discussion Gary's 1/72 Tamiya F-16 CJ Block 50

[gweller]

After finishing the Academy F18D I thought I would now build the Tamiya 1/72 F-16CJ. I am going to build it straight from the box with the exception of using Kelik 3D decals for the cockpit and painting it the newer 2 colour scheme used on F16's rather than the 3 colour one shown in the instructions.

I am not a particularly fast builder, so my apologies if the build is not updated too frequently

Anyway here is the (almost compulsory!) shot of the box....


......plus a nice photo I found of the actual aircraft I am going to try to replicate.

 

[gweller]

As I am going to be using the Kelik 3D decals, my first task was to remove the raised cockpit details, add the joystick and throttle and paint this assembly.
After that it was a simple matter to add the decals, gluing them in place with some thinned PVA

 

[gweller]

Next up was assembling and painting the various u/c parts, prior to fitting them into the lower fuselage. The F16 seems to have an extremely complicated main u/c but it is very nicely replicated in the kit. As these parts are white and I'm hand painting everything I going to give them first a coat of Sand before applying 2 or 3 coats of thinned white acrylic.



While the paint was drying I also did some work on the fuselage, adding the gun port etc, and filling in some vents that Tamiya indicate as not being applicable to this version.

 

[Jim R]

Should go together nicely being Tamiya. 3D decals are great for cockpits. You're off to a good start. Don't worry about a slow build, modelling isn't a race. Well unless you're 10 and want it built, painted and hung from the ceiling before bedtime ????

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

I love the F16. Seat pulled up.

 

[Ian M]

Definitely one of the better looking "modern" jets.

 

[boatman]

SHOULD be a good build i'll be followin along sir as i love the sleek lookin F16 an has it a smoked glass canopy ? in the kit

chrisb

 

[Airborne01]

The office decals are particularly effective!
Steve

 

[gweller]

SHOULD be a good build i'll be followin along sir as i love the sleek lookin F16 an has it a smoked glass canopy ? in the kit

chrisb

No, unfortunately the canopy is not tinted, which is a bit of a shame. Not sure I'm brave enough to have a go at tinting it myself, so am planning to build it with the canopy open to make it less obvious. Unless of course anyone can share a good method for tinting/painting the canopy??

 

[gweller]

The office decals are particularly effective!
Steve

I'm hoping they will also look good on the seat as well. The Kelik set includes seat cushions, belts and various other bit to spruce it up.

 

[boatman]

no, unfortunately the canopy is not tinted, which is a bit of a shame. Not sure i'm brave enough to have a go at tinting it myself, so am planning to build it with the canopy open to make it less obvious. Unless of course anyone can share a good method for tinting/painting the canopy??

use tamyia smoked clear paint should do the job BUT PAINT IT LIGHTLY

 

[Mickc1440]

One of my favourite aircraft, looking forward to this

 

[gweller]

Ok, been busy with the main undercarriage in the last couple of building sessions. Normally I would not add the u/c at this stage, but on this kit it is a bit fiddly and so did not fancy tackling it on a fully completed model. Once complete it's quite strong but it will obviously need to be treated with a bit of care during the rest of the build!! I'm going to be hand painting the model, which makes life a bit easier when masking, so hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

 

[Jim R]

That does indeed look fragile so good call to get it in place at this stage. Better to have fiddly painting than fiddly fitting of painted parts.

 

[flyjoe180]

Nice start Gary. Agree that the F-16 main landing gear is fiddly, I think fitting it early is the best course of action.

 

[gweller]

Top and bottom fuselage halves joined, tail fin put together and a test fitting done of the wings and fin on the body. I must say this is the best fitting kit I've had the pleasure to build since returning to the hobby. Next stage is to finish and fit the air intake/front wheel bay. At the same time I will be painting the inside of the exhaust tube, u/c door etc.

 

[gweller]

Not a lot of exciting progress over the last couple of days to report. Been working on the intake and exhaust, plus painting the insides of the u/c doors amongst other things. The jet pipe and exhaust nozzle are a bit simple which is a shame on such an otherwise nicely detailed kit. I've ordered the Eduard brass/resin set to see if this is any better.

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Coming along nicely. I notice you have masked off the intake . Out of curiosity, did you not get a decal to fit there?

 

[gweller]

No, as far as I can see per the instructions, there is no decal for the intake. Incidentally the manual still shows the old 3 colour scheme, where as the F-16 I am attempting to model is in the newer 2 colour camouflage of FS36118 over FS36270.

 

[Jim R]

Coming on nicely.