Tamiya 1:48 F-16 Viper

[Tiger331]

I believe there are ways to modify the excellent (and not yet surpassed) Tamiya 1:48 F-16 Viper to re-create one of the European F-16AM Block 15s ?. I have recently wrestled with the Kinetic kit and still prefer to go down the route of modifying the Tamiya kit. I've looked for backdate conversion kits and have yet to find any. DACO are scheduled to do one but I suspect it will be like their NATO Tiger Meet 2001 decal sheet for the German Tornado ECR, scheduled to be released 8 years ago and we're still waiting !. Any ideas/suggestions, gratefully received. I'm assuming I need the earlier Block 25/32 kits ?

Cheers

Tiger331

[Stephen]

You would indeed need to start with the Blk 25/32 kit, I would recommend using the tail from the Hasegawa kit. The recess for the C tail should be filled in using plasticard as it is easier to rescribe panel lines (Thanks Jens for the suggestion).the panel lines are slightly different around the vertical stabiliser and the DACO book on the F-16 has very good plans.In addition the wheels would need to be changed as would the instrument panel I think.I suspect Mike V will be able to enlarge on the exact requirements.

HTH

Stephen

[Mike V]

I believe there are ways to modify the excellent (and not yet surpassed) Tamiya 1:48 F-16 Viper to re-create one of the European F-16AM Block 15s ?. I have recently wrestled with the Kinetic kit and still prefer to go down the route of modifying the Tamiya kit. I've looked for backdate conversion kits and have yet to find any. DACO are scheduled to do one but I suspect it will be like their NATO Tiger Meet 2001 decal sheet for the German Tornado ECR, scheduled to be released 8 years ago and we're still waiting !. Any ideas/suggestions, gratefully received. I'm assuming I need the earlier Block 25/32 kits ?

Cheers

Tiger331

I would stay away from the DACO book as far as using the F-16 drawings for reference, as they are based off of panel chart TOs and are not that accurate.

The AM is not that difficult to make from the Tamiya F-16C, or other LWG Tamiya F-16 kit. By the nature of the AM Conversion, most of the leg work is done for you. The F-16C cockpit is pretty much the same as the AM, There’s not much to address there, other than console box layouts; if one want’s to go that far. Remove the defog duct behind the seat on the aft deck and that’s about it.

Of course the main obstacle is going to be the upper aft fuselage, where the smaller F-16A/B vertical tail dorsal mounts. Besides filling in the larger C/D dorsal trench, the fuel saddle bay panels will need to be rescribed to symmetrically perimeter the smaller A/B Dorsal base.

Here’s a 32nd scale example of the Tamiya kit. I also corrected the left side fuel saddle and ISA bay panel lines, as they were a mirror image/layout as the right side, which is not correct for the Viper. This photo drawing is part of an article I wrote for Aerospace Modeler, which is no longer in business.

This shot is from the USAF’s one and only F-16AM and shows the small triangular panel just fore of the small dorsal. Note there are no “lawnmower blade” beef up plates to obscure the original panel lines.

Here's the first attempt F-16A tail (w/parabrake) I made for the Tamiya kit, though this one is for a different F-16 project and has since had the length corrected.

Note that if using the Hasegawa F-16A tail, the dorsal is about 4 inches too short in length and slightly short in height. You’ll want to chop the Hasegawa vertical tail portion off and graft in the Tamiya tail, as it’s more accurate in the angle profile. Be sure to use the Hasegawa vertical tail cap, as the F-16AMs retained the smaller tail cap.

The kit wheels (late type LWG wheels) will work for just about any era F-16AM, although there were some F-16AM/BMs that used the early LWG wheels before the transition.

Eventually, we will have full on F-16A conversions for the Tamiya F-16; from FSD to Block 15 ADF. Our target 1st release F-16A conversion is March of 2012. This will also include a full cockpit; Block 5/10, 15, & 15 OCU.

Mike V

[Jennings Heilig]

Eventually, we will have full on F-16A conversions for the Tamiya F-16; from FSD to Block 15 ADF. Our target 1st release F-16A conversion is March of 2012. This will also include a full cockpit; Block 5/10, 15, & 15 OCU.

[jenshb]

If you're an IPMS Norway member, then you will enjoy the forthcoming issue of Limtuben... You should get most of your questions answered there.

Jens

If you're an IPMS Norway member, then you will enjoy the forthcoming issue of Limtuben... You should get most of your questions answered there.

Jens