This
is my second F-16 in this scale. I’ve made a little mistake with my earlier
F-16, the
J-248 Dirty Diana. This wasn’t actually an Mlu-version but an A-version.
The
really fantastic book Daco from Danny
Coremans & Nico Deboeck, where the F-16 is totally uncovered, gave me the
urge to make a real Mlu-version.
Driving
to my local favorite shop, luchtvaart hobbyshop in Aalsmeer, I got a little bit
impatience. I couldn’t wait to start with this model, again in the 72nd
scale from Revell.
Ejection
seat:
I
build this model straight from the box, except the ejection seat. I
ever bought one but I forgot the manufacturer. I gave the ejection seat new
belts, which are made from lead foil. The buckles are made from thin plasticard.
And a new ejection handle was made from thin copper wire. A new emergency
oxygen bottle was added, and of
course a few new cables.
Cockpit:
A
few things had to be done in the cockpit. It may be a small cockpit, but my
opinion is that even in this scale it is worth to add some details.
First
I’ve added the canopy pressure seal which goes around the whole canopy
platform, and which inflates when the canopy lock handle is closed.
The
second goal was to make the sidewall panels from plasticard.
I’ve
airbrushed cockpit part 1 with Humbrol Gloss Black, and used the decals. After I
applied the decals, I gave it a flat finish.
I
didn’t use the decals for the front cockpit part nr. 7. But at least 24 hours
after I painted the part flat black, which I toned a little down with white, I
carefully paint the displays with gloss varnish. The LG handle was made from
plasticard and was added on the left side.
The
back wall gets his air conditioning grids on both sides of the ejection seat.
Added
on the left side:
-
The
G-Suite Hose Connection.
-
The
grey crank for manually opens the canopy in case of power
failure.
-
The
yellow handle (canopy jettison) in
front of the grey crank.
-
The
switch above the yellow handle.
-
A
new throttle was made from sprue, because I lost the one from the box.
-
Looking
to the front you can see the yellow handle, to lock and seal the canopy.
Added
on the right side:
The
canopy:
I
often had some problems to get a nice shiny canopy. I believe there is a
difference in quality of canopies. In my opinion, the one from Revell in this
kit isn’t really a good quality, but maybe am I doing still something wrong.
The aft canopy from the J-063 has a smoke shade. I have dipped it two times in a
very thinned Tamiya Smoke. The
front canopy of the J-063 doesn’t have a shade, so I dipped it two times in
the thinned Tamiya Clear.
Two
handles were added on the inside of the canopy.
The
fuselage:
The
major fit of these parts are correct, but you guys have to remove the flush
between the wings on kitpart nr.10 carefully, otherwise the wings will be
pushed in a V-shape.
The
flaps were replaced in a lowered position.
Some
static dischargers were broken in the box, just like my earlier model. I removed
all the dischargers and replaced them with sprue, and off course in the right
length.
The
anti-collision light on top of the tail was removed en replaced by a transparent
piece of sprue. I also did this
with the position formation lights on the wings, and the navigation light
just above the parachute house.
New
angle of attack sensors were added by thin metal sprue.
The
intake:
I
guess you guys all know the bad intake of these kits. I removed some plastic
from the kit as shown on the picture, and rebuild the whole intake with
plasticard and Tamiya filler. It costs me a lot of sanding hours until the shape
was oke. The engine is just a circle from plasticard with a little point in the
middle. The engine is painted in a way to simulate the right thing.
Click on images below to
see larger images |
|
|
Decals:
I
didn’t use the walkway decals but I’ve airbrushed them after al long masking
job.
Before
I add the decals I’ve painted the
whole model with X-tracolor Gloss.
I
just used the decals from Revell. They are designed by DACO Products. Believe me
these are really superfine macroreadable decals. I was lucky, because my earlier
Dirty Diana got the ASD7211 decalset. Through this, the decalset from Revell was
left, and that’s why I became lucky,
because I needed two Polly Grey decals looking left, because PollyGrey doesn’t
look forward on both sides on the real tail of the J-063. Anyway it is a little
detail.
After
the decals were applied I finished the model with X-tracolor flat.
Click on images below to
see larger images |
|
|
Landing
Gear and Main Wheel:
I
only add a few wires on the nose landing gear, and in the wheelbay.
I’ve made new acuators for both main wheel doors, because the pair from
the kit didn’t fit, and didn’t look realistic to me at all. The main wheels
got even new lights, which are simulated by a type of perfect clear lenses,
which were available in my local luchtvaart hobbyshop. It’s a shop in Aalsmeer,
close to Schiphol Airport Amsterdam. It’s very worthwhile to visit this shop
when you are here.
I
used the Verlinden way to obtain a natural sit of
the tyres. Put a pan with about about 5 millimeter water (is enough), on
a low fire. When the water has the temperature of 90°
C, hold the tyres in pliers, and press it on the bottom of the pan. The tyre
will flatten and en get the bulged finish. (Watch the heat of the steam, wear
gloves).
Painting
the model:
I
used the Humbrol enamels. All colors were toned down a little with lighter grey
colors, because of the scale effect. The
J-063 is full of spots and some paint damage, which I have simulated
with some different shades of grey, and even black was used a little.
Black soles from boots leave these black soils. Graphite oil leaks on both sides
of the wings are simulated with almost dry enamel paint.
The
final thing was drybrushing the whole model, again with different shades of grey.
Click on images below to
see larger images |
|
|
Thanks
to:
-
Richard
J. Tucker, Tools 'n' Tips article
he wrote a good article about the scale effect on paint colors on the
ARC.
-
And
of course to all those friendly guys who helped me with some questions, on
the ARC discussion-board.
References:
Danny
Coremans & Nico Deboeck – uncovering the Lockheed Martin F-16 A/B/C/D
It
is a pleasure to have this brilliant masterpiece.
Henk
|