[Bigasshammm]

Just realized this qualifies so I'm going to move my F-16C build here!

I'm building aircraft #87-0222 as in 2005 when it wore the nose art Grave Digger



Started on this last week. I had a wip in the in-progress forum going so I'm going to copy what I did already here.

[Bigasshammm]

Starting out I'm using Hasegawa's F-16CJ Tiger Meet kit, TwoBob's Buckeye Vipers #1, Aires wheel bays, Steel Beach covers set, Steel Beach covered exhaust and intake plug, Eduard Brassin Aim-9s with covers and RBF Tags, Eduard RBF tags, and I ordered two more sets of TwoBob's F-16 decals because the stencils on the Buckeye sheet are the wrong color.


Starting out I printed out The F-16C block 30 diagram from the great F-16 thread in the jets forum. First thing I noticed is that the 2 additional chaff dispensers are not present.

seen here...



So I penciled it in...


Drilled a couple holes with the pin-vice, cut out the rest of the plastic, sanded smooth, and added some PE mesh I found in spares...


Finally covered the back a blank piece of PE metal. Then cut a spare piece of plastic and fit to separate them.


I think I may cutout the existing chaff dispensers and redo them in this method so it's uniform. What do you think?

Remember, if Kris can scratch, you can scratch.

[Bigasshammm]

Late night modeling session lead to a lot accomplished. Also this kit seems to build itself.

Aires bays installed.




Cockpit painted base color. Will detail paint here shortly. Just using kit cockpit since I have the resin covered seat to install.



My interpretation of the strengthening plates by the tail.
I feel the right side (top) is perfect but the left (bottom) I tried 3-4 times with many a cut finger and frustration so I said it was good enough. Hopefully will blend nicely with paint.



Once the cockpit's painted I can join everything up. The wings were already glued by the previous owner. A member on here who I can't remember their name. So it's going to be a quick transition from build to paint I'm hoping.

[Bigasshammm]

Some more progress made...


The quick pit painting guide.
Airbrushed the grey then brush painted the black and dry brushed the detail. Easy-peasy.



And since that was done the fuselage could be closed up!


Wings will be next after some minor sanding. Then I have to make the wing strengthening plates but I think they'll be easier.

[Sentry30]

Some nice progress here, I like the detail in the wheelbays!!

Daniël

[phantom]

Looking great so far.

[Bigasshammm]

Sentry30, on 24 March 2012 - 08:22 PM, said:

Some nice progress here, I like the detail in the wheelbays!!

Daniël

That's all aires. I must say they're probably the most detailed resin pieces I've seen.

[Bigasshammm]

Got the wings and the strengthening plates on. Happy with it.



Used clear plastic to cut the wing plates from. They don't look as crisp because there's pencil all over the wings where I penciled in where they would go and the size. Will look better after primer.

Painted the seat cover.

[pkrasna]

Thumbs up!

Primož

[HOLMES]

Good start..

GOOD job so far.

[Bigasshammm]

Been a while since I did anything. Been slowly working on and off on this while doing some cars.

Here's where she is now




Been fighting with the exhaust cover piece today. I probably butchered the install so it's my fault but I couldn't see to figure out how you're supposed to attach it. So I went and cut up the extra exhaust can in the kit and attached that to the rear. Hopefully my it's good enough it will snug in tightly. If not I can sand it more.
Here's what I'm talking about there


Not long and shell be ready for paint. I'll probably make sure Sunday I have all the requirements and then go from there.

I think this bird had a tinted canopy but clear glass behind the canopy. Not sure what the smaller glass piece is called behind the seat. Is that normal or would they both be tinted? Only pics I have of the actual jet it's hard to tell.

[Bigasshammm]

Quick update.


The exhaust modification worked well. This is how it looks just pressed in and it's so tight I doubt I'll ever glue it. Also tail just place on model.



Yay me

[Sentry30]

Bigasshammm, on 27 April 2012 - 07:24 PM, said:

Is that normal or would they both be tinted? Only pics I have of the actual jet it's hard to tell.

Can't help you aswering that, but I do have seen Vipers with eigther a clear piece behind and tinted canopy, and vice versa... Only thing I can say is check your references.
So far the jet looks very nice, I'm looking forward to see the paint job on it! The pit looks very clean I must say!

Daniël

[Bigasshammm]

Not many pictures of it in the time frame I'm building.

http://www.f-16.net/..._item38280.html
That canopy tinted or no? I'm leaning towards no actually.

Here she is in 1993 with an obviously tinted canopy. Is that something that changed over time?
http://www.f-16.net/..._item36781.html

[Bigasshammm]

Anyone know if that rut-roe decal would still be on the rear deck in 05? If I don't hear anything contrary soon it's going on tomorrow.

Help me Obi Wan you're my only hope.

[phantom]

Coming along great, get some paint on it!!!!

[Bigasshammm]

phantom, on 07 May 2012 - 12:29 AM, said:

Coming along great, get some paint on it!!!!

Soon

I'm going to put that decal on the rear deck today then get the canopies masked and fixed on. I'll probably have the main canopy open but for painting I tack glue them on to get everything uniform. After that It''l be time for primer.

Busy weekend ahead so probably no actual paint till next week.

Edit: forgot the Future dip so canopies have been dipped. Will then mask in a few days and get primer on by end of week.
Decal went on nicely.

Gonna work on the tanks and such.

This post has been edited by Bigasshammm: 07 May 2012 - 01:45 PM

[balls47]

Yessir! I know that this is prolly too late, but maybe not. This particular F-16 has some history behind it. It was the first F-16 to receive the MCID (big-mouth intake). It was also a MIG killer. It shot down a MIG 23 while it was still in Torrejon, Spain. (Let's say I think it was while it was with Torrejon) When the 178FW first received the jet, the small part of the canopy was clear and the large part was tinted. Later, they changed the big part of the canopy to a clear color. Therefore, the whole canopy was clear. It's not a big deal, but they actually refer to the canopy as "the transparancy." I don't get caught up in semantics, so I still call that part of an airplane the canopy. A few years back, the Thunderbirds cracked a canopy (I believe it was a bird-strike at the Dayton Air Show), and they brought the airplane to the 178FW at Springfield for a replacement. The pristine white jet left Springfield with a canopy with a gray frame. This is your history lesson for the day. Good luck, and I hope that you didn't need this information because you did it right a month or two ago.

[Bigasshammm]

I went with the clear canopies so that's good. Nothing else has been done. Haven't had the time or money sadly to get the paint for it. May not finish because I don't want to rush it but well see. I'll hit it hard here starting next weekend sonill have a month essentially.

Thanks for the info.

[phantom]

Still have about a month to finish.