1/48 Hasegawa F-16C

by Alan Williamson

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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.

Click on image below to see larger image

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.

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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.

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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

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Photos and text © by Alan Williamson