Academy 1/48 F-16A/C

[Raptor.777]

Recently picked up this model. It is the kit with the red and white horizontal stripes on the vertical tail. Seems no one makes after market goodies for this kit. Was hoping to get a cockpit kit of some sort. Is it equivalent to other model kits like Kinetic or another kit? Not even what block# it is. I am thinking 25 or 30 but not sure. Looks like it has a smaller intake to. Have a bunch of aftermarket decals for planes from the late 80s and such, so just an aftermarket cockpit would be nice. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Jeff

[habu2]

The kit should have two tail bases, allowing you to build  Block 15 F-16A or a Block 25 F-16C.  Both are small mouth inlets with P&W engines.  The kit has many similarities with the Hasegawa kit (except for fit) so most aftermarket parts "for Hasegawa" should work.  The kit decals are for the C model but IIRC they are crap - use aftermarket.

[Raptor.777]

4 minutes ago, habu2 said:

The kit should have two tail bases, allowing you to build  Block 15 F-16A or a Block 25 F-16C.  Both are small mouth inlets with P&W engines.  The kit has many similarities with the Hasegawa kit (except for fit) so most aftermarket parts "for Hasegawa" should work.  The kit decals are for the C model but IIRC they are crap - use aftermarket.

You are correct. The kit does have 2 tail bases. One is very plain and the other has some more details on it. I assume that is the one for the C model? Were the block 25s used in Desert Storm?

[habu2]

The smaller base is for the A model, larger is for the C model.  I don't have access to my books right now to check on which block deployed to DS.

 

edit: according to f-16.net a large number of Block 25s participated:

 

https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/aircraft-combat-deployments/deployment/Desert Storm/1/

 

.

 

Edited April 9, 2023 by habu2

[Raptor.777]

27 minutes ago, habu2 said:

The smaller base is for the A model, larger is for the C model.  I don't have access to my books right now to check on which block deployed to DS.

 

edit: according to f-16.net a large number of Block 25s participated:

 

https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/aircraft-combat-deployments/deployment/Desert Storm/1/

 

.

 

Lots of info there. Thanks

Jeff

[Niels]

The Academy kit is a rip off of the Hasegawa kit, only having enough differences to avoid having a copyright infringment law suite brought against them. 

As already mentioned by others, most Hasegawa aftermarket parts will fit, so also aftermarket decals. 

On the subject of decals, this is the one you'll be needing; 

BMA48004 1:48 Bullseye Model Aviation Decals - F-16C Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers' 388TFW Al Minhad AB - Sprue Brothers Models LLC

 

The kit itself can be built as a F-16A block 15 or F-16C block 25/32. With aftermarket GE-engine you can also build as a block 30, however only for serials pre-86-0262.
The mid-underwing pylon is for an F-16A however, hence not correct when building as a block 25 or 32 (or 30). The cockpit leaves a lot to be desired, but aftermarket is available. Beware of "bent wings". Many examples have bad warping of the kit wings, but should be possible to straighten under warm water. 

[habu2]

The Academy kit doesn't have the ASPJ-specific scoops & vents for a Block 32, OOB it's B15 or B25 only. 

[Raptor.777]

2 hours ago, Niels said:

The Academy kit is a rip off of the Hasegawa kit, only having enough differences to avoid having a copyright infringment law suite brought against them. 

As already mentioned by others, most Hasegawa aftermarket parts will fit, so also aftermarket decals. 

On the subject of decals, this is the one you'll be needing; 

BMA48004 1:48 Bullseye Model Aviation Decals - F-16C Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers' 388TFW Al Minhad AB - Sprue Brothers Models LLC

 

The kit itself can be built as a F-16A block 15 or F-16C block 25/32. With aftermarket GE-engine you can also build as a block 30, however only for serials pre-86-0262.
The mid-underwing pylon is for an F-16A however, hence not correct when building as a block 25 or 32 (or 30). The cockpit leaves a lot to be desired, but aftermarket is available. Beware of "bent wings". Many examples have bad warping of the kit wings, but should be possible to straighten under warm water. 

Thank you for all the good info

[Niels]

And this is the second sheet which is very much worth getting: 
BMA48014 1:48 Bullseye Model Aviation Decals - F-16C F-16A Viper / Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers II' - Sprue Brothers Models LLC

[ElectroSoldier]

I asked along the lines of this a few months ago.

Old Academy F-16C kit #12259 - Jet Modeling - ARC Discussion Forums (arcforums.com)

 

I have a some of them myself, I have the Twobobs aggressor sheet and will be making the grey and blue versions but I also have the aggressor markings for the Bentwaters based jet which I will also be doing. 

Edited April 9, 2023 by ElectroSoldier

[habu2]

3 hours ago, Niels said:

The Academy kit is a rip off of the Hasegawa kit, only having enough differences to avoid having a copyright infringment law suite brought against them. 

 

While there are several similarities I wouldn't call the Academy kit a "rip off" - that distinction belongs to the KiTech/Zhengdefu kits, right down to the instructions. The only difference is that the K/Z kits have raised panel lines vs Hasegawa engraved lines.  Oh and the decals....

 

The Academy kit is kind of a smash-up of Hasegawa and Revell.  It lacks the convex bubble canopy shape and the sides of the aft fuselage don't have the anhedral twist, both done to simplify mold design. 

 

If you want to compare "similar" F-16 kits put the Monogram and Esci/AMT kits beside each other. 

[Raptor.777]

4 hours ago, Niels said:

The Academy kit is a rip off of the Hasegawa kit, only having enough differences to avoid having a copyright infringment law suite brought against them. 

As already mentioned by others, most Hasegawa aftermarket parts will fit, so also aftermarket decals. 

On the subject of decals, this is the one you'll be needing; 

BMA48004 1:48 Bullseye Model Aviation Decals - F-16C Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers' 388TFW Al Minhad AB - Sprue Brothers Models LLC

 

The kit itself can be built as a F-16A block 15 or F-16C block 25/32. With aftermarket GE-engine you can also build as a block 30, however only for serials pre-86-0262.
The mid-underwing pylon is for an F-16A however, hence not correct when building as a block 25 or 32 (or 30). The cockpit leaves a lot to be desired, but aftermarket is available. Beware of "bent wings". Many examples have bad warping of the kit wings, but should be possible to straighten under warm water. 

Where would I get the aftermarket pylons?

Thanks

Jeff

[ElectroSoldier]

1 hour ago, habu2 said:

 

While there are several similarities I wouldn't call the Academy kit a "rip off" - that distinction belongs to the KiTech/Zhengdefu kits, right down to the instructions. The only difference is that the K/Z kits have raised panel lines vs Hasegawa engraved lines.  Oh and the decals....

 

The Academy kit is kind of a smash-up of Hasegawa and Revell.  It lacks the convex bubble canopy shape and the sides of the aft fuselage don't have the anhedral twist, both done to simplify mold design. 

 

If you want to compare "similar" F-16 kits put the Monogram and Esci/AMT kits beside each other. 

How do you know that? I mean were you involved in producing the tooling, or do you know somebody who was involved in making the tooling for it?

[habu2]

I have all the kits mentioned and have compared all of them side by side, and test fit parts together from different kits. 

[ElectroSoldier]

Me too.

So you think that give the fact that the Academy kits nose cone (as a for instance) can fit perfectly on the Hasegawa kit then the one clearly came from the other?
That Academy made their tooling using the Hasegawa kit as a basis rather than a different master?

 

What did strike me was the panel line artifacts.
Not the panel lines themselves, I would expect those to be the same, but the spurious mistakes that can be seen on the hasegawa kit are also on the academy kit in places.

[Niels]

I've built both and used parts interchangable, so I know the Hasegawa parts fits the Academy kit. No question about it. 

[Raptor.777]

maybe I should just get the Tamiya block 25/32 kit. Mightjust be the better kit. Can't seem to find the Hasagawa kit for that block. I would imagine it has all the correct pylons. Still want to make it a Desert Storm aircraft.

[habu2]

2 hours ago, Raptor.777 said:

maybe I should just get the Tamiya block 25/32 kit. Might just be the better kit. 

 

No maybe about it. Tamiya makes the best F-16C kit available. 

 

Hasegawa will release a new (rebox) kit of a Block 50 next month, it has both inlets, both exhaust, both gear sets..... but Tamiya is still the better kit. 

[Raptor.777]

8 minutes ago, habu2 said:

 

No maybe about it. Tamiya makes the best F-16C kit available. 

 

Hasegawa will release a new (rebox) kit of a Block 50 next month, it has both inlets, both exhaust, both gear sets..... but Tamiya is still the better kit. 

Ok. Thanks for the info. Might go that route

[seawinder]

If you're at all into F-16s, IMHO you owe it to yourself to build at least one Tamiya in your lifetime.

[Raptor.777]

https://spruebrothers.com/resk48035k-1-48-reskit-kelik-3d-detail-set-f-16c-f-16n-falcon-tam-kit/

Do you guys think this cockpit detail kit will cover the block 25 version? if not, which one would you guys recomend?

[Raptor.777]

I ended up ordering the Tamiya kit this morning. That is why I am asking about the cockpit detail kit mentioned. I ordered that to along with some decals a member on here suggested. They had another 3D cockpit detail kit for the block 25, but it didn't have the seat cushions or the seat belts. I really like the 3D stuff better than the photo etched parts, even though they have come a long way also. Thank you again for all the info

Jeff

[Raptor.777]

This is the other 3D printed cockpitBBBB3D0008 1:48 Babibi Model 3D Cockpit Detail Set - F-16C Block 25-30 Falcon (TAM kit)

[Raptor.777]

This is the other 3D printed cockpit

[Ken Cartwright]

FULL DISCLOSURE: I suck at building models.

 

I am currently working on the Academy kit, and have found it to be a miserable experience.  I had one kit with the wing-droop issues mentioned, and the second isn't quite perfect, but is much better (I tried to fix the first one and destroyed the wings). The air intake has a large step/gap from the gear panel insert that's included, and I think it was designed to be built with the canopy open, so building it closed was difficult because the seat seemed too high.

 

I haven't done a thorough comparison with the Hasegawa kit, but the canopy from the Academy kit fits perfectly on the Hasegawa, so it seems like they have very similar moldings.  The thing that scares me about the Hasegawa and Tamiya kits is sanding and polishing the canopy seam - I'm not sure I'll be able to get it clear with my skills. If I botch that on my Hasegawa kit, I have the Academy canopy from the ruined one I can use to salvage the Hasegawa kit.

 

I have Two-Bobs decals for that 144th ANG F-16 like is in the Tamiya kit, and since the Academy is a block 25, I was hoping to use those decals on that, but with the build issues I'm having with my feeble skills, I am not sure I want  to waste those decals on this build.  It's been a learning experience, though.