Da SWO Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 I have an old ERTL/AMT kit that's half built. I was thinking about converting it to a F-16C Block 30 Aircraft (small intake). What obvious external difference do I need to fix? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jmel Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 It depends on how accurate you want to be. The big items are a new cockpit and vertical stab, plus a bunch of panel lines and some new antenna. A Block 30 will require a different engine, or you can do a Block 25 which retains the A-model's P&W. Grab yourself some good refs and get to work. It isn't that hard. Jake Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 What scale, 72nd or 48th? If 48th. the old AMT/Ertl kit has features from the YF-16 prototype that would need to be corrected: forward strake/fuselage mating line YF two piece nose gear door > one piece door on A & C YF ventral strake shape need correcting In addition to the differences Jake mentioned, the blade antenna on the bottom of the intake moved back to between the ventral strakes. You'd be better off finding a Revell or early Hasegawa F-16C for cheap. Another option is the Academy kit, it had both A and C vertical tails in the kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 1 hour ago, habu2 said: What scale, 72nd or 48th? If 48th. the old AMT/Ertl kit has features from the YF-16 prototype that would need to be corrected: forward strake/fuselage mating line YF two piece nose gear door > one piece door on A & C YF ventral strake shape need correcting In addition to the differences Jake mentioned, the blade antenna on the bottom of the intake moved back to between the ventral strakes. You'd be better off finding a Revell or early Hasegawa F-16C for cheap. Another option is the Academy kit, it had both A and C vertical tails in the kit. 48th, I'll go through the stash and see if I still have my old Academy kit. Now to choose between the 16, or skip it for now and do a Strike Eagle next. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 I apologize for the cruddy photos, but this is how I made an A in to a block 25 C version: http://www.arcair.com/Gal16/15201-16300/gal15241-F-16-Desautels/00.shtm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted November 8, 2020 Share Posted November 8, 2020 21 hours ago, Da SWO said: 48th, I'll go through the stash and see if I still have my old Academy kit. Now to choose between the 16, or skip it for now and do a Strike Eagle next. You could always treat yourself to a Tamiya Block 25. One of the most enjoyable builds I can remember. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share Posted November 9, 2020 Going to give my son 1.5 ERTL kits and take the Academy F-16C. @seawinder Has to be a block 30, as I am making a specific tail number (Wing I was in). Doesn't seem like a lot of aftermarket stuff, so I'll probably go OOB with SuperScale decals from my stash. I'll be doing a 107FS, NOBLE EAGLE bird. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Da SWO said: Going to give my son 1.5 ERTL kits and take the Academy F-16C. @seawinder Has to be a block 30, as I am making a specific tail number (Wing I was in). Doesn't seem like a lot of aftermarket stuff, so I'll probably go OOB with SuperScale decals from my stash. I'll be doing a 107FS, NOBLE EAGLE bird. Sorry -- missed that. If you can find it, the Tamiya F-16C Aggressor kit has everything you need for a block 30 including both small and large mouth intakes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gb_madcat_sl Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 7 hours ago, Da SWO said: Going to give my son 1.5 ERTL kits and take the Academy F-16C. @seawinder Has to be a block 30, as I am making a specific tail number (Wing I was in). Doesn't seem like a lot of aftermarket stuff, so I'll probably go OOB with SuperScale decals from my stash. I'll be doing a 107FS, NOBLE EAGLE bird. The Academy kit won’t have the requisite GE exhaust for a block 30. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 6 hours ago, gb_madcat_sl said: The Academy kit won’t have the requisite GE exhaust for a block 30. True, I missed that. GE exhausts are only in certain 1/48 kits by Hasegawa, Kinetic, Revell and Tamiya. (or aftermarket) Italeri kits have a GE exhaust option but the number of 'feathers' is wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted November 9, 2020 Author Share Posted November 9, 2020 2 hours ago, habu2 said: True, I missed that. GE exhausts are only in certain 1/48 kits by Hasegawa, Kinetic, Revell and Tamiya. (or aftermarket) Italeri kits have a GE exhaust option but the number of 'feathers' is wrong. Can I get an aftermarket kit? I looked at Sprue Brothers and didn't see an Academy specific set, so would another (HAS/TAM) set work? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 9, 2020 Share Posted November 9, 2020 The Academy and Hasegawa kits are Very Similar. In fact I would say with a high degree of confidence the Academy kit is based on the Hasegawa with some simplifications made for the molds, specifically the non-convex canopy and the lack of slope/twist on the flat sides of the aft fuselage. I put a resin inlet designed for Hasegawa on the Academy kit and it fit perfectly. I would bet an aftermarket GE nozzle designed for the Hasegawa kit would be a perfect fit on the Academy kit. Same for the cockpit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted December 7, 2020 Author Share Posted December 7, 2020 I wimped out and bought a Tamiya F-16C. Any aftermarket requirements for this one? (exhaust nozzle is on my to buy list) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 On 12/7/2020 at 2:19 PM, Da SWO said: I wimped out and bought a Tamiya F-16C. Any aftermarket requirements for this one? (exhaust nozzle is on my to buy list) I'm going to try and build this as an 191 FIG F-16 ADF. IFF is available as an aftermarket item, and the searchlight should be relatively easy The bulges in the tail base might be a challenge. Guess I'm going to be brave building 2 models at once, we'll see how that goes. Shelf of doom loses another victim. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 You will need a A-tail with the bulges for making a 191FIG jet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted January 15, 2021 Author Share Posted January 15, 2021 12 hours ago, Niels said: You will need a A-tail with the bulges for making a 191FIG jet. I have the correct tail, will have to scratch build the bulges on the base. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 This is what I have as a starting point. Tail will need more work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 You have probably gone past the point of no return. Don't forget that you need the bigger stabs for all C models. But, if you cut the old ones off clean, you could probably swap them with another kit and keep the short stabs to do an early F-16A. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Compare your vertical tail part with pics of an A model. The (RWR?) sensor just below the rudder is much smaller on the A. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 11 hours ago, Jay Chladek said: You have probably gone past the point of no return. Don't forget that you need the bigger stabs for all C models. But, if you cut the old ones off clean, you could probably swap them with another kit and keep the short stabs to do an early F-16A. Definitely past the point of no return. Going with the ADF, which is essentially an A. Working on the tail Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Okay, an ADF is pretty doable. Nice progress! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Life and the snowpocolypse slowed things down, but I am working on models again. Tail was added, the original tail was bent so I went to the 2nd kit and robbed the tail/base combo. The base wasn't molded well (hence the crooked tail) so I had to sand the top down making it level. Then I discovered the base was also not level, glued the tail verticle and used putty to fill the gap at the base. This is a pre-sanding pic as I had to mold two additional hydraulic bumps for the tail. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 I also drilled a hole for the spotlight. Current plan is to put a small piece of aluminum foil in, then cover using microscale kristal clear. That will get done after primer, top color and I'll add weights (bb's) through the hole. Any suggestions on how much weight to add? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 I found a resin ADF "conversion set on-line and ordered the IFF antennae combo. The set was way too big, so I cut it down to fit. The found out from a former crew chief that they also had IFF antennae under the intake lip:( With help from my son I created a mold and cast my own. Some sanding to smooth the edges, then a touch up primer coat. The radome was also painted. Tomorrow's hope is to put the light coat of grey on. We'll see how many coats it takes to cover the primer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Niels Posted May 9, 2021 Share Posted May 9, 2021 5 hours ago, Da SWO said: I found a resin ADF "conversion set on-line and ordered the IFF antennae combo. The set was way too big, so I cut it down to fit. Sorry to dissappoint you, but that is the MLU antennas for the Tamiya F-16, so no wonder it was too big. The antennas in front of the cockpit and under the intake are essentially the same, so if you make a new set you should be able to correct if you want to. As for references, check out www.F-16.net, they have an abundance of photos of F-16A/B ADF's 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.