UKPonchoMan Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Can anyone advise as to when the USAF started to switch over from the 3 tone to 2 tone camo for F-16's - and also whether all are now in the 2 tone scheme? I have a few planned so would like to get the details right! Thanks in advance... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Can anyone advise as to when the USAF started to switch over from the 3 tone to 2 tone camo for F-16's - and also whether all are now in the 2 tone scheme? I have a few planned so would like to get the details right!Thanks in advance... If my memory serves me right, when the F-16 was delivered from the factory, they all had the 3 tone camo and after depot level repainting was it switched to two tone. I know they were 2 tone back in 1997 (138th FW birds) but not sure exactly when the switch was first made. I am sure Jake can chime in on this one with the truth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Icehound Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Well when I made my Tamiya 1/32nd F-16C last year I followed the Tamiya paint instructions which said 3 tone grey,which turned out to be wrong.So I have a nice Viper in 3 tone with markings on it from Op Iraqi Freedom Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 (edited) All USAF Vipers left the factory with the 3-tone paint. As each jet went through depot or scheduled repaint, they began to receive the 2-tone in about 1995. By the late 1990's nearly all jets had received the new paint, except those relatively new machines that still wore the factory's paint. To this day, there are still Block 50s (mostly fy00 and later jets) that have yet to be re-painted and wear the original 3-tone. The Tamiya painting guide is wrong for every jet on the decal sheet in 1/48 and 1/32. Jake Edited November 20, 2007 by jmel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UKPonchoMan Posted November 20, 2007 Author Share Posted November 20, 2007 Thanks guys - to be absolutely honest I didn't even realise until recently that they'd been repainted! I have a batch planned for early 2008 and want to make sure I get it right - I guess the only "right" answer is to resort to photographic evidence! Jake - just picked up your F-16 walkaround to go with Viper Story #1 which I got a while ago. Absolutely fantastic stuff. HOWEVER - now you've got us salivating, when can we expect Viper Story #2? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 Jake - just picked up your F-16 walkaround to go with Viper Story #1 which I got a while ago. Absolutely fantastic stuff. HOWEVER - now you've got us salivating, when can we expect Viper Story #2? Thanks! Part II will be ready over the summer. I'm flying with a unit next week for air-air photos, and I'll get the last two units I need in January. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UKPonchoMan Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 First 2 are:- F-16C 87-234 in the 115 FW special scheme (red fin) - pretty sure this was 3 tone F-16C 86-244 in the 192 FW special scheme (blue nose) - this appears to be 2 tone? Thanks guys! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 F-16C 87-234 in the 115 FW special scheme (red fin) - pretty sure this was 3 toneF-16C 86-244 in the 192 FW special scheme (blue nose) - this appears to be 2 tone? Correct on both accounts. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EFD3 Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I can remember the 465th TFS flying block 10 A models out of Tinker AFB in the early 90's with the 2 tone scheme. You could notice it when they would come over to practice flame out approaches and two F-16's would be several thousand feet up. One would have the 3 tone the other 2 tone. The 465th, an AFRES squadron went to KC-135's in April 1994. Terry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 I'm shooting in the dark here, but did any ANG units recieve brand new vipers? Des Moines got 2 or 3 brand new Block 40s, and South Carolina got brand new Block 52s. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UKPonchoMan Posted November 21, 2007 Author Share Posted November 21, 2007 It's fascinating how such a simple thing can be amazingly complex when you investigate! Glad I did though - I hate finishing a model and then realising it's wrong! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darth2307 Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Not trying to hijack the post, but it is related. So are the two tone birds painted with gunship grey and neutral grey? Or is the Light Ghost grey used? I still can't figure it out. Just want to make my build correctly. Thanks! :) Brandon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
drhornii Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 Its not that complex, there is just bad info out there in the Tamiya kit instructions that leads people astray sometimes, which in reality is kinda irritating considering what those kits retail for, especially 1/32.You normally just need a decent shot of the jet you want to do. It all depends on where Tamiya gets it data from. LM probably provided them with 3 tone paint scheme data and they went with that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 21, 2007 Share Posted November 21, 2007 The guy who did their boxtop art got it right interestingly enough. The 32nd box art is wrong, though, isn't it? I don't have a box near me to check. Brandon, yes, 36375 is deleted on the 2-tone. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Everything about the 1/32 kit is jacked. Yes, but fortunately it is not too terribly expensive, so I don't mind a few mistakes. Plus, there are so many aftermarket decal choices, especially for Guard Vipers. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted November 22, 2007 Share Posted November 22, 2007 Plus, there are so many aftermarket decal choices, especially for Guard Vipers. Cmon now Jake, Scotts a busy dude.........what you said in 48th......... :o Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Henrik Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Hello all, A few ANG/AFRes (at the time) Vipers had the two-tone paint scheme in 1992/93. 87-0250 and 87-0338 from the 466th FS / 419th FW at Hill AFB, UT were both painted in two-tone colors when deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey in late 1993. This 11-aircraft deployment, by the way, went directly from Turkey to Aviano AB, Italy for "Deny Flight" operations in early 1994. Greetings, Henrik. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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