FortyEighter Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Entry No.2 will be built from the Kinetic F-16DG/DJ Block 40/50 kit - originally purchased at a very good price as I wanted the CC sprues (Harm missiles + pods). When it arrived those sprues were no longer included and had been replaced by two MER + Cluster bomb sprues. However I've since managed to do a swap to get a Harm sprue. Although this kit only has parts for an F-16D, I can take the unused F-16C parts from my Polish C/D boxing and build this as 92-0920 in the (Two Bobs) 2015 special livery reflecting 50 years of Wild Weasel operations: As the decals include a comprehensive selection of inert missile markings you can expect this one to have a fairly full loadout! Mike 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Welcome along Mike, with by the sounds of it is some mixing and matching to get the model you want. I have one of these Kinetic models in the stash (Polish F-16D 52+), so well be interested to see how this one builds you. I love the scheme choice, it going to look great....plus a couple of AM bits as well! Good luck with this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted June 25, 2021 Author Share Posted June 25, 2021 And the build is off with a cockpit using Eduard etch (theoretically for the Tamiya kit but no problems with the fit apart from missing out the two l-shaped panels either side of the main centre panel as there was no room under the hood): I've also been working on the intake for this and the Polish F-16D: The two intake fans are very different (GE version on the left). Mike 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 Nice start, the cockpit looks nice, am surprised the mix & match fitted. For some reason I do prefer the look of the "Wide-mouth" GE F-16's over the PW versions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted June 26, 2021 Author Share Posted June 26, 2021 19 hours ago, trickyrich said: Nice start, the cockpit looks nice, am surprised the mix & match fitted. For some reason I do prefer the look of the "Wide-mouth" GE F-16's over the PW versions. In theory (if the models are accurate) any etch would fit any model but of course that doesn't always work 🤔 This time there were no serious issues apart from the two bits that wouldn't fit but it looks the part and I'm not going to "rivet count" against an actual photo. This is the first wide mouth I've built, the intake isn't that much bigger but there are some fit issues re the intake on this kit which I've not experienced with a Kinetic P&W version (more details and photo vto follow) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 17 minutes ago, FortyEighter said: In theory (if the models are accurate) any etch would fit any model but of course that doesn't always work 🤔 This time there were no serious issues apart from the two bits that wouldn't fit but it looks the part and I'm not going to "rivet count" against an actual photo. This is the first wide mouth I've built, the intake isn't that much bigger but there are some fit issues re the intake on this kit which I've not experienced with a Kinetic P&W version (more details and photo vto follow) Mike G'day Mike, I am not surprised that the AM parts fit even though they are intended for a Tamiya kit. I have both Kinetic and Tamiya F-16 kits and the Kinetic parts bear more than a passing resemblence to each other. I am not saying that Kinetic copied Tamiya but there may have been some 'inspiration' on their part... Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted June 26, 2021 Author Share Posted June 26, 2021 Hi Pappy I've not built a Tamiya viper (and don't have one in the stash) so can't comment on their similarity. But, knowing how some kits bear a striking resemblance to others I'm not surprised by your comment. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted June 27, 2021 Author Share Posted June 27, 2021 and onto the first poor fit of the build The two outer sections of the intake (I1 & I2) were clamped across the lugs on the inner sections while the glue set but there is a noticeable gap along the centre (and also underneath). If the front edges are squeezed together to close the gap then the overall width is slightly less than the width of the cowl (I12) - as this seam can't be seen once it is in situ, filler will be employed. The underside seam can also be filled but will need some rescribing afterwards. I don't know if the error is mine but I've not had gaps like this when building a Kinetic P&W (narrow) intake. I need to look at the cockpit before I can join the fuselage halves as it is fouling the underside and stopping the two parts meeting properly - that will be down to me! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickE Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 Good start, I like the look of the cockpit - hope my eduard set looks as good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted June 27, 2021 Author Share Posted June 27, 2021 17 minutes ago, MickE said: Good start, I like the look of the cockpit - hope my eduard set looks as good. Thanks, I'm sure yours will look great, just take time to slowly glue each etch in place (and if you're like me, forget about some of the minute handles!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 Oh dear, the fit of that intake is pretty bad!!!! If Kinetic used the Tamiya model for "Inspiration" they must have lost it when they did this part by the looks of it! bits of stretched sprue will be the best way to fill the gaps and give you something solid to re-scribe later. Hopefully there aren't any further dramas waiting down to build for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted July 4, 2021 Author Share Posted July 4, 2021 Whilst continuing to build the basic body, thoughts have also turned to the loadout: Not sure whether to go with two Harm missiles or one plus ACMI pod as above - to load two of the missiles I need to find another adaptor to use under the pylon (There's one somewhere in the model room but I can't find it at the moment). Also a Sniper pod and Harm pod to go either side of the intake. You can also see an Aires resin exhaust set which is better than the plastic in the kit, though the exhaust "petal" ring is slightly wider than the kit four part offering. The resin is meant to fit the Tamiya kit though I've used the P&W version before which is a good fit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 a nice selection of stores. That AM exhaust dose look nice, with the exhaust being quite prominent in an F-16 it just cries out nice AM replacements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share Posted July 24, 2021 Although I didn't take any photos along the way, the basic airframe is now complete and as a partial excuse to the length of time between posts, apart from the other F-16 and Blenheim, I've also been working on this F-16 which was way over the 25% rule so isn't in this Group Build. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted July 25, 2021 Share Posted July 25, 2021 That camo is spot on! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 I love it!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 Update time, the main decals are now applied: Apologies for the light quality, will make sure the next photos are taken in daylight. Have had to "bodge" the walkway decals, Two Bob's only give you enough for the centre section to go immediately in front of the IFR markings rather than in between the cockpit and antennae (WHY??) I've also used turned brass static wicks, a PITA to fit but several of the plastic ones were broken in the box and a few more during construction. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 gee she looks nice with the decals on. I had similar issues with the walkways on my Sufa, though luckily the CF tanks hid the missing areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 On 8/12/2021 at 4:03 AM, trickyrich said: gee she looks nice with the decals on. I had similar issues with the walkways on my Sufa, though luckily the CF tanks hid the missing areas. I haven't got as far as decals for the Polish "D" yet ......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FortyEighter Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 Decalling is now finished: I managed to flex the canopy while removing the masking tape and now have a split at the centre front position - not too noticeable at most angles and I'm not sure if I have a spare (I've still got one more A/B boxing to build but haven't decided on an airframe yet). So the main jobs left are to fit the HUD and the canopy frame if it's to be posed open. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfa1983 Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 That looks so nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted August 30, 2021 Share Posted August 30, 2021 gee she looks really nice!!! Shame to hear about the canopy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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