Cookenbacher Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 This build is inspired by the What-if chat, and I couldn't wait to start it, but had to finish some Super Hornets first. It's going to be an RAF F-16 used to supplement the Jaguar force in the late 80's. I've started with the Hasegawa 1/72 Block 50 boxing, and am trying to add a few details to make it RAF specific. Nothing says RAF 80's attack aircraft like a through-tail RHAW. Next time I'll glue the pilot's arm on after attaching the control stick. The Hobbyboss F-14B/D kits come with four very good F110 nozzles, and so I picked up a bargain F-14B boxing just for them. About the same price as Aires exhausts (although they don't yet make a 1/72 F110 anyway) and comes with an entire F-14 to boot! I sawed off the Hasegawa 'feathers' and will attach the Hobbyboss ones after painting. I plan on filling in the existing panel that represents the air-to-air refueling receptacle door, and placing this scratch built refueling probe to the right side of the forward fuselage. I stole the LRMTS from a Tornado, and it will go under the right side of the intake. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driver66 Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Great what-if but wish the RAF had been allowed some F-16s , it's still a great aircraft . Watching with interest.....would look good in desert pink?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Here is the entirely fake history of the Falcon in RAF service - please feel free to completely skip to the next WIP post. The F-16 ended up in British service due the EDEA (European Defense Export Act), an attempt to win the Cold War through bankruptcy rather than bombs. Known as Falcons in RAF service, they were F-16C Block 30BR airframes with GE F110 engines, 'big mouth' intakes. Curiously the RAF machines retained the two chaff/flare dispensers of the Block 25 model and the gun venting of the 'A' model. Fortunately, this is the exact configuration featured in the Hasegawa 1/72 F-16C kit. The first four Falcon FGR.1's were built in Fort Worth, and then modified once reaching Britain, while the rest were assembled at BAe Warton. The Falcon was primarily intended for attack/strike, and was modified for that role. The most prominent of these modifications were the tail mounted RHWR, and LRMTS mounted below the intake. In the cockpit, the 'Up Front Controller' was replaced with a moving map display at the insistence of veteran Jaguar pilots. Navigation inputs were made with a keypad mounted behind the throttle. Additionally, the F-16's boom refuelling receptacle was replaced with a retractable probe on the starboard side of the fuselage. Falcon FGR.1's entered service in 1988, first with 231 Sqn reactivated as a OCU unit, and then filling out the Coltishall wing of Nos 6, 41, and 54 Sqn assigned to the 'Mobile Force', ready for deployment to support any deployment required by NATO. The Coltishall Jaguars were not retired, but transferred to Germany to bolster the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force - it being decided that the Falcon would be better served deploying on NATO contingency operations due to commonality with many other members' F-16's, while the Jaguar, with its rough field ability, was better suited to front line service in Germany. In 1990, four sets of LANTIRN targeting pods were sent to the RAF for evaluation. With the arrival of Operation Granby, these four sets were put into immediate operational use by Falcon Force in the Middle East. Aircraft so equipped were designated Falcon FGR.2. Along with Buccaneers, Falcon FGR.2's were used for designating targets for Tornados, Jaguars, and the non LANTIRN equipped Falcon FGR.1's. During the 1990's, Falcons were upgraded to carry and employ AIM-120 with LAU-129 rails replacing the old 210 rails, and designated FGR.3. Eventually the force was brought up to FGR.3A standard with the installation of the new GE F110-129 engines. In 2014, the final Falcon FGR.3A retired from service, finding a worthy successor in the Eurofighter Typhoon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Great what-if but wish the RAF had been allowed some F-16s , it's still a great aircraft . Watching with interest.....would look good in desert pink?? Thanks for commenting Driver! I'm planning on this one being wrap-around, but have dreams of doing a desert pink version, and one in the two tone grey scheme worn by late Jaguars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Here is where it's at so far: Got the refueling probe on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Love the RWR. Nice touch! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 very cool idea ... thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Very nice good to see more whiffs. I must get back to my Azrael Project soon. Looking forward to this. The F-16 is a beast. Cheers Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 21, 2014 Author Share Posted April 21, 2014 Thanks Thomas, Procopius and Rob. Procopius, I hope you're not offended as when I said this was inspired by the What-if chat, I should have said that it is inspired by a post by Procopius in the What-if chat! Or stolen if you're feeling less charitable. Rob, for the wrap-around, I intend to use the blu-tack masking technique that I learned by watching your 'tiddler' Vulcan build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 More flattered than offended, I should think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 am just thinking what one would it be like as a block 60 or something ... Thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 (edited) A little update on progress so far. I put a little metal foil over the boom receptacle to make it look like there is a new panel there. I really messed up the foil (should have maybe practiced first), but it's hard to tell in this pic so I'm posting it! In real life the foil is all wavy. The LRMTS required a base because the curvature of the intake caused the right 'window' to look at the sky. Would maybe come in handy if someone was lazing the moon. Made a base from plasticard and putty. Just noticed that I was resting the model on a coarse-grit sanding stick. Great Idea Cookie! First coat of Humbrol Dk Sea Grey is on. I tried to lighten it with some MM Lt Sea Grey, but it's still pretty dark. I'm attempting to scratch a PHIMAT pod. Next up is blue-tack masking for the Dk Green. Rob, I like your idea of spraying the green first because it makes it easier to pick out and follow the more prominent color (I mean colour) on the instructions, but I did the grey first because my blue-tack is actually light grey and masking off the green areas with a grey mask is a little more than my brain can handle! Thanks for looking. Edited May 2, 2014 by Cookenbacher 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 very nice job and a great idea! you should put a tea cup in the pilots hand........very British! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 looking great mate.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 4, 2014 Share Posted May 4, 2014 A cracking idea being well executed. Not normally a fan of the F-16 but making an exception for this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the kind comments everyone, Britmodeller is a wonderful place. Got the green on. You can definitely tell it was my first time using the blu-tack method, but I can live with it. Any tips appreciated. Here it is with the masking removed. I think the radome and missile rails are going to be Neutral Grey, since that's how they are on the Venezuelan and Moroccan Vipers (the only camouflaged F-16's I know of). I gotta hurry up, because I have a couple of Harriers sitting there in boxes, and staring at me judgmentally knowing full well that their Group Build has begun! Thanks for looking! Edited May 5, 2014 by Cookenbacher 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 That masking turned out really well! I've never been able to make that method work for me. If I were to make one obnoxious suggestion, it'd be to paint the 'dome black, as it was that colour on other RAF jets intended for ground-attack. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 I'm with Procopius - black will fit in with a RAF jet of this era and also look right beside the green and grey scheme. Neutral grey sounds right for the 'winder rails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 Yeah I would say the same mate black radome . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Black it is! Thanks for the input everyone, this is most helpful. Last night, I couldn't keep myself from thinking that my planned scheme might end up looking like a 2000's era jet painted in some sort of 80's commemorative scheme. Problem solved. I have no qualms painting it black (Rolling Stones!) as early F-16's did indeed have black radomes. I think I'll add a black anti-glare area ahead of the cockpit as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Gordon Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 That's looking rather good.I'm up for the black radome too.If you wish to be a purist add a little dark brown to the black.Either way she's going to look spot on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 5, 2014 Author Share Posted May 5, 2014 Will do! I'm curious how that will turn out - I often add some grey to my black paint before applying it. Looking at some wrap around Tornado pics, it looks like the radome does have a brown tinge, while the anti-glare strip does not. I think that would make for a nice touch if I'm able to pull it off! Thanks Alex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastmcc Posted May 5, 2014 Share Posted May 5, 2014 try dry brush the brown on top the black mate.. thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) Here it is with a black radome (by popular demand!). My masking skills failed me a little, so I'll have some clean up to do. Thomas, I'm going to follow your advice and use some tempera paint to try and get that faint brown/dark bronze sheen after it dries. Edited May 7, 2014 by Cookenbacher 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 (edited) Your WHIFFER is EXCELLENT so far.. Love the quirkyness of different types of builds .. This is great.. IMPRESSIVE. Edited May 7, 2014 by HOUSTON 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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