Op Southern Watch F-16D.

[Jabba]

     For this GB I will be using the Kinetic F-16D kit along with Bullseye Avation decals to make a Mig-25 Killer. This was an aircraft operating on Op Southern Watch on Dec 27 1992, when it came across the MiG flying on the wrong side of the "No fly Zone". The decal instructions show the weapon load of the flight and also which weapon was fired and where from. I will be making the aircraft after it landed with 1 missile missing. I also think that I have change the engine that the kit instructions say to fit, but both types are in the kit.

 

 

 

 

[Col.]

Great to see not only a D model in the GB but also also one that was a MiG killer

[CT7567]

On 1/25/2025 at 2:02 PM, Jabba said:

I also think that I have change the engine that the kit instructions say to fit, but both types are in the kit.

 

MiG Killer 90-0778 is a Block 42 (I say "is" because at last report this airframe is still flying with the training wing at Luke AFB, wearing a special desert scheme since circa 2022 - LINK).  So the engine is a Pratt F100, and as with all Pratt airframes she has the "smallmouth" intake, not the larger version adopted to give the GE F110 more air.  1:48 isn't my scale, but I understand the kit you have includes the correct exhaust and intake (not for use with the kit options).

[Jabba]

A quick question. When did the stiffener plates start being fitted to the F-16s?

[Wings unlevel]

54 minutes ago, Jabba said:

A quick question. When did the stiffener plates start being fitted to the F-16s?

This has some good info:

 

https://www.usaf-sig.org/index.php/component/content/article/82-f-16-viper-faq-stuff-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-f-16cd

 

(Originally posted by @Retired Bob in the main chat.)

[Retired Bob]

On 27/01/2025 at 03:25, CT7567 said:

1:48 isn't my scale, but I understand the kit you have includes the correct exhaust and intake (not for use with the kit options).

I have this kit and it has both engine exhausts and intakes included.  The GE exhaust and larger intake are on sprue J.

[Retired Bob]

2 hours ago, Jabba said:

A quick question. When did the stiffener plates start being fitted to the F-16s?

There is no hard time frame for these modifications, these programs start happening on a rolling basis as aircraft come to maintenance units for updates.  I've seen 1995 as a start date but if you are working from photos to build a particular aircraft that's your best way to see if they are fitted.  Decal manufacturers are usually no help in giving most details, if you are lucky they will give a block number and date the markings were carried but in most cases not.  I'm no F-16 expert, last month I was asking newbie questions.  I bought the Duke Hawkins F-16 book and read some online sites and I hope I'm getting things in focus now. 

[Jabba]

Thanks for all your help. From the looks of this photo taken in 1993 (My model 1992) it does not appear to have any of the plates.

 

Can anyone confirm what I am seeing:- https://www.deviantart.com/f16crewchief/art/90-0778-as-a-33d-FS-Jet-896587785

[Stephen]

2 hours ago, Jabba said:

Thanks for all your help. From the looks of this photo taken in 1993 (My model 1992) it does not appear to have any of the plates.

 

Can anyone confirm what I am seeing:- https://www.deviantart.com/f16crewchief/art/90-0778-as-a-33d-FS-Jet-896587785

AFAIK , the plates started being fitted from the mid '90s onwards. I built the same model as you're doing (great minds!) and didn't put plates on it. The aircraft were fairly new at the time. 

[Jabba]

Thanks @Stephen. Now saves me ordering some which I was going to do tonight.

[Jabba]

   I have been slowly working on this one and now have something built up to photograph. My original idea with the cockpit was to paint the panels and then dry brush the parts to make the detail stand out. But when I first painted the black, I found it hard to make out what to paint even, with a magnifying head set. So I repainted them grey and then added the kit decals. The CRT screens whcih are green on thedecal were then painted a stainy black, as they would be when powered down. I have also made up the front part of the intake using the parts that are not suggested in the intsructions. Hopefully that is the smaller intake. I have also buil up the main U/C bay, althought the front bulkhead is not glued yet. I will do that when the two halves of the intakes are fitted together. There are some pipes at the back of this bay that I found a pain to fit, in that they would be either fitting to the rear bulkhead or the part they were meant to go to. Eventually I got them to fit both parts. I will hopefully get the cockpit fitted in the next couple of days or so.

 

 

 

 

[Retired Bob]

47 minutes ago, Jabba said:

There are some pipes at the back of this bay that I found a pain to fit, in that they would be either fitting to the rear bulkhead or the part they were meant to go to. Eventually I got them to fit both parts.

I replaced those kit pipes with some lead wire, made things much easier.

[Jabba]

Probably would have been easier than spending a whole modelling session trying to get 4 pieces to fit properly.

[Col.]

There's plenty of detail within those kits parts but it seems you've had to work for it Jabba. Nice result.

[Jabba]

Thank you.

 

      I am looking at making up the engine exhaust parts and again following what is not required to make up the engine from the kit. I am a little puzzled as to what part E7 is. This is the circular part next to the star shaped one. I have looked on istructions for other Kinetic F-16As on scalemates and it is not included on these. Anyone got any idea as to what it is and where it fits? Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Boman]

It's part of the nozzle, and reflects the internal geometry of the nozzle. You find these included in parts E33, but if you use ie an aftermarket nozzle, many of these come without the "inner angle" you can see on the inside of Parts E33. Not sure if this made sense, but there it is. 

[Jabba]

Thanks, I think I get what you are on about. So basically not required for my build as I am using the kit exhuast.

[Boman]

Nope, nut only built the GE version so far. About to start an A/AM any day now and will keep you posted. 

[Boman]

Working on the PW F-16A/AM now, and the ring has no use whatsoever so you can skip it without feeling guilty. 

[Jabba]

Thanks.

[Jabba]

A small update in that the cockpit, intake and main U/C bays have been fitted. I have also removed the bird slicers from in front of the cockpit. I have carred out a trial fit of the upper and lower fuselage halve and although in certains area they fit well, around the leading edge fwd fuselage chine there is a gap. I have tried fettling away some of the plastic in those areas, but it does not seem to make any difference. I think that I will have to live with the gaps and fill them in later.

 

 

 

 

[Col.]

Good progress again Jabba. Pity about the continued fit issues but you seem to have it all under control.

[Jabba]

Thank you.

 

I glued the Fwd upper fuselage to the lower part last night and filled in the gap today. I will hopefully sand this down tonight. I have also done a trial fit of the Aft upper fuselage part and all appear well apart from the top right corner as you look at the last photo. Is anyone else using the Kinetic kit experiencing this at all? I only ask because many a year ago during a  MiG-21 GB everyone using the Eduard 1/48th experienced the same fit problem with one side of the wing to fuselage joint.

 

 

 

[Col.]

It seems that Kinetic have a bit more refinement required before their kits are to become a seamless and straightforward build.

[Retired Bob]

3 hours ago, Jabba said:

I glued the Fwd upper fuselage to the lower part last night and filled in the gap today. I will hopefully sand this down tonight. I have also done a trial fit of the Aft upper fuselage part and all appear well apart from the top right corner as you look at the last photo. Is anyone else using the Kinetic kit experiencing this at all? I only ask because many a year ago during a  MiG-21 GB everyone using the Eduard 1/48th experienced the same fit problem with one side of the wing to fuselage joint.

I decided not to follow the kit instructions for this step and I glued the upper front and rear parts together before attaching them to the lower fuselage section.  I tacked the two upper sections together with Tamiya white cap thick glue, once I was happy with the alignment of these parts I then used Tamiya extra thin glue to make a solid joint.  There was no drama when I attached the upper and lower halves of the fuselage doing it this way.