Jump to content

Tamiya F-16CJ 77th Squadron "Gamblers" Colors and decals


Recommended Posts

Hi.

Twenty years ago i used to model jet fighters and after a few years i managed to have a pretty nice collection. Unfortunately an incident occur and within a moment all of them became little broken pieces. After that  i never performed any static modelling again.

Couple of weeks a go i was reading the book "Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat" by Dan "Two Dogs" Hampton. I so enjoyed this book and few days later i received Tamiya F-16CJ Block 50 Fully equipment  1/72 as Xmas present. I am so happy because the specific (CJ - Weasels) model is what "Two Dogs" used to flight AND i was so excited when i noticed that there are PE Decals of  77th Fighter Squadron "Gamblers" which was his squad when he was operating in Iraq 2003.

My excitement didn't last long since i figured out that  77th Fighter Squadron squadron PE Decals where available only for 1/32 scales of this Kit. Since it has been like 20 years from the last time i was glueing and painting i started a researching of the materials and how to model this Kit (its a gem...really...) and god so many things to buy and so many techniques to apply. 

I spent hours on google and youtube but yet again i wasnt able to figure out the following:

1. True Colours of 77th Fighter Squadron of  F-16CJ Block 50 deployed in Iraq 2003. What are the colour codes to buy them
2. Decals of 77th Gamblers for 1/72 scale. Are there any out there, if not m is there a chance to print them?

I would appreciate if someone could point me to any sort of resource for the above.

ps.1 i know i could have skip the whole part up until "I spent hours on google" but just felt to share my excitement. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The paint schemes in the photos I looked at all seem to be the standard F-16 colors.  FS36118 (Gunship Gray) and FS36320 (Dark Ghost Gray); where gunship is the darker color.  

 

I think there's a 77th FS jet on TwoBobs 1/72 Shaw Vipers sheet 72-033.  Here's a review of it:  

https://www.arcair.com/Rev1/501-600/Rev598-TwoBobs72033/00.shtm

 

It's long out of print, but you may be able to score a sheet by placing a wanted ad here on the forum, or shopping on ebay. You could also try posting an email or PM to Steve Bamford (the site owner; user name SBARC) since he had the review sheet, he may still have that jet on a partial sheet. 

 

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, kozlok said:

The paint schemes in the photos I looked at all seem to be the standard F-16 colors.  FS36118 (Gunship Gray) and FS36320 (Dark Ghost Gray); where gunship is the darker color.  

 

I think there's a 77th FS jet on TwoBobs 1/72 Shaw Vipers sheet 72-033.  Here's a review of it:  

https://www.arcair.com/Rev1/501-600/Rev598-TwoBobs72033/00.shtm

 

It's long out of print, but you may be able to score a sheet by placing a wanted ad here on the forum, or shopping on ebay. You could also try posting an email or PM to Steve Bamford (the site owner; user name SBARC) since he had the review sheet, he may still have that jet on a partial sheet. 

 

 

 

I'm pretty sure the standard colors are 36118 and 36270. Check table of paint schemes here:

https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/f-16/vipercolors.shtml

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

The TwoBobs sheet @kozlok mentioned actually includes three "Gamblers" F-16Cs, a squadron commander and line birds from Allied Force (1999) and Iraqi Freedom (2003). I may have an extra copy of this sheet (or at least spares of one of the options), so if you can't find it through other sources send me a PM.

https://www.arcair.com/Rev1/501-600/Rev598-TwoBobs72033/00.shtm

 

I got to see some of these birds in person at an airshow at Shaw in fall 2000, and can confirm that they wore the 2-color gray scheme at that time (36118 over 36270, no 36375).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guys thank you very much for your responses. I wasn't expecting such help and i am very grateful for taking the time to help me.  

 

20 hours ago, Quixote74 said:

The TwoBobs sheet @kozlok mentioned actually includes three "Gamblers" F-16Cs, a squadron commander and line birds from Allied Force (1999) and Iraqi Freedom (2003). I may have an extra copy of this sheet (or at least spares of one of the options), so if you can't find it through other sources send me a PM.

https://www.arcair.com/Rev1/501-600/Rev598-TwoBobs72033/00.shtm

 

I got to see some of these birds in person at an airshow at Shaw in fall 2000, and can confirm that they wore the 2-color gray scheme at that time (36118 over 36270, no 36375).


Reading your message made my jaw drop twice!!
1st. When you said you might have a spare sheet
2nd You have seen those birds up front (ohhh you lucky ...)

I will PM you the soonest possible.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I did one of Col Hampton's aircraft in 1/72 after reading his outstanding book, here:  http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal16/15201-16300/gal15281-F-16-Desautels/00.shtm

 

77th "Gamblers" decals were from Authentic Decals, sheet # 72-65; went on nicely, although I swapped out bits of several tail numbers to match the number on the tail behind him in one of his photos.  Decal sheet viewed here:  https://www.scalemates.com/kits/authentic-decals-72-65-f-16c-fighting-vipers--612184

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 1/18/2021 at 4:26 AM, Andrew D. the Jolly Rogers guy said:

I did one of Col Hampton's aircraft in 1/72 after reading his outstanding book, here:  http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal16/15201-16300/gal15281-F-16-Desautels/00.shtm

 

77th "Gamblers" decals were from Authentic Decals, sheet # 72-65; went on nicely, although I swapped out bits of several tail numbers to match the number on the tail behind him in one of his photos.  Decal sheet viewed here:  https://www.scalemates.com/kits/authentic-decals-72-65-f-16c-fighting-vipers--612184


Your build looks really cool. I doubt i will manage to achieve such perfection. I did order a few cheap kits to have some practice before i mode to the "good one". I also like the "dirt" you added on the "guns" section. I remember he pinpoint that in his book on one of his photos (when he gunned down the army vehicles attacking US marine squad). 

It looks like i found a member within the forum willing to send me his spare parts of Twobobs Gamblers decals :-D

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...