Najk Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 (edited) Hey guys, Started on the first of my three or four Vipers for this group build. It's the Tamiya F-16CJ in 1/48 scale. I'll mark it as a jet from 52nd FW at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. So far I've nothing bad to say about the kit. Everything fits just great and it's a joy to put it together! Will build it OOTB, with kit decals. Regards, Niklas from Sweden Cockpit painted, but not yet weathered. First fan stage painted and ready for installation. Edited January 24, 2009 by Najk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 The same a/c like I am working on - 52FW commander? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 The same a/c like I am working on - 52FW commander? Yep, that's the one! Unless I can find some other interesting decals of an SP-bird.. B) Good luck with yours, looking forward to some pics! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Yep, that's the one! Unless I can find some other interesting decals of an SP-bird.. :D Good luck with yours, looking forward to some pics! :) Thanx, wish you too B) I think it´s a nice marking - very important plane :) Next kit I´ll be building is 52FW Commander´s F-4G (already build here on ARC but I will make it after Desert Storm with a lot of missions) - it will be nice sisters at display case... There are few nice pics at airliners.net of this plane, you saw them already?Specially that ones with 2 HARM´s and 4 AMRAAM´s (this pics inspirated me not to use Sidewinders X´s from kit, but 2 more Amraams instead). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Good luck with yours, looking forward to some pics! :) BTW. I already posted some pics : http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=133312 B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted October 18, 2007 Author Share Posted October 18, 2007 BTW. I already posted some pics : http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=133312 B) Oh yeah, I've seen that one before. It looks really good! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Oh yeah, I've seen that one before. It looks really good! Thanks B) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Azgaron Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Ser bra ut så långt, Niklas! Looks good so far, Niklas! Azgaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-1 Nut Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Great job painting! I can't wait to see the rest of your bird. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Midnight Storm Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 Nice work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 So far, so good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted October 21, 2007 Author Share Posted October 21, 2007 Thanx, wish you too I think it´s a nice marking - very important plane ;) Next kit I´ll be building is 52FW Commander´s F-4G (already build here on ARC but I will make it after Desert Storm with a lot of missions) - it will be nice sisters at display case...There are few nice pics at airliners.net of this plane, you saw them already?Specially that ones with 2 HARM´s and 4 AMRAAM´s (this pics inspirated me not to use Sidewinders X´s from kit, but 2 more Amraams instead). Thanks Pavel! F-4G sounds pretty cool, I'm sure it will make a nice pair on any show, or at home on your own display. No, haven't looked up my reference pictures yet, but I definately will now! My first thought was to go with the kit armament, but four AIM-120 sure sounds nice! I really don't like the AIM-9X, I prefer the -9M. I will probably have an ALQ-131 jamming pod on centerline as well, instead of drop tank. European CJ:s don't fly with the ALQ-119 pod, as you probably know. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted October 21, 2007 Author Share Posted October 21, 2007 Great job painting!I can't wait to see the rest of your bird. Thanks! I'll try to post some more pics soon, just gotta find the time to build some more.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted October 30, 2007 Author Share Posted October 30, 2007 Finally I got some more done on my Viper. Main landing gear bay painted today. Pre-shaded with Tamiya nato black, then painted with white. Also got the body glued together today, plus I've started on the stores. More pictures as the bird advances to finished... Main wheel bay Upper body Lower body Fuel tanks Some weapons Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Azgaron Posted October 30, 2007 Share Posted October 30, 2007 Niklas, It's improving nicely! Keep it up! Azgaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted October 31, 2007 Share Posted October 31, 2007 Thanks Pavel!F-4G sounds pretty cool, I'm sure it will make a nice pair on any show, or at home on your own display. :blink: No, haven't looked up my reference pictures yet, but I definately will now! My first thought was to go with the kit armament, but four AIM-120 sure sounds nice! I really don't like the AIM-9X, I prefer the -9M. I will probably have an ALQ-131 jamming pod on centerline as well, instead of drop tank. European CJ:s don't fly with the ALQ-119 pod, as you probably know. :o Yeah, I am planning 131 too, but you mean (that about euro Vipers) ALQ-184 which is in kit instead of 119... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted November 1, 2007 Author Share Posted November 1, 2007 Yep, -184 of course, my mistake! Got hold of an -131 at least. A fellow IPMS friend here in Sweden sent me one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TomcatFanatic123 Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Great job so far, especially on the pit. I'm building the same kit, so I'm watching your progress carefully . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 Time for an update now on this bird. It's been a slow progress, but today I got some parts painted. Did some preshading with Tamiya Nato Black, then I painted the fin and intake in Gunze H306 (FS 36270). The Tamiya painting guide suggests this bird would be in the three tone grey, but according to my pictures it seems like two tones, hence the light grey fin.. I've also pre-shaded the upper fuselage. Lower will have to wait a little bit, still have som bits to add. Comments? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle48 Posted December 18, 2007 Share Posted December 18, 2007 :) Very nice Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Hej Niklas, you painted engine inlet before you glue it to fuselage??For me it not look like a good idea - you´ll destroy that colours during fitting of it- it is the most difficult part of this kit...I also suggest to fit that inlet lip onto inlet tube before you will paint it (not like I did it), it is not very well engineered part of a kit... BTW, as we talk about four Amraams and ALQ-131 pod (I have it on my model) later I found (and discuss it on F-16.net) more often config is 3 Amraams (two A´s and one new model) plus one sid 9M on ALE 50 target pylon - take a look on Airliners pics, it is hardly to see on these pics, but 4 AIM´s are not on them <_< But during discussion was revealed, that 40 120´s is not impossible - so I am satisfied, what I want to say is that 3 120´s as asymetric load out is more interesting :( Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted December 26, 2007 Author Share Posted December 26, 2007 Hej Niklas, you painted engine inlet before you glue it to fuselage??For me it not look like a good idea - you´ll destroy that colours during fitting of it- it is the most difficult part of this kit...I also suggest to fit that inlet lip onto inlet tube before you will paint it (not like I did it), it is not very well engineered part of a kit...BTW, as we talk about four Amraams and ALQ-131 pod (I have it on my model) later I found (and discuss it on F-16.net) more often config is 3 Amraams (two A´s and one new model) plus one sid 9M on ALE 50 target pylon - take a look on Airliners pics, it is hardly to see on these pics, but 4 AIM´s are not on them But during discussion was revealed, that 40 120´s is not impossible - so I am satisfied, what I want to say is that 3 120´s as asymetric load out is more interesting Hey Pavel, thanks for all the "heads up" on this! I've test fitted the intake quite a few times now, and it looks like I can fit it right in there without filler och scratching something up. I'll post some pics of it as soon as it's done. I did only paint the inside of the intake lip before attaching it to the intake, so I could fill and sand on the outside. I dry-fitted the inside and it was a good enough fit for me. But I DO agree. the intake fitting isn't the best out of the box... Perhaps I'll just have to "borrow" one more AIM-120 from my other Tamiya kit then.. :) I read a few days ago that Thunderbirds will be flying the block 52 from 2009 season, maybe the other one will be made as one of those... :( I'll look around at Airliners.net to find some good loadout reference pics, thanks! Are there always two AIM-120A and one AIM-120B/C? Or can there be three B/C's..? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PavelS Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Hey Pavel, thanks for all the "heads up" on this! I've test fitted the intake quite a few times now, and it looks like I can fit it right in there without filler och scratching something up. I'll post some pics of it as soon as it's done. I did only paint the inside of the intake lip before attaching it to the intake, so I could fill and sand on the outside. I dry-fitted the inside and it was a good enough fit for me. :) But I DO agree. the intake fitting isn't the best out of the box...Perhaps I'll just have to "borrow" one more AIM-120 from my other Tamiya kit then.. :P I read a few days ago that Thunderbirds will be flying the block 52 from 2009 season, maybe the other one will be made as one of those... ;) I'll look around at Airliners.net to find some good loadout reference pics, thanks! Are there always two AIM-120A and one AIM-120B/C? Or can there be three B/C's..? Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! you are welcome, happy New year to you too :) I don´t know exact difference between B and C (on airliners pics are all A or B I think) I hope Jake Melampy will lighten that up here what I know is:that C have all surfaces small triangle shaped, and A and B´s rear "wings" are larger...About that mix on one plane I heard that the reason is to spend old missiles during missions.But as you noticed, I have all missiles on my Viper same. there are some links for ammo : all pics for big boss a/c http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.sear...inct_entry=true there is clearly seen asymetric load... http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0389...amp;photo_nr=59 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted December 27, 2007 Author Share Posted December 27, 2007 you are welcome, happy New year to you too I don´t know exact difference between B and C (on airliners pics are all A or B I think) I hope Jake Melampy will lighten that up here :) what I know is:that C have all surfaces small triangle shaped, and A and B´s rear "wings" are larger...About that mix on one plane I heard that the reason is to spend old missiles during missions.But as you noticed, I have all missiles on my Viper same. there are some links for ammo : all pics for big boss a/c http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.sear...inct_entry=true there is clearly seen asymetric load... http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0389...amp;photo_nr=59 I catched up a little on the AIM-120's. Seems like the B and C are the same, except for that part about the fins you mention. On the C they are smaller, to allow internal carriage on the F-22. The A version is an early version. This link gives pretty good reading about the AMRAAM. AIM-120 AMRAAM On that pic with asymetric load, all three looks like they are the same, I think. Maybe because they are inert training rounds? I'll go with all the same as well, that's the easiest on an "out of the box" build, as this one is supposed to be. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Najk Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 It's been too many days since I posted any updates on my Viper. Maybe because there haven't been any? :D The time just haven't been there. Anyhow, today I found time! Painted up the lower fuselage and the fuel tanks. Too bad I forgot to take photos of the tanks though... The pre-shade is more pronounced IRL, the photos doesn't do justice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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