A Surprisingly Successful Viper Pentuple & Spitfire (because it's Britmodeller)

[Cookenbacher]

Inspired by stevej60's septuple build here:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234956786-the-legendary-pair/

I've decided that the best way to clear out my stash of 1/72 F-16's is simply to build them. And if I post the builds in WIP, the fear of shame in not completing them will drive me forward (if the fear of shame in not being as good a builder as 99% of the work in WIP doesn't stop me first).

The plan:

Build #1 - Hasegawa 1/72 F-16CJ built as a Desert Pink RAF Falcon FGR.2 as it may have appeared in Operation Grandby

Build #2 - Revell F-16C built as an RAF Falcon FGR.3A in two-tone DSG/DCG as it may have appeared in 2011 serving with No 41 Sqn

These two are a follow-up to an RAF Falcon FGR.1 found here:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234959568-172-falcon-fgr1/

Build #3 - Tamiya F-16C Blk 50 as 92-0895 Wild Weasel based at Misawa AB in Japan

Build #4 - Tamiya F-16C Blk 50 as 91-0391 assigned to the Minnesota ANG in the new Have Glass V scheme

Build #5 - Kinetic F-16D Blk 52+ as Polish Jastrzab 4080 assigned to 3 EL

Also, I don't know if pentuple or septuple are real words.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Cookenbacher

[Cookenbacher]

Here are the boxes:

The top one is the Hasegawa - it couldn't be in the pic because it is already full of parts in my haphazard organizational system as seen here:

Some of the decals I plan to use:

I've done a few experiments in an attempt to replicate the Have Glass V scheme. Here is my most successful so far (on a spare F-15 vert tail):

It's a mix of Humbrol 32 (Dk Grey), Model Master Anthracite Grey Metallic, and a drop of MM Jet Exhaust to give it a very slight brown hue. That's an Italian Tornado ECR just out of the paint shop in the background.

Thanks for looking.

[Hook]

Nice, I'll pull up a chair!

Cheers,

Andre

[Cookenbacher]

Small update. I've got the RWR's attached to the FGR2 & 3. I also decided that due to delays/cancellation of the USAF ASPJ (Airborne Self-Protection Jammer) in the F-16C, the RAF would have installed their own 'Storm Cloud' system in the empty space in the vertical tail leading edge.

[nimrod54]

Great idea for stash reduction, I will be following your progress.

[jean]

That looks like a daunting task you have set yourself! Brave and/or foolhardy?

I am not too keen on "what-ifery" (that's just me) but I will follow the last 3 builds with great interest.

Drink plenty of water and eat your greens if you want to have the required stamina for such a marathon!

JR

[charley420]

This'll be good to watch, I'll be keeping an eye on this.

Raf falcons sound cool

[Col.]

Normally have no interest in the F-16 but you've got me with these.

[thomastmcc]

Cool mate

[Cookenbacher]

Thanks for expressing your interest everyone. I realize the F-16 is not everyone's favorite - surprisingly, it's not even really a favorite of mine, but obviously is growing on me. I saw a pic of of 92-0895 in the July 2013 issue of Combat Aircraft and I realized that I had to try it in gentlemen's scale. Then pics of the new Have Glass V scheme started showing up and I liked it too, and bought decals for it from Wolfpak. The 52+ is the first of many Polish builds I hope to do (among them: a 303 Sq Hurricane [for the proposed BoB Group Build], 303 Sq Spitfire II, Vb & Mustang, PZL P.11, and Mig-29).

Then, earlier this year, I came across the the What-if chat here on Britmodeller where Procopius and Fritag were talking about a possible RAF F-16. I couldn't get the idea out of my head and the wrap-around FGR1 (linked in the original post) scratched that itch, but created two more: a Granby FGR2, and a late-model FGR3A. So here we are - five F-16's to build and proof we can't really choose what inspires us.

Five cockpits done - technically six since one is a two-seater:

From left to right:

• Hasegawa FGR2 - I was test fitting the cockpit, and realized I'd never be able to get it better, so I glued it in right then and there.
• The two Tamiya USAF cockpits - the seats are just resting in place since the instructions call for their installation after the fuselage is together.
• Kinetic Block 52+
• Revell FGR3

If I was really on top of things, I'd have an Academy kit going to too, so we could see them all compared.

The Hasegawa shows it's age in the cockpit, and I spruced it up with the Dream Model PE set and scratched oxygen bottle and ejection seat pitots.

I had to do the same scratching for the Tamiya seat - which may be worse than the Hasegawa one. That's a little disappointing since the Hasegawa kit first came out in the 80's and the Tamiya kit came out in April. The Revell and Kinetic cockpits definitely showed themselves to be the class of this field in my humble estimation.

Any and all advice is more than welcome - and to Jean, thank you for putting up with a couple whifs, I know they're not for everyone.

[Cookenbacher]

I've started assembly of the Tamiya USAF Wild Weasel - the kit does live up to the Tamiya reputation of smooth building. Everything fits just right. I attempted to lower the leading edge flaps, as that is how they appear in my in-flight reference pic.

My next update will be in a week and a half, as I'll be away from the bench on vacation.

Thanks for looking.

[Cookenbacher]

The rest of the jets have caught up with the one above:

Plus a couple of previous builds for interest's sake. From left to right: completed Hasegawa FGR.1, Hasegawa FGR.2, Revell FGR.3A, Tamiya Blk 50 'WW', Tamiya Blk 50 Have Glass V, Kinetic Polish Blk 52+, completed Hasegawa Blk 30 Alaska Aggressor. JR, you were right about this being a marathon.

Here is the Hasegawa FGR.1 - I've sawed off the exhaust, and it will be replaced by one from a Hobby Boss F-14B, as the Hasegawa nozzle has absolutely no internal detail and the Hobby Boss one is quite nice.

Here's the bottom - definitely some filling and sanding to do.

In contrast, here is one of the Tamiyas - each wing actually made a 'snap' sound when it popped into place.

Even though there is not a wheels up option in the instructions, the gear bay doors fit perfectly in the closed position. I usually have to fill the bay with blu-tac in order to get a nice fit.

The Kinetic is the most difficult of the bunch so far. Had to do some filing, and build some plasticard 'shims' in order to get the intake to fit.

Something that caught my eye is the pronounced 'hump' behind the cockpit of the Revell F-16. Here it is compared to a Tamiya model behind it.

And here it is compared to the Hasegawa.

I have no idea which shape is more correct - are there any F-16 experts out there that can say?

Well, I may actually finish these one day. Next up: tint and mask the canopies.

Thanks for looking.

[Cookenbacher]

I've got the refuelling probe on the FGR2 and covered the superfluous refueling boom receptacle with some foil.

[Cookenbacher]

Canopies tinted with Future/Klear with food coloring:

Along the way, I've hit a bit of a modeller's snag - let me say that I definitely do not suffer from AMS. I build for fun and my skills are improving slowly. I saw some other F-16 builds on the net where they placed their own rivets on the wings and fuselage panels of a kit that did not have them. It occurred to me that the FGR2 might look sharp with some rivets since it's going to have a well weathered Granby desert pink scheme and they may stand out nicely in some places. I had the Tamiya kit handy to act as a template so I got to work. I started with some small panels that I thought would be easy, and wasn't sure exactly where to start or how far to space the new rivets. An abhorrent thought came naturally to my mind, "I can just count the rivets in the same panel on the Tamiya kit, and then I'll know how many and the approximate spacing to use on the Hasegawa."

Well, fortunately I caught myself and DID NOT COUNT THE RIVETS.

OK, I did - there were five on the short end of the panel.

I'm not sure what to do now. Am I becoming a rivet - I can't say it - starts with 'c' and ends with 'ounter'?

My main solace is that my new rivets don't line up too well except when I impulsively purchased a 'rosie the riveter' riveter wheel and used it instead of a pointy scribing tool (that purchase is Wolwe's fault pure and simple).

Thanks for looking.

[Winenut]

What a grand multi build this thread is

Looking great...cant wait to see where this all ends up.

I will say though you may just have tipped over the edge there with the rivet c......ounting

Cheers

[Cookenbacher]

Thanks Winenut, we'll see if I can finish all five and not count any more rivets.

Small update: FGR2 just out of paint shop, FGR3 about ready to go in.

[kwaterous]

Looking very smart mate

K

[Cookenbacher]

Thank you K, I'm looking forward to the return of your trans-Atlantic fighter.

[kwaterous]

Thanks, I'm looking forward to my return to the bench.

K

[Cookenbacher]

Another small update - I've faded the desert pink scheme on the FGR2. Next up decals and a panel line wash.

I also need to do a brown/bronze dry brush of the nose cone.

[kwaterous]

Mmmmm... Tasty

K

[Winenut]

Seriously good stuff to sit back and watch.

Keep up the great work

[Cookenbacher]

Here's the FGR2 with some of the things for under the wings (and fuselage):

Still lots of clean up to do, but it's finally taking shape.

Here's the just painted FGR3 next to the jet that partially inspired its scheme:

And finally something for the non-whiffers, here's the Have Glass Block 50 ready for paint:

The foil on the tail represents the new BLOS radio antenna that USAF F-16's seem to be getting.

Thanks for looking.

[Maverick231]

God I just love the Viper!!!

Its especially nice to see her in an RAF scheme, I'm thinking of having a number of RAF versions especially one in a modern Red Arrows livery as they are an option for the Hawk T.1 replacement!

[Cookenbacher]

Thanks Maverick, I'm glad you like the RAF whifs. I think a 1/72 Red Arrows F-16 whif would look great, I would love to see it. Of course, anything would look good in the Red Arrows scheme though: Typhoon, Tornado, my computer case, a 1983 Buick Skylark.

I figured the Falcon FGR3 would have its own specific TERMA pod on the centerline, so I scratched one using a Hasegawa target towing pod as the base:

Here are some more of the stores and ordnance for the FGR3 - I replaced the under wing LAU-129 rails with BOL rails and plan to fit ASRAAM to them, the Sniper pod is from the Airfix Harrier GR7/9 kit and so are the Paveway IV's, and I stole the 600 gal tanks from the Kinetic F-16D. Oh, and the completed TERMA pod is in the middle there.

Here's the Have Glass V bird. The paint is a mix of MM Euro 1 grey, MM Anthracite Grey metallic and Humbrol Tank grey.

I'm pretty happy with it - it's dull from most angles, but looks almost silver when the light is just right. We'll see if the effect survives decalling and varnish.

Edited October 18, 2014 by Cookenbacher