1/48th Hasegawa F-16DM, 89-2178, Blk 40, 510th FS, circa 2022

[A-10 LOADER]

This will be my next build, still in the early planning stages and gathering items for her. Deciding if I'm going to build her on her gear or leaning towards another "in-flight" display maybe ??

Steve

 

 

The jet I'll be building, reference photo by Nikola Sparkes

Edited December 2, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Thadeus]

Nice. I don't know why, but dark Vipers look way better than plain Hill gray ones. Heck, the older Have Glass IV looked more interesting with varying weathering.

[Niels]

Promising! Remember stiffner plates on the back and WAR HUD. If you have a Kinetic kit, you can steal one from that kit.

[A-10 LOADER]

34 minutes ago, Niels said:

Promising! Remember stiffner plates on the back and WAR HUD. If you have a Kinetic kit, you can steal one from that kit.

I have the DACO plates on order. I'll steal the WAR HUD from my Black Box cockpit set.

Steve

[CODY]

I was wondering what was next. Can't wait for you start...

[habu2]

You'll need an accurate rear instrument panel, the kit part is for an early B model. 

[A-10 LOADER]

11 hours ago, habu2 said:

You'll need an accurate rear instrument panel, the kit part is for an early B model. 

I'll be using the Quinta decal set for the cockpit, plus with aircrew in the seats and the canopy down, you won't see all that much.

Steve

[lgl007]

o_0 whoohoo... let me get some popcorn for this one... really looking forward to seeing your progress.  You gonna use the kit decals?  Or aftermarket?

 

-Greg

[A-10 LOADER]

16 hours ago, lgl007 said:

o_0 whoohoo... let me get some popcorn for this one... really looking forward to seeing your progress.  You gonna use the kit decals?  Or aftermarket?

 

-Greg

These are the decals I'll be using, for the Aviano jet.

Steve

 

[A-10 LOADER]

While I wait for my aftermarket parts to filter in I've been working on other items to keep this project rolling.

I've decided to pose her "in-flight", she'll be banking to the port side. I glued a length of Evergreen 7/16" tube to the exhaust face so my 3/8" acrylic rod will slid right in. While the tube was drying, I dry-fitted the remaining parts to get the plastic tube as centered as possible and, left it dry. Then I cut the tube off so it's not so noticeable.

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

I've removed the old style missile rails from the wingtips and, added the updated LAU-129's as well.

 

Edited December 11, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Gator52]

Looking forward to your Viper and especially your approach to the inflight display!

 

Chris

 

[ST0RM]

Another killer build to enjoy. 
Great start, Steve. 

-Jeff

[A-10 LOADER]

On 12/2/2024 at 11:36 AM, Gator52 said:

Looking forward to your Viper and especially your approach to the inflight display!

 

Chris

 

 

17 hours ago, ST0RM said:

Another killer build to enjoy. 
Great start, Steve. 

-Jeff

Thanks gents.

Steve

[A-10 LOADER]

Managed to get some things done on the model this week while waiting for stuff to arrive in the mail.

Steve

 

I went back and added some blocking inside the exhaust to help support the clear acrylic rod. Even though the plastic tube is glued and, epoxied to the exhaust part, I know that things are nice and secure now with no issues later on.

 

Strengthening plates were added around the tailhook housing.

 

Some shims were needed for the intake to fit better, mating newer plastic, "updated parts" to an older model is the reason. I also drilled out the opening of the EPU exhaust and, added a plate over the avionics cooling scoop which is removed from most pre-Block 40/42 jets.

The main gear doors needed some shims as well to get a better fit and, were glued in.

 

A piece of plastic was needed to spread the intake so there is no "step" when mated to the main body. All this is just dry-fitted for now.

 

LAU-129's and the "beer can", Radar Homing and Warning ( RHAW ) antennas added to the wings.

 

Seams were cleaned up on the tail and the small air inlet removed from the leading edge of the stabilizer base.

[Red Dog]

Taking a seat 🙂 Have fun Steve 

[A-10 LOADER]

On 12/7/2024 at 2:21 AM, Red Dog said:

Taking a seat 🙂 Have fun Steve 

Thanks bud.

Slowly moving along, now that parts are arriving in the mail I can start sorting things out.

I got the details sanded off the cockpit, in preparation for the Quinta Decals and, sprayed the areas Light Ghost Gray. I've not used these decals yet so hopefully they work out for me.

 

These seats are very well done and, they fit the Hasegawa tub just fine. They are really made for the Kinetic kit. I will be leaving off the seat cushions however because with the cushions on the seats the pilots helmet would interfere with the canopy. Glad I waited to test the aircrew before gluing the cushions on. This won't be noticeable once everything is installed and, the canopy is closed.

 

Had to remove the square FLCS ( Flight Control System ) recorder box above the O2 tank on the rear seat. Only the front seat has them in two-seat Vipers.

 

My Reedoak figures arrived as well and wow, they are very impressive. Better yet, they fit the seats extremely well and, the canopy closes without any interference. Like I said you hardly even notice the cushions are missing.

Edited December 11, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Red Dog]

Nice detail about the FDR on the front seat only

These seats are great, those pilots are Awesome

 

love the 16

Edited December 11, 2024 by Red Dog

[A-10 LOADER]

31 minutes ago, Red Dog said:

Nice detail about the FDR on the front seat only

These seats are great, those pilots are Awesome

 

love the 16

I was pleasantly surprised with the Eduard seats, their stuff it hit or miss. I chose them because of the lack of details on the sitting area, because I'm using aircrew. I didn't realize they were for the Kinetic kit when I ordered them but, thankfully they fit great.

Steve

[Thadeus]

I was just about to say, interesting they fit Hasegawa kit so well. I have a set for Tamiya and Kinetic Vipers for my next project and I wonder what the differences will be. If any. Interesting though about the data recorder. It might actually be cheaper to buy dual seat sets for two single seat Vipers. Nice.

[A-10 LOADER]

Wrapped up the cockpit decals, pretty impressive concept, still kinda feels like cheating though. Note: these decals are not 100% accurate for a Block 40 F-16DM but, with the guys in the seats and the canopy closed, it should be passable.

The front pit.

 

The rear pit.

 

Cockpit walls.

 

Decal added to the Aft Seat HUD Monitor ( ASHM ) or, HUD repeater added to Block 40/42 jets. I also added the grab handle on the LH side.

 

 

The seats and the aircrew received a coat of primer, ready for paint.

 

With the primer applied you can really see all the intricate details of the aircrew.

 

 

 I also nailed down the load-out for the Viper,

 Sta. # 1 AIM-120C

 Sta. # 2 AIM-9X

 Sta. # 3 BRU-57 with GBU-38's

 Sta. # 4 370 gallon fuel tank

 Sta. # 5 empty

 Sta. # 6 370 gallon fuel tank

 Sta. # 7 TER-9A MOD with GBU-12's ( slant load ).

 Sta. # 8 AIM-120C

 Sta. # 9 AIM-120C

Steve

Edited February 8 by A-10 LOADER

[ST0RM]

Great start Steve. Nice seeing the old Hasegawa kit getting some love. 
And where it needs it. 

Any thoughts to subbing the BRU/GBU-38 combo on #7, with a TER and a pair slant load of GBU-12s? Pretty common CAS config, to compliment the JDAMs. 

-Jeff

[A-10 LOADER]

8 hours ago, ST0RM said:

Great start Steve. Nice seeing the old Hasegawa kit getting some love. 
And where it needs it. 

Any thoughts to subbing the BRU/GBU-38 combo on #7, with a TER and a pair slant load of GBU-12s? Pretty common CAS config, to compliment the JDAMs. 

-Jeff

 

Thanks bud, that was also an option I was originally considering as well ? I have the RES/KIT "high speed" TER's and I'll order the GBU-12's from RES/KIT.

Thanks for checking in.

Steve

Edited December 16, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Gator52]

Terrific workmanship as always Steve.  You've inspired me to order some Reedoak figures for future projects!

 

For a 2023 Viper, I'm curious if the GBU-12s have been supplanted by GBU-54s...I have not kept up with recent photos from downrange to see what's most common.  

 

If you're using the kit drop tanks (370 gal btw--I believe 600 gal are only found on some export Vipers) note that the fins need some slight modification to better represent the shape of tanks used today...basically clip off the corner so the fin has three edges instead of two.

 

Looking forward to more!

 

Chris

Edited December 16, 2024 by Gator52

[A-10 LOADER]

17 hours ago, Gator52 said:

Terrific workmanship as always Steve.  You've inspired me to order some Reedoak figures for future projects!

 

For a 2023 Viper, I'm curious if the GBU-12s have been supplanted by GBU-54s...I have not kept up with recent photos from downrange to see what's most common.  

 

If you're using the kit drop tanks (370 gal btw--I believe 600 gal are only found on some export Vipers) note that the fins need some slight modification to better represent the shape tanks used today...basically clip off the corner so the fin has three edges instead of two.

 

Looking forward to more!

 

Chris

Thanks Chris. They really are quite amazing, my fear is that I won't do them justice.

Red Dog posted an article, in my thread over in the Research Corner, about the 510th deployed to Bagram AB from October 2018 - April 2019. It talked about them carrying GBU-54's as well as GBU-39's during that deployment. Nothing mentioned GBU-12's "slant loaded" on TER's but, she's capable of carrying them. My time frame is based around the period of when the jet received her HG5 paint scheme, sometime @ November of 2022 and forward, that's the earliest I could find. Weather she still carried GBU-12's on TER's, who knows but, the fact that she is capable of that load, it gives me some options.

As for the fuel tanks I'll be using the RES/KIT ones.

Steve

Edited December 17, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[Niels]

1 hour ago, A-10 LOADER said:

My time frame is based around the period of when the jet received her HG5 paint scheme, sometime @ November of 2022 and forward, that's the earliest I could find.

I have actually found photos from March 2022 with HG5 and even the tailband. Believe it was the first 510FS jet in HG5 and tailband. Some still don't have it (89-2046)