1/48 Tamiya F-16 (Block 25 - 363rd TFW - Desert Storm - 1991

[lgl007]

Hi All,

 

So I'm on the way building the Tamiya kit that has been so highly rated/talked about.  

Lets start at the beginning, here's the kit:

 

Aftermarket decals to be use come from this set (as the included Tamiya decals are about as thick as you can get 😞 )

 

I am going to use the livery on Col. Ray Huot's jet (Desert Storm, 1991), which has some pretty nice artwork on the fuselage:

 

After doing some research the following was a typical loadout for this aircraft:

Centre:  ALQ-119

Inner pylons:  Fuel Tanks

Middle pylons:  3xMK82's on a TER (not the new version of the TER F-16 use now... they were still using the old TER back in 1991)

Outer pylon:  not used

Wingtips:  AIM-9M

 

So I picked up this kit because it came so highly rated and regarded by the modelling community, in fact can't seem to recall reading anything negative about this kit.  That said here are 'some' negatives:

 

1) Plastic is very thin and flimsy (extreme is some spots)... to a point that any little excess of Liquid Cement will melt the other side.  Once slip of the exacto knife and you get a significant gouge to work on as it just slices through the thin plastic like butter.  Is Tamiya cheapening on the quality of their plastic as a cost saving measure?

2) Not sure if this is me or not, but I'm not finding the fit to the usual Tamiya standards.  Admittedly I've only built about 20 or so Tamiya kits, I'm finding things are not lining up as they should.  I've never had this issue with a Tamiya kit before.  I've been extremely careful to ensure each stage of the build is spot on as per the directions and have not "forced" anything into place, in fact things are in fact 'falling into place' but not to the usual standards.  Leaving me to do a lot of sanding, lots of minor filling, and in some cases 'tweaking'/trimming of pieces to fit correctly.

3)  This is a very DELICATE and fiddly kit.  Prepare for some frustration with some of the pieces.

4)  If you are building a Block 25, prepare for some sanding ... but this is expected 🙂

 

Gonna keep plowing on, nice and slow as I think it will end in a very nice shelf queen, but that above has been frustrating.

 

At any rate, here are some progress photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers all,

 

-Greg

 

[Crash Test Dummy]

Block 25s didn't have beer can antennas on the wing leading edge during Desert Storm.  They were a retrofitted later on

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2023 by Crash Test Dummy

[RichB63]

A great kit and a great set of decals…should be a fun project 👍

[Sysxii]

Which TER was used in 1991? I am also building this same kit using the same decal sheet. 

[lgl007]

Crash:  Thanks!  You just save me from making a big mistake 🙂  Cheers bro! 

 

Crash:  Anything else I should modify/change on the Tamiya kit to make it period/block correct?  Besides the changes the instructions call for...?

 

Sysxii:  I have photos of F-16's from 1991 Desert Storm and they were actually using both the original TER and the new one that F-16's now carry.  I've decided, since it was quite an 'early' jet, to use the old basic TER's.  I'll post some pics in a few days for you... away on business atm and can't access my full library.

 

Sysxii:  Which jet you gonna model from that sheet?

 

-Greg

[Crash Test Dummy]

@lgl007I'm not going to go through the Tamiya kit to figure out how to make a 1991 Block 25. That's why Google exists, you should try to figure it out for yourself instead of just asking the rest of us to do your research.

[Sysxii]

Thanks Greg, I look forward to you reply. I plan to do 84-1256 "Night Stalker" Check out dstorm.eu for great reference photos and information. 

 

On my build I omitted the following parts: F3, F4 on step 20, A3 on step 28. I'd also make sure you use the early version of the wingtip pylons.

[lgl007]

Sorry Crush... for some reason I thought you had built the Tamiya kit.  I get the 'use Google' BS but a lot of stuff you find is incorrect.  I have always found this forum to be a bunch of not only helpful folks but extremely knowledgeable folks who's direction I can trust rather than somebody's random post on the web that may or may not be correct.  BTW I never implied for YOU to do the research for me... in fact you don't have to post anything at all if you don't want to... at any rate, what the heck is this forum for anyhow, if not for helping each other... for most of us, helping each other is part of the fun of being part of a great community of folks who enjoy the same hobby...

 

Sorry if I have somehow offended you and I guess based on your statements I should not depend on help from community members.  But I think you're in the minority sir!

 

I for one, will always be more than happy to share what little knowledge I have with other community members because that's what we do and helping someone else gives me as much joy as actually building a subject matter.

 

Greg

[Mr.Happy]

Great start on your 16 and amazing fast progress.

 

Mr.Happy 

[Mr.Happy]

Greg,

 

I’m not certain if you have perused F-16.net for reference info or not?

 

It may prove useful for your question regarding the specifics of the Block 25 F-16.

 

Hope this will be of some use to your project in some way?

 

Best of luck,

 

 

Mr.Happy

[Thadeus]

I still have the Tamiya Viper to build. I figured with all the stuff I've heard and seen online it would be better to first build the Kinetic Viper, and then Tamiya one.

Nice project. I'm pulling up a chair. Nice clean work on the intake lip.

[lgl007]

Hey Sysxii,

Re your question about what TER's were used in 1991.  Here's a pick with a F-16 with the old TER...  I found a few others as well, so I figured there were still using the old once back then...

 

[lgl007]

Mr. Happy:  Haha... slow progress really, with a full time job, full time family, I just keep twiddling away at it as time permits.  Thank you for the web link, I have been using that site 🙂

 

Thadeus:  Lets see how the project turns out 😉  At any rate, whenever you get to your Tamiya Viper build... just be super gentle with it...  I just can't believe how soft the plastic is... I can't tell you how many times I've had to fill holes, sink holes, and gouges made by either liquid cement or a small and gentle slip of the exacto knife... The Hasegawa F-14 I just finished building had plastic that was extremely thick and rhobust in comparison so it was quite an awakening working on the Tamiya kit, especially when you have to sand an area on such soft and thin plastic as the Tamiya Viper has.

 

-Greg

[Specter1075]

On 7/1/2023 at 12:50 PM, Crash Test Dummy said:

@lgl007I'm not going to go through the Tamiya kit to figure out how to make a 1991 Block 25. That's why Google exists, you should try to figure it out for yourself instead of just asking the rest of us to do your research.

Pretty sure that's one of the main reasons people come here. It seems like a bit of a dick move to point out an error to someone and then chastise that person for asking for more of your opinion.

[Crash Test Dummy]

1 hour ago, Specter1075 said:

Pretty sure that's one of the main reasons people come here. It seems like a bit of a dick move to point out an error to someone and then chastise that person for asking for more of your opinion.

Thank you for your most unhelpful opinion. I pointed out an error before his model was complete, the dick move is to wait until his model is done and then rip it apart for avoidable errors. I've pointed out to this person multiple times that many of his extremely basic questions could be answered with Google. The OP is too lazy to do "use Google BS" or too stupid to interpret the results and wants answers spoon-fed especially for him. Personally I have nothing against helping people, but I do have issues with someone that takes advantage of the goodwill of others due to his personal laziness. Back when I started hanging out in online forums it was considered poor etiquette to ask common questions without attempting to search for answers first. 

[lockheed2004]

I've built this kit over a dozen times and don't recall any issues with soft plastic (not on the level of ICM or Airfix) or excessive sanding needed.  It's not the level of fit that the recent F-22 and F-4 kits are.  But, it's still probably in the 8-9/10 range, where minimal filler should be needed and everything goes together with a nice, clean joint.  The only real problem area is where the two upper fuselage piece join, but some careful gluing and pressure will allow you to get a joint without a step and minimal cleanup required.  Maybe you can mention the areas where you had issues.

 

On Stations 2/9 where you puttied, there is a piece on the C sprue that would go there to avoid the use of filler.

 

For the fuselage piece that divides the gear bay, you can remove the large tab from F21, and proceed with installing F22 to get a good fit.  You can then paint the gear bays much easier.

[Sysxii]

7 hours ago, lgl007 said:

Hey Sysxii,

Re your question about what TER's were used in 1991.  Here's a pick with a F-16 with the old TER...  I found a few others as well, so I figured there were still using the old once back then...

 

Excellent. Thank you for the photo. It looks like it is the TER-7 rack. Also found that Eduard and Reskit both have an AM offering.

[lgl007]

Thanks Lockheed... most helpful... funny thing, I did not find any issues with fitting the two upper fuselage pieces... LOL. 

 

Re Crash's comments.  Firstly I still must thank Crash for the insightful and helpful information he has provided.  It is always MOST WELCOME AND APPRECIATED!  As for all the other comments, the only thing I can say is ... we each have our own opinion and Crash is entitled to his as much as each of us.  My only concern is that such comments might turn away newbies to the forum or even to the hobby.  The number of people modelling is dwindling each year and I believe we should help people as much as possible if we have the knowledge to share to make their modelling experience that much more enjoyable so they keep coming back to the hobby.  I'm sorry Crash if i have worn out your helpful nature and I can only say that if you don't wish to help any further, just don't post anything...  Still, I HOPE YOU DO because you seem to be very knowledgeable about the subject and some of us (myself included) very much APPRECIATE your input into our builds to make them as accurate as possible. As for my Google BS comments - I have spoken to modellers over the years and seen photos of finished models that were 'referenced' from sources on the web, only to actually be proven to be inaccurately modelled in the end.  Hence coming to our forum to get guidance from a great community of helpful people who are more than happy (in the vast majority of cases) to help a fellow modellers, especially if they have already done the research (or just know the subject intimately), NOT ONLY to save time but for the sake of accuracy of the build.  Oh, and BTW I think your 'laziness' comment is unfair... some of us barely have the time for modelling but still enjoy it and want to do the best we can in what little time we have, take pride in our work and are not ashamed to ask for help.  Others have more time on their hands, or more importantly, like you - have the knowledge to be able to help without the need for hours of googling and research... and that is why I say again... it is MOST APPRECIATED and for those who do take the time to answer my posts/questions I THANK YOU from the bottom of my model making heart 🙂

 

Cheers guys, lets keep it clean and fun!

 

-Greg

[Specter1075]

3 hours ago, Crash Test Dummy said:

Thank you for your most unhelpful opinion. I pointed out an error before his model was complete, the dick move is to wait until his model is done and then rip it apart for avoidable errors. I've pointed out to this person multiple times that many of his extremely basic questions could be answered with Google. The OP is too lazy to do "use Google BS" or too stupid to interpret the results and wants answers spoon-fed especially for him. Personally I have nothing against helping people, but I do have issues with someone that takes advantage of the goodwill of others due to his personal laziness. Back when I started hanging out in online forums it was considered poor etiquette to ask common questions without attempting to search for answers first. 

My my, so defensive! You could have not replied, or you could have replied in a way that avoids twice now calling someone lazy, but you chose instead to reply like a dick. You clearly aren't interested in helping, or you wouldn't have been so snarky towards him. Even now the guy is showing appreciation towards you, but you again call him lazy. Sorry pal, that's a dick move every day of the week.

Edited July 3, 2023 by Specter1075

[ST0RM]

Wow, typical keyboard warrior reply. At least his name fits his personality. 

[CFster]

Nice work so far. Interested in seeing how you tackle the upper fuselage join. Most of these I see it stands out on the finished product and it did on mine too. About the only fitment issue I had. 

Edited July 4, 2023 by CFster

[lgl007]

Hey CFster, joint went together really well/  The the two halves joined nicely and are smooth to the touch, but I think that due to the fact that the seam line runs end to end of the fuselage (wing to wing) and no other panel line further to the back of the aircraft runs that way (perfectly perpendicular to the fuselage) will make it noticeable/stand out...  Not only that but because it's a seam, it will definitely be a "thicker" panel line and therefore will stand out.  I can see why Tamiya did this as it's a natural demarkation line/point but the problem will always exist.  I suspect that for those who don't do black panel lines that that demarkation point may be more invisible... /shrug.  Even in the line pic below that line stands out to me 😜  It would have definitely been better if they had molded the top as one piece... We'll see how it goes once the painting starts

 

Cheers,

 

-GReg

 

[Thadeus]

That joint is probably the most discussed one on both the Tamiya and Kinetic kit.

Not putting any pressure, but Kinetic joins very nicelly with just a little bit of work from the underside.

 

 

Yea. I know. The CFT's really help to hide the work. But trust me. It was pretty good fit overal. Ok. Thickish panel lines help a bit here too.

 

 

Can't wait for some pics 😉

[lgl007]

Thadeus:  Thanks for the pics... ya, I'm worried about how it will turn out... almost at the painting stage now... fingers crossed and of course will post more progress pics.  Sorry RL and work getting in the way 😜

 

-Greg

[lgl007]

Hi All,

 

Quick update.  Pretty much ready to start the exterior painting process:

 

 

A bit of preshading:

 

 

 

 

Now onto the darkest camo shade:

 

 

 

 

Didn't want too much of a weathered jet, just enough to suggest all the bombing runs it was on 🙂

 

That's it for now gents.

 

-Greg