid-gear retraction adds even more life to the model. I would love to see a resin conversion set to build early Vipers from the Tamiya kit, hope someone does a set one day. There are a lot of small tail Vipers I would love to build!

 

Here's to hoping for some new early Viper wheels in the New Year!

[Guest]

Very well done, Sir ! The gears came out great as the rest of the build. Love the signatures on the left tank. Thanks for :thumbsup: ...........Harv

[RNoAF]

Nice.

[geedubelyer]

Nicely done Jake and a neat job on all of the extra touches like the scratched travel pod etc. It may have taken a while but it was worth the wait.

[amcb10]

Awesome looking Falcon.

[Guest Peterpools]

Terrific looking Viper. The signatures on the tanks add the personal touch to the build.

Peter

[jmel]

Thanks, guys! It looks OK, but up close the flaws really stand out. The canopy isn't glued down yet. I thought it would be nice to leave it accessible to take a peek at the pilot and Block 10 instrument panel occasionally. It looks pretty bad, though, so I think it'll have to be glued on.

 

I would love to see a resin conversion set to build early Vipers from the Tamiya kit, hope someone does a set one day. There are a lot of small tail Vipers I would love to build!

 

I don't think that's possible, Frank. The big change, obviously, are the smaller stabs and vertical tail. But beyond, the entire airframe is different with regards to doors and panel lines. I rescribed the entire intake sides, for example. Then there are the LEF seals, cockpit, wheels, Station 3/7 pylons, 4/6 pylons, and other smaller changes.

 

Love the signatures on the left tank. Thanks for :thumbsup: ...........Harv

 

Thanks! Here's another pic of the tank with a yet-to-be-modified pylon.

 

 

Jake

Edited December 27, 2012 by jmel

[dodgem37]

A truly memorable build. Good show. Thanks for sharing, Jake.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[Bill Cross]

VERY nice.

[Barry]

Nice work Jake: I enjoy a build with a "story".

 

Barry