PAF F-16A - Kinetic Gold

[Luke1199]

Hi folks, given there's an F-104 GB and a twin engine GB (for which I have a MiG-19) I thought why not have a PAF theme to my GB builds this year. 

 

I have Kinetic's F-16A gold edition for this build, the recent retool. I've heard good things about these recent Kinetic kits so looking forward to this kit.

 

And for the decals I have a set by Uprise for PAF F-16A's. I like the high-vis markings of option E, which happens to be one of the airframes upgraded to MLU standard. I have the Quinta Studio decal set for this build too.

 

Looking forward to this GB, thanks for looking in!

[Retired Bob]

An interesting choice, I have never heard of those decals before, but a word of warning before building this kit as a F-16A.  When I bought my Kinetic F-16C kit I also got this kit to build a F-16A, imagine my surprise when they arrived and contained the exact same sets of sprues as each other!  I didn't know much about the F-16 but I thought that there would be some major differences between an F-16A and the F-16C versions.  On asking questions on the chat thread and reading up on the F-16 on t'internet I found out the thing to consider was the letters MLU on the F-16A box.  They stand for Mid Life Update and that update brought these early 'A' airframes up to F-16C Block 40/42 standard of airframe by adding all the reinforcement plates, the engines and avionics were bought up to Block 50 standard (including those 4 IFF antenna in front of the windscreen).  So while Kinetic has totally ignored any details about the different strengthening plate options, I'm wary about building their kits straight from the box because of all the possible differences made to to the real aircraft.  I'm not sure what aircraft that I will build my "F-16A" kit as, but there's lots of options out there to consider with all the AM and decals that are available.

[Luke1199]

52 minutes ago, Retired Bob said:

An interesting choice, I have never heard of those decals before, but a word of warning before building this kit as a F-16A.  When I bought my Kinetic F-16C kit I also got this kit to build a F-16A, imagine my surprise when they arrived and contained the exact same sets of sprues as each other!  I didn't know much about the F-16 but I thought that there would be some major differences between an F-16A and the F-16C versions.  On asking questions on the chat thread and reading up on the F-16 on t'internet I found out the thing to consider was the letters MLU on the F-16A box.  They stand for Mid Life Update and that update brought these early 'A' airframes up to F-16C Block 40/42 standard of airframe by adding all the reinforcement plates, the engines and avionics were bought up to Block 50 standard (including those 4 IFF antenna in front of the windscreen).  So while Kinetic has totally ignored any details about the different strengthening plate options, I'm wary about building their kits straight from the box because of all the possible differences made to to the real aircraft.  I'm not sure what aircraft that I will build my "F-16A" kit as, but there's lots of options out there to consider with all the AM and decals that are available.

Thanks for that information, Bob. I had noticed looking through the instructions that a number of steps were filling or removing parts meant for other F-16 variants. Luckily a number of PAF airframes went throught the MLU programme including the airframe seen in option E.

 

As for the decals this is the first time I've seen them too, they appear to have a similar film to the new generation eduard decals which can be removed to give the decals a more painted-on look, so looking forward to trying them out- there isn't a lot of PAF decals out there for F-16s unfortunately. 

[Retired Bob]

1 hour ago, Luke1199 said:

I had noticed looking through the instructions that a number of steps were filling or removing parts meant for other F-16 variants.

The thing that I found strange on the instructions for filling details not required for the variant that is being built, on the forward, upper fuselage, the instructions tell you to fill the small vent behind where insert D67 goes except for a Belgian aircraft, none of my forward, upper fuselages have a vent to fill. 

[vppelt68]

All A:s used P&W engines only. You can use the A:s jetpipe only with C blocks that end in 2. Other C:s use GE and apart from a small number of early block 30 airframes, they also have the larger intake. So, no MLU ever made any A like block 40 or 50 in appearance, as they retained their unbulged gearbay doors, P&W intakes, jetpipes and fins. V-P

[Col.]

That's an interesting and uncommon subject choice Luke

It's also great to see everyone coming in with good advice about the various features of these specific machines; this is what GBs are all about

[Retired Bob]

13 hours ago, vppelt68 said:

 no MLU ever made any A like block 40 or 50 in appearance, as they retained their unbulged gearbay doors, P&W intakes, jetpipes and fins. V-P

HI V-P, I agree that the MLU aircraft never received strengthened u/c with wider wheels and bulged gear doors or big mouth intakes and General Electric (GE) engines.  My comment about the fuselage update was referencing all the reinforcing plates that are on these MLU aircraft, they have all the plates that were added to P&W powered Block 25/32/42 aircraft.  Block 50/52 aircraft were structurally reinforced and do not have the external reinforcing plates.  I mentioned this because Kinetic have not included any of these reinforcing plates on their F-16 kits nor do they mention in the build instructions that they should be added by the modeller to make an accurate model should they want to.

[Stephen]

11 hours ago, Retired Bob said:

HI V-P, I agree that the MLU aircraft never received strengthened u/c with wider wheels and bulged gear doors or big mouth intakes and General Electric (GE) engines.  My comment about the fuselage update was referencing all the reinforcing plates that are on these MLU aircraft, they have all the plates that were added to P&W powered Block 25/32/42 aircraft.  Block 50/52 aircraft were structurally reinforced and do not have the external reinforcing plates.  I mentioned this because Kinetic have not included any of these reinforcing plates on their F-16 kits nor do they mention in the build instructions that they should be added by the modeller to make an accurate model should they want to.

The Ukrainian AF boxing https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=KI-K48157 has etched reinforcement plates included.

[Retired Bob]

10 hours ago, Stephen said:

The Ukrainian AF boxing https://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=KI-K48157 has etched reinforcement plates included.

Thanks for that link, it does indeed include a set of p/e plates.  I notice it also has different weapons and pylon sprues compared to the MLU kit, it also includes the two seat canopy on the clear sprue. 

[Stephen]

43 minutes ago, Retired Bob said:

Thanks for that link, it does indeed include a set of p/e plates.  I notice it also has different weapons and pylon sprues compared to the MLU kit, it also includes the two seat canopy on the clear sprue. 

Recent boxings have the weapons sprues from the original F-16 releases , I find this an improvement as the Gold kit has multi part weapons designed for magnets which make them more difficult to construct.

[Retired Bob]

2 hours ago, Stephen said:

Recent boxings have the weapons sprues from the original F-16 releases , I find this an improvement as the Gold kit has multi part weapons designed for magnets which make them more difficult to construct.

The weapon sprues are pretty good compared to what other kit manufacturers supply, the thing with the magfire magnets, apparently there was shipping problems that stopped those being included with the F-16 kits.  They can be obtained from Amazon so I'm not sure what the problem is.

[Luke1199]

Hi folks, all ready for the GB now.

 

 

Decals finally came (all the way from Serbia)! Looking at them they clearly have the thin film covering the decals, according to the manufacturer, they just need leaving for a few hours and the film will peel off leaving a lovely painted on look.

 

Also found some images of my airframe on F-16.net - including the airframe history which confirms it was delivered as a Block 15, and is currently active as a Block 20 AM.

 

Looking forward to this build and seeing everyone else's work!

[exdraken]

Nice project!

[Wings unlevel]

Great project, the Pakistani F-16s do look good! I’ll watch with interest as I’m building this kit too. 👍

[Jens]

On 1/28/2025 at 8:30 PM, Luke1199 said:

Hi folks, all ready for the GB now.

 

 

Decals finally came (all the way from Serbia)! Looking at them they clearly have the thin film covering the decals, according to the manufacturer, they just need leaving for a few hours and the film will peel off leaving a lovely painted on look.

 

Also found some images of my airframe on F-16.net - including the airframe history which confirms it was delivered as a Block 15, and is currently active as a Block 20 AM.

 

 

Looking forward to this build and seeing everyone else's work!

 

Except the MLU did not make it a Block 20. It's still a Block 15 (known as F-16AM Block 15). Block 20s were new-built A/B models with the MLU incorporated from the beginning.

 

Jens

[Luke1199]

Hi all, spent the evening applying the Quinta 3D decals for the cockpit. Still a few small pieces to add to the hood over the instrument panel, but that can be done later in the build as there isn't much surface for those parts to bond to and I dont want to risk any falling off mid build. 

 

The wheel wells are next up, once they're fitted I can close the fuselage halves. Dry fitting shows good fit of the major parts so fingers crossed 🤞 for some steady progress!

 

Thanks for looking in!

[Col.]

Tidy work Luke. These new 3D decals certainly offer plenty of detail.

[Retired Bob]

12 hours ago, Luke1199 said:

Hi all, spent the evening applying the Quinta 3D decals for the cockpit. Still a few small pieces to add to the hood over the instrument panel, but that can be done later in the build as there isn't much surface for those parts to bond to and I dont want to risk any falling off mid build. 

I've just applied the Quinta 3D decals to my F-16 cockpit parts.  I notice that your side console decals are black coloured, mine are grey.  The MLU cockpit photos in Danny Coremans  F-16 book show the side consoles and cockpit insides painted black to help with using night vision aids, all other cockpit photos just show them in Light Ghost grey, FS36375.  I always stick my 3D decals down with PVA glue to make sure they stay in position, I've added those small decals to the instrument panel cover, that was fun, but so far the glue has held them in position, I'll add some varnish to avoid them being knocked off.  Here are both my F-16 cockpits, just about ready to be fitted to their upper fuselage parts.

 

[Luke1199]

A little more work today, built up the undercarriage bays and intake. Just a touch of filler needed at the lip of the intake.

 

Also applied the last of the Quinta decals and fitted the tub to the upper fuselage.

 

Few lumpies and bumpies still to sand off but its going together quite nicely! 

 

[Col.]

Taking shape nicely and there's an impressive amount of detail in that undercarriage bay.

[Luke1199]

Hi folks, that's the bulk of the construction done now- two things to fix before I lay down the black base. The nose needs blending as there is a slight step and the fuselage join needs a leveling out on one side. Overall though it's going together great, easily the best Kinetic kit I've put together! Fingers crossed the F-104 is as good as this!

 

Very much looking forward to starting on the paint, the PAF scheme is one of my favourites!

[Col.]

It's good to see this one going together so well after the horror stories from those trying to use the pre-gold kits.

[Lex77]

Nice choice in color scheme. Looking forward to it.

Yes, their F-104 builds pretty nice aswell.

[Luke1199]

Hi folks, great progress over the past few nights! Majority of the paint is now done, started with a black base.

 

Then did some preshading, my main aim was to pick out the panelling on the fuselage.

 

Then applied the main colours- I used Medium Gunship Grey over USAF Medium Grey- Vallejo paints thinned roughly 50/50 with thinner.

 

I also sprayed the hardpoints and fuel tanks so after some small touchups and the exhaust is fitted its time to gloss her and try out these decals! 

 

Thanks for looking in!

[Col.]

Good progress Luke