Here’s
my F-16C in 1/32. It’s the Hasegawa F-16C ‘Ramstein’ boxing of the Viper.
I’ve used the CAM F-16C resin cockpit (exactly the same as the Black Box one)
and Cutting Edge’s F-16 ‘big mouth’ intake resin conversion set for use
with the GE engine. Overall Hasegawa’s big Viper isn’t too bad. It’s a mid
80’s vintage kit, but the fit overall is good.
The
CE intake is designed to fit with a minimum amount of trouble. You get the
‘big mouth’ intake and the associated ductwork plus the forward and aft
landing gear bay bulkheads. CE also includes the larger tires, new brakes and
bulged gear doors.
The
CAM cockpit tub needs a bit of sanding down to get it to fit properly on top of
the intake duct so the upper fuse will mate up. The CAM cockpit is a real gem
and includes a highly detailed ACES II ejection seat as well as the C model
glareshield and HUD.
The
Ramstein kit includes white metal parts for an ACES II seat but the CAM
one is so much more detailed it’s like the difference between night and
day.
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The
kit also includes all the parts to make an ‘A’ model Viper plus the added
bits for a C model (these include the C model specific vertical fin plus various
ECM bumps, vents and antennas in plastic and white metal). The nice thing is the
kit comes with both the P&W exhaust nozzle and the GE exhaust nozzle so
converting it to a GE engined ‘big mouth’ Viper is a natural progression.
Very few Vipers used the GE engine with the ‘small mouth’ intake due to the
GE engine’s airflow needs.
I
modified the pitot tube with brass tubing and music wire. The kit’s tube
was OK but would be sure to get broken in time. The tubing in mine extends
all the way through the radome to the instrument panel for extra
support. |
Click on
image below to see larger image
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The
kit allows you to model a detailed gun bay and radar unit. I chose not to
display them (although the gun bay is installed and painted but at least I know
it’s there) since I wanted my Viper to look rather ‘clean’ while on
display.
One
thing that the instructions aren’t real clear about is the landing gear
installation. I did a lot of fiddling around with the main gear bay details to
get everything installed correctly. Hasegawa could really improve that part of
their instructions. The speed brakes were displayed in the open position. Real
life Vipers can have their speed brakes opened manually on the ground with the
hydraulics off.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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I’ve
heard the molded static discharge wicks are too large but I liked them and left
them on.
Jeff
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