Darren Roberts Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 When the F-16 beat out the F-17 in the USAF's lightweight fighter competition, the Navy was instructed to look at a Navalized F-16 to supplement the expensive F-14 Tomcat. GD teamed up with Vought because of the latter's carrier aircraft experience. Three-four separate designs were considered. The main landing gear was beefed up, A-7 landing gear was used for the front gear, a fuselage plug was put in, the wing chord was increased, and a new radar was to be installed so that the AIM-7 Sparrow could be used. A heftier tailhook was put in place and the anhedral on the horizontal stabs was taken out. One last change was a forward-hinged canopy, ala the F-35. While the design never went anywhere (Northrop teamed with McDD to create the F-18), there were still design schematics and some artists' interpretations of what it would have looked like. One day I'll do a "serious" model with all the changes, but just for fun, I had the old Monogram F-16 and Revell/A-7 that had been parted out, so I thought it would be fun to do a "test" build and see how it would look. I had 1/72 decals for VF-21, so I went with those. Here's the result. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
falcon20driver Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Now that's a great WHIF. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Its so wrong that it looks right! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TaiidanTomcat Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Gorgeous job! Like the white and gray work. I have thought about doing one of these myself, but with a more recent lo vis Marine version. Edited February 2, 2016 by TaiidanTomcat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Camus272 Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Very cool! I like seeing a lot of the conceptual F-16s being built lately. This one is way down my list if I ever get through all of the operational ones. What brand of gray did you use? It looks "right" to me, as I usually have Gull Gray come out wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 On 2/2/2016 at 11:24 AM, Camus272 said: Very cool! I like seeing a lot of the conceptual F-16s being built lately. This one is way down my list if I ever get through all of the operational ones. What brand of gray did you use? It looks "right" to me, as I usually have Gull Gray come out wrong. Thanks. The Gull Gray is MM Acryl. I really like that series of paints. I know most don't, but I've learned to work with them and I like how they turn out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Hey Darren, As you are like Tomcats, so I like Vipers. This is a great way to use the old Monogram F-16. I also like the A-7. We used to see them flying regularly around the Buckeye State, especially the western part of the state. We had 3 ANG units in Ohio that flew the A-7D. I really like how you "Navalized" your Viper. I hate to ask this, but can it be refueled? Just a simple question from a simple mind!!! HA! Great job, Darren. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 On 2/4/2016 at 1:23 AM, balls47 said: Hey Darren, As you are like Tomcats, so I like Vipers. This is a great way to use the old Monogram F-16. I also like the A-7. We used to see them flying regularly around the Buckeye State, especially the western part of the state. We had 3 ANG units in Ohio that flew the A-7D. I really like how you "Navalized" your Viper. I hate to ask this, but can it be refueled? Just a simple question from a simple mind!!! HA! Great job, Darren. Yup. The refueling door is on the starboard side just under the canopy. I used the tech drawings from GD/Vought to try and get as close to what it would have looked like as possible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Your work always looks so crisp! Outstanding job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Matthew83128 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 That's a really cool what if. I was never aware the Navy discussed this. I'm not saying it couldn't, but I don't think the F-16's airframe would take carrier landings well. the 341 bulkhead would really have to be beefed up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Roberts Posted February 6, 2016 Author Share Posted February 6, 2016 On 2/6/2016 at 11:38 AM, Matthew83128 said: That's a really cool what if. I was never aware the Navy discussed this. I'm not saying it couldn't, but I don't think the F-16's airframe would take carrier landings well. the 341 bulkhead would really have to be beefed up. I thought the same thing. I'm not sure what GD was going to do to make sure it could handle the stresses of carrier landings. I haven't come across that in what I've read. With that said, McDD and Northrop strengthened the F-17 airframe to make the -18, so I would assume that GD/Vought had some kind of plan if the design went forward. It still looks wierd in Navy colors, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted February 6, 2016 Share Posted February 6, 2016 On 2/4/2016 at 1:23 AM, balls47 said: Hey Darren, As you are like Tomcats, so I like Vipers. This is a great way to use the old Monogram F-16. I also like the A-7. We used to see them flying regularly around the Buckeye State, especially the western part of the state. We had 3 ANG units in Ohio that flew the A-7D. I really like how you "Navalized" your Viper. I hate to ask this, but can it be refueled? Just a simple question from a simple mind!!! HA! Great job, Darren. Yessir, I stand corrected in my orthopedic shoes! Thanks Darren. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leptiprince66 Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Fabulous. I have myself extrapolated versions of luck vouht 1600 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Wing folds! Brilliant! I suppose IRL that the F-16 could ride the elevators with out them? Beautiful Sea Viper, Darren. Okay, who be the first to build the navalized family model? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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