anvil6 Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Hello! I am finishing off the Tamiya 1/48 F-16CJ and I would like to know what that small round clear piece that goes on the fuselage above the stabilators on each side is. are those lights, or a sight glass or something else? pictures would be extra helpful. thanks! -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 They are clear white lights, to light up the tail. See here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 ok, that clears up a lot, thanks Pete! do you have any close up pics? -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pete Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Nope, sorry, I don't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted February 28, 2017 Author Share Posted February 28, 2017 39 minutes ago, Pete said: Nope, sorry, I don't. no worries, this is still very helpful. thanks again! -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Check out www.f-16.net - you should find all you need there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
torchf4 Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Interesting that the F-16 seems to be the only modern jet that has tail illum lights a la commercial airliners. Any idea why it was in the design? Jets both before and after didn't seem to need it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 3 hours ago, Niels said: Check out www.f-16.net - you should find all you need there. I searched through that website for hours. If a picture of that light is there,I must have missed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Technically it is called a "formation light". Most F-16s (all USAF afaik) have switched to IR lighting which doesn't "light up" the tail (in the visible spectrum). I haven't found ay decent pics online. There are clear photos of the lights in Jake's Early & Late Viper books. Basically the forward third of the clear circular lens is masked, I don't know why.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 8 minutes ago, habu2 said: Technically it is called a "formation light". Most F-16s (all USAF afaik) have switched to IR lighting which doesn't "light up" the tail (in the visible spectrum). I haven't found ay decent pics online. There are clear photos of the lights in Jake's Early & Late Viper books. Basically the forward third of the clear circular lens is masked, I don't know why.... Hmmm... I don't have access to the books, but you are painting a clearer picture for me. By masked, do you mean it has been painted over with the fuselage color, or am I misunderstanding? -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 (edited) Best I could find in my files, I took these at Nellis in 2008 I think. This is the starboard light on a Block 32 C-model. This second image is a contrast-enhanced crop of the first image to emphasize detail. Note the "masked" pattern and the six fastener screws in the surrounding bezel. Edited March 1, 2017 by habu2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted March 1, 2017 Author Share Posted March 1, 2017 11 hours ago, habu2 said: 11 hours ago, habu2 said: Best I could find in my files, I took these at Nellis in 2008 I think. This is the starboard light on a Block 32 C-model. This second image is a contrast-enhanced crop of the first image to emphasize detail. Note the "masked" pattern and the six fastener screws in the surrounding bezel. Best I could find in my files, I took these at Nellis in 2008 I think. This is the starboard light on a Block 32 C-model. This second image is a contrast-enhanced crop of the first image to emphasize detail. Note the "masked" pattern and the six fastener screws in the surrounding bezel. this is EXACTLY the information I was looking for - thanks dude! :-D -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erik_g Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 On 2017-03-01 at 2:58 AM, torchf4 said: Interesting that the F-16 seems to be the only modern jet that has tail illum lights a la commercial airliners. Any idea why it was in the design? Jets both before and after didn't seem to need it Not modern by any standard, but the AJ/AJS 37 Viggen had a similar light, to light the call sign number on the fin. According to some sources, so that the pilot would find "his" aircraft on the flight line (or rather, in the dispersed maintenance spots in the woods) in the dark. I guess it could be helpful identifying your team mates in the air too, unless the situation requires lights to be turned off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iaf-man Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 This isn't the central spot on walkarounds' photos ))) Here are my humble efforts,again-just an area photos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 6 hours ago, iaf-man said: This isn't the central spot on walkarounds' photos ))) Here are my humble efforts,again-just an area photos Those are awesome pictures! even when you are looking right at that light, its still hard to see. these are very helpful, thank you! -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 I'd be willing to bet that the reason they are blanked off at the front is so that they don't blind boom operators, when refueling at night. Maybe someone could ask Jeff Stoermer 'STORM'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ljmorrow92 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 (edited) I work on Block 40/42's upgraded to CCIP. Like others have mentioned, they are formation lights and they do appear to be masked in the forward section. On our jets it just looks like they painted over the forward part of the lens. What base are you going to do? Edited March 3, 2017 by Ljmorrow92 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleAviation Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 This is an extract from my F-16 book, "Viper Under The Skin". Hope this helps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 9 hours ago, EagleAviation said: This is an extract from my F-16 book, "Viper Under The Skin". Hope this helps Those lights are unique to the Block 50+/52+. Earlier Blocks are drastically different, and different again if we're discussing the original parts or the more recent parts modified for compatibility with NVGs. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EagleAviation Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 19 minutes ago, jmel said: Those lights are unique to the Block 50+/52+. Earlier Blocks are drastically different, and different again if we're discussing the original parts or the more recent parts modified for compatibility with NVGs. Jake Well in our block 30s delivered in 1989-1990 those lights look like this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 52 minutes ago, EagleAviation said: Well in our block 30s delivered in 1989-1990 those lights look like this Those are the original, non-NVG friendly lights fitted to Vipers through Block 52. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anvil6 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 Those are also very helpful pics, not only for getting an idea of what that light looks like, but for weathering references as well - thanks! -Ramon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ol Crew Dog Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 On February 28, 2017 at 7:58 PM, torchf4 said: Interesting that the F-16 seems to be the only modern jet that has tail illum lights a la commercial airliners. Any idea why it was in the design? Jets both before and after didn't seem to need it Late C/D an E. model 15's had Logo lights installed as a part of MISIP, just aft at the base outboard of each vertical Stab. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.