Nev Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 (edited) Very, very happy with how this kit has turned out considering its been sat in the garage swathed in dust and masking tape and at the mercy of the cats the last 5 years, whilst I've been in a modelling funk. The Tamiya kit is absolutely superb, one of the best kits I've ever built, the quality is really obvious when you place it next to the Kinetic and Hasegawa kits. There's 4 or 5 little bits on there I'm not happy with, but I'm happy to move on and call it done after all this time. Onto the pics. F-16C Block 30, 527th Aggressor Squadron, RAF Bentwaters, 1989. I used just a little light weathering with a MiG dark wash, these birds weren't around long enough to get that dirty. I made the intake cover using a piece of cardboard, covered it tissue paper soaked in white glue and painted yellow. Red Star came from the decal sheet. It's also a rare bird in that although it was one of the first Block 30 F-16s, which came equipped with the new GE engine, but the early ones still had the "small mouth" intake, later Block 30s coming equipped with the "big mouth" intake due to their requirement for a larger airflow. The decals are from the now defunct Afterburner Decals. I used the Tamiya metal detailing set for the pitot probes and ejection seat belts. Inspiration for the real thing to finish up with. Alas the 527th was very short lived with F-16s, lasting less than 2 years before the end of the Cold War brought about their disbandment. My collection of F-16s now stands at 5/16..... Thanks for looking Edited February 14, 2020 by Nev 42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Great result and a nice collection. Have to agree about the kit, it's brilliant. Welcome back, by the way - feels like you've been away a while! Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desert falcon Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Looking fantastic, nice collection as well 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonkaGuy Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Perfect example of a F-16! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris148 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Cracking build and superb collection 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Very nice. Must try the Tamiya kit then. I did the Academy one & the intake fit is really not the best. The two halves are asymmetrical. But built the same airframe 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 (edited) This is 1:48, right? There was an earlier 1:72 set with Alconbury Zweibrucken RF-4C's, Spangdahlem F-4G & F-16 and Bentwaters F-16's, must have been a good 18 years ago. Same subject, still have the 527th F-16 decals. Now look what you've done, you made me go and get an 1:72 early block F-16C again Edited February 15, 2020 by alt-92 details.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcNewitt Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Wow what a model, that is stunning. absolutely gorgeous!! Yours too Bar Side, Just out of curiosity would you happen to have the dimensions of your HAS to hand? Shame the 527th only lasted a couple of years on F-16s but they were allocated to RAF Alconbury on the F-5 of which there is a fibreglass mock up outside the base. Marc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 21 minutes ago, alt-92 said: This is 1:48, right? Yes, mine is 1/48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 22 minutes ago, MarcNewitt said: Just out of curiosity would you happen to have the dimensions of your HAS to hand? Sorry they are on my old laptop. Must dig them out again, or get the tape measure out. Quite big in 1/48 though, but a guy on here is building some wooden laser cut versions that look good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serkan Sen Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Very attractive set of Vipers and F-2s... I will go back pending Viper projects when I finish ongoing Habus... Serkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick231 Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Beautiful aircraft. I sure wish I could get hold of these decals in 1/72! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted February 14, 2020 Share Posted February 14, 2020 Stunning that! I wish I could still get hold of a set of those 527th decals. Maybe xtradcal will release some. Such a pity that unit was only around for 2 years, Bentwaters must have seen some fantastic visitors during that time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luiz Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Great F16 collection! Congratulations! Luiz. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Nicely done, my friend - I was lucky enough to sit in that aircraft at the UH show in '89 (may have been '90 ?). Great to have you back and building again... keep in touch now, y'hear 🙂 Ian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Very nice! Interestingly how performant those were back then in comparidon what the RAF had... at least WVR..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted February 15, 2020 Author Share Posted February 15, 2020 9 hours ago, Maverick231 said: I sure wish I could get hold of these decals in 1/72 9 hours ago, Lord Riot said: Stunning that! I wish I could still get hold of a set of those 527th decals. Maybe xtradcal will release some. I would go ARC and the sub forums for Caracal Decals and Reid Air Publications and suggest them in there. Both guys are very open to suggestions like these, especially if they get lots of support, which being F-16s they would on ARC. Caracal is probably a better bet in 1/72. My Afterburner sheet was printed in 2009 so its due someone having another go. 3 hours ago, Ian said: Nicely done, my friend - I was lucky enough to sit in that aircraft at the UH show in '89 (may have been '90 ?). Lucky man! I don't think I ever saw one in the flesh. Lots of low level A-10s and F-111s up my way, and Lightnings on long finals, but never an F-16... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Beautiful build, subtly weathered, looking just right. A great comeback! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 10 hours ago, Maverick231 said: Beautiful aircraft. I sure wish I could get hold of these decals in 1/72! 9 hours ago, Lord Riot said: Stunning that! I wish I could still get hold of a set of those 527th decals. Maybe xtradcal will release some. Found the instruction sheet. Old XtraDecal X008-72. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 9 hours ago, alt-92 said: Found the instruction sheet. Old XtraDecal X008-72. Is there one in 1/48 though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Should be xtradecal 005-48 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Nicely done Viper! 13 hours ago, MarcNewitt said: Wow what a model, that is stunning. absolutely gorgeous!! Yours too Bar Side, Just out of curiosity would you happen to have the dimensions of your HAS to hand? Shame the 527th only lasted a couple of years on F-16s but they were allocated to RAF Alconbury on the F-5 of which there is a fibreglass mock up outside the base. Marc The 527th flew the F-5E from 1976 to around June 1988 when they moved to Bentwaters and reequipped with the F-16C in late 88. Amazingly, I went to Bentwaters over Christmas 88 and the aggressors were flying the day after Boxing day along with F-15s - if my memory serves from Bitburg. Can't imagine much flying going on over "holiday" periods these days. Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 I did make it to a mid 80s air show at Bentwaters before the F-16s. In the days of the A-10s roaming the skies in pairs. It was wet but not sure if it was this show in 85 but the pictures are nice https://www.airshowspast.com/raf-bentwaters-airshow-1985.html I have built an Alconbury RF-4C & a couple of F-5 aggressors that also look good with the HAS. May do a Euro One scheme RF-4 at some point & have a Spangdahlem Weasel to do as well. Plus have a TR-1 and a WR tailcode A-10. Steadily working through the set of East Anglian US jets 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 Niiiice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29Triplex Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 A Great build! and a wonderful collection . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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