1/32 Tamiya F-16 “DARK FALCON”

[miketippingmodels]

1/32 Tamiya F-16 “DARK FALCON”

 

"It’s a longstanding tradition within the Belgian Air Force to have an F-16 Solo Display Team perform during the airshow season. A legacy worth preserving. Once every two or three years, an experienced F-16 pilot is selected to represent the Belgian Air Force internationally. From 2018 onwards, for the next three seasons, Senior Captain (Sr.Cpt.) Stefan Darte will perform at airshows all over Europe with a freshly painted F-16AM."

‘Vador’

"Very early in his career, his fellow student pilots gave him his nickname. It was obvious that his surname had to be extended with the addendum 'Vador', referring to the main character in the popular Star Wars movies."

 

Stefan Darte

"Sr. Cpt. Stefan Darte was born in 1977. He is a highly experienced pilot which has been flying the F-16 'Fighting Falcon' for some years. He spent most of his career flying with the 1st 'Scottish Thistle' Squadron, 2nd Tactical Wing, based at Florennes Air Base. He's currently a fighter weapons instructor. With nearly 3.000 flying hours on the F-16, 'Vador' will be able to demonstrate the maneuverability of the Fighting Falcon convincingly."

 

“The F-16 Demo Team is more than a pilot and an F-16. Vador is supported by a vast team of professionals, each with their own speciality. During the airshow season, the groundcrew of the F-16 Demo Team will ensure that the pilot can perform in the best possible conditions with a perfectly prepared aircraft.”

 

The team itself consists of one display pilot, fourteen technicians and a webmaster. All team members belong to ordinary air force personnel which means they have to fulfil their duties as the members of the team as well as they are available for any mission to preserve peace and security worldwide.

 

 

So, this is my take on this aircraft in 1/32 scale, before you mention it there are some things, I couldn’t do to replicate the aircraft properly, the engine isn’t correct and the smoke winders are home-made, there are a few other things, but I have used what I could.

There are no decals in 1/32 so this is all airbrushed, and I made my own decals were necessary.

I used MRP paints as they dry quick and helped me in the masking department, this isn’t finished as I am waiting on reed oak to send me the figures I need, but the aircraft its self is finished.

Enjoy

 

 

 

 

[Lothar]

What can I say ? This build is a true showstopper, stellar paintwork and all perfectly executed. Certainly

one of the best F-16s I've seen in a long long time 

Lothar

[miketippingmodels]

7 minutes ago, Lothar said:

What can I say ? This build is a true showstopper, stellar paintwork and all perfectly executed. Certainly

one of the best F-16s I've seen in a long long time 

Lothar

Thank you my friend

Mike

[MikeMaben]

Yeah that's a real beauty Mike  

[crobinsonh]

Stunning build. Well done.

[BiggTim]

Wow, that's awesome! You do know the real plane was painted by an LSP member, right?

[dodgem37]

Over the TOP!  Great work.  You have a fantastic one-of-a-kind piece, here.

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[CZPetrP]

Great Falcon, and great coat. Congratulation.

[Neo]

3 hours ago, BiggTim said:

Wow, that's awesome! You do know the real plane was painted by an LSP member, right?

Really? That is so cool

 

 

Amazing work. She is a real beauty

Edited June 1, 2020 by Neo

[KEi]

Amazing work and to know it was painted is stunning !!

[Nic C.D.]

You did a fantastic job painting painting that jet, Mike. I like the detail that you put into it, like the logo on the back of the helmet! I hope to be doing one as well, I've bought the Tamiya Thunderbirds kit for it - which was waaaaayyy too expensive - and the resin sets by PWMP. 

 

Not many people will see the Dark Falcon this year I'm afraid, with close to all European airshows cancelled, but here are a few photos of what she looks like now with her new tail (and repainted after have been into maintenance):

 

 

The designs of the vertical tail are different on each side; this is the starboard side:

 

 

And a close-up of the 2020 patch on both sides of the tail:

 

 

And to give an idea of how good a job Mike has done painting the kit, here's a photo we made with a small drone:

 

 

No flags on the horizontal tails yet; those change for each show and are big stickers. For those with eagle-eyes; the missile rails haven't been repainted yet, so Mike got that right, they are supposed to be black too!

 

Nic

 

[Stokey Pete]

Holy cow! That’s insanely good paintwork Mike, and without any decals too makes it all the more impressive. 
A showstopper right there. Congratulations.

Edited June 1, 2020 by Stokey Pete

[BiggTim]

2 hours ago, Neo said:

Really? That is so cool

As you can see now by his post, Nic C.D. was the genius behind it. If he says it's good, then that is the gospel! Awesome plane and incredible modeling work!+

Edited June 1, 2020 by BiggTim

[miketippingmodels]

3 minutes ago, BiggTim said:

As you can see now by his post, Nic C.D. was the genius behind it. If he says it's good, then that is the gospel! Awesome plane and incredible modeling work!+

Nic C D an I were in conversation during the build, he told me how long it took to do the graphics.

Mike

[BiggTim]

3 minutes ago, miketippingmodels said:

Nic C D an I were in conversation during the build, he told me how long it took to do the graphics.

Mike

I expected there might have been some collusion between you given how incredible the result is. Just masterful!!