Kit:
Hasegawa F-16C 09397
Additions: Black
Box F-16C Block 40-52 Cockpit Set CS 48004
Two
Bobs Decals "Hows My Driving' and Crimson Tide Viper 48-012
Construction
I brought this kit
back in 2003 along with an other Hasegawa F-16 form my local Hobby shop. Not
long after that I had a break from building kits for a few years and it sat with
fifty other kits until late 2005, when I decided to get back into building kits
again. After looking at other modellers F-16 articles on ARC I decided to start
the build of the F-16C. I visited the Two Bobs web site and had a look at the
range of decals available for the 1/48 F-16, I was looking for something
different, a scheme that most modellers might not look at doing. The decals
"Hows My Driving" caught my eye and I thought why not. I sent Craig at
Aeroworks an E-mail to order the decals and the Black box Cockpit. I
was use to using the Aires cockpit but was intrigued with the look and what
I had read on ARC about the Black Box Cockpit range. When the cockpit and
decals arrived I went to work on assembling the kit. First thing I
noticed about the Black Box cockpit was the detail, the instructions were quite
clear on what modifications needed to be made to the kit for fitting the
cockpit. Something Aires dose not mention in there instructions, I also
noticed there was no PE with the resin cockpit, it was all resin.
However Black Box is not always available in Australia it can be quite
hard to get a hold of. The cockpit went together like clock work it was
great to work with a real joy, after it was painted up it was ready to go into
the F-16, I had a few gaps around cockpit once installed but filled them with
putty. Before I assembled the fuselage halves together I cut out the airbrakes
so that I could display them in the open position, I also decided to cut the
flaps and position them down. Putty was required to fill any gaps resulting in
the modification. Otherwise the kit went together with little fuss.
This picture
shows the kit and aftermarket goodies and picture 04 shows the Black Box
cockpit painted and ready to install into the kit. |
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image below to see larger image
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Painting
The F-16 was painted in it's
usual scheme I used Model Master enamels with a clear cote painted over the
entire kit ready for the decals. The F-16 was used as a recruitment drive from
the U.S.A.F in commercials during the winter and spring of 2000 -2001. The word
"1-800 HOWS MY DRIVING" on vertical stabilizer were digitally
added for the commercials. Once the decals were on I went over the kit with
another clear cote, and it was time to go over the kit with a pastel wash
to highlight the panel lines. With the panel lines highlighted I sealed the
entire kit in a matt clear.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Finishing
I finished off the F-16 with
landing gear assembly, cockpit window and ordnance. I decided to arm the F-16
with A.G (Air to Ground) ordnance using the Maverick and GBU ordnances from the
Hasegawa Weapon sets the missiles came with the kit.
Click on
images below to see larger images
Thanks
To Craig at
Aeroworks for getting me in the decals and resin cockpit. You can drop Craig an
E-mail at aeroworks@iprimus.com.au for
a list of goodies for sale.
To Steve Bamford for
all his endless work on the site.
Alan
Click on
images below to see larger images
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