1/72 Hasegawa F-16A Blk 10

by Phil Hastie

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This is the Hasegawa 72 Scale F-16A Blk 15 backdated to a block 10 aircraft of the 157FS/169FW Sth Carolina ANG.  I backdated it by using the tailplanes from a Italeri kit and moving the aerials to the correct positions.  The decals are from Superscale Sheet 72-608. 

This kit was originally built about 8 years ago along with 5 of the Italeri F-16A small tailplane versions to use some of my ANG decals on. During the build process some repairmen spilt thinners on one of them whilst installing heater ducting in my model room and it melted. To replace it, I bought a Hasegawa kit as it was the only one available where I live.  These 6 kits reached the painted stage about 3 years ago and then I discovered that I had lost some parts and also at that stage lost interest, until earlier this year when I decided to finish them off.  So far I have completed this one and one in DC ANG markings. 

As with all Hasegawa kits they go together with only minor problems and the main problem came when I went to paint the clear coat after decaling.  In Canberra Australia, where I live, I couldn't get any Isopropyl Alcohol (people might use it to make their own home brew), so I got the recommended replacement from the local Chemist (Drug) store and proceeded to mix it with my Gunze clear and spray it on the model, which as it dried went whiter and whiter until it was like someone had sprayed it white.  The only way I could get rid of it was to rub it back with scotchbrite scouring pads, as a result the paint job is less than satisfactory.  During the rubbing back process I rub off one of the fox heads and had to purchase a second sheet of decals to make a template to make a mask and paint it on.

Click on images below to see larger images

In the end it looks like an F-16 and fits in with all my other ANG F-16s. The next one off the production line is a Hasegawa F-16B  Blk 15 in Montana ANG markings and his build mate a F-16C Blk 30 of the Wisconsin ANG with the red tail.

Phil

Photos and text © by Phil Hastie