Of
all the models planes that I have made over the years this one is my
favourite and it is the jewel in my collection. As the proverbial ‘if I
was left on a desert island’ question was extended to ‘which model
would I keep if I could only keep one?’ then this is the one. It is the
Israeli F-16C ‘Barak’ of the Scorpion Squadron based on the
outstanding Tamiya 1/32 F-16C/J kit. Ever since I was a kid and saw the
movie ‘Iron Eagle’ I loved the Israeli desert camouflage scheme and
the gorgeous bubble canopy with the striking Scorpion logo on the tail, I
knew I had to have one. At some point in the future I would like to add
both an F-16I Sufa and an F-15I Ra’am to my collection as well as they
are such impressive looking aircraft.
The
Tamiya F-16C kit is amazing, so much so that I would say that it is the
best model kit on which I have ever opened the box lid. It’s outstanding
in every way from the fit of the parts to the detail on the panel lines
and most importantly it is actually fun to build. There are plenty of
reviews on the kit so if you don’t believe me then google a more
thorough review. To turn it into a block 40 Israeli bird a few
modifications are needed. Fortunately the Isracast conversion sets do most
of the work for you and the instruction manual on both the decals sets
(the Isradecal set that is) is well researched and points out all of the
pertinent facts that you need to know. To this I added an Aires
resin set for the afterburner section and jetpipe, an Aires section for
the wheel bays (a really nice piece of resin though a pain to fit) and
various other bits and pieces that I have listed below.
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To finish it off I
painted it and gave it a subtle weathering job with some thinned out
Tamiya Smoke and some fluid stains with some dabs of oil paint and then on
to the weapons. I adapted the 600 gal fuel tanks from the Academy Sufa kit
(which I will build later) and I also used the earlier launch rails since
in my research I could find no evidence that these ‘Barak’ aircraft
are able to carry the larger launch rail for the AIM-120. I cannot find
any photos and I remain unconvinced that these aircraft are AIM-120
capable at the time of the markings so instead I went with four Pythons
which look really space age anyway and I love the look. As for the canopy,
Tamiya neatly provide both a tinted one and a clear one which means that
you can mix and match the two parts just like you often see on the real
aircraft.
I was partly
inspired to build this kit from the ‘Iron Eagle’ movie but also partly
inspirited by Roni Weiss’ excellent example of this aircraft on which he
wrote a build-up in Tamiya Model Magazine Issue 168. Following Roni’s
example I used Tamiya XF-21 Sky for the green colour and also Xtracrylix
Tan Vietnam for the brown shade. I agree with Roni that these colours are
just about right, however I used the respective Mr Color products C313 for
the Sand and C308 for the grey undersides and missiles. Enjoy the Pictures
and if you can grab the Tamiya F-16 kit – you won’t be disappointed.
Parts
Used:
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1/32
Tamiya F-16CJ Block 50 Fighting Falcon 1056322
-
1/32
Academy F-16I Sufa 12105
-
1/32
Cutting Edge MK 84 2000lb Low Drag Bombs
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Eduard
32128 F-16CJ FALCON External Photo-Etch
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Eduard
32523 F-16CJ FALCON Internal Photo-Etch
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Eduard
JX037 F-16CJ FALCON MASK TAMIYA
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Eduard
32517 F-16 placards
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Aires
2066 1/32 F-16C/CJ Cockpit for Tamiya
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Aires
2067 1/32 F-16CJ wheel well for Tamiya
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Aires
2095 1/32 F-16C block 30/40/50/60 exhaust nozzle
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Sky
Decals SD-32039 1/32 IAF F-16C/D Barak Stencils
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Isracast
32004 RAFAEL 'Python' 4/5 Air to Air Missiles
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Isracast
32001 IAF Lockheed-Martin F-16C Block 40 conversion
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Isradecal
ISRA68 Lockheed-Martin F-16C /D Block 30 Barak
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Hobby
Boss MT32004V1 F-16 Pitot tube set (1/32)
References:
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Drendel,
L. (2007). F-16 Worldwide Markings. Carrollton: Squadron/Signal
Publications.
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Melampy,
J. (2007). The Modern Viper Guide: The F-16C/D Exposed. Lebanon, Ohio:
Reid Air Publications.
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Senior,
T. (2002). The Airforces Monthly Book of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Lincolnshire: Key Books Ltd.
-
Weiss,
R. (2009, October). A Sting in the Tail. (M. Nicholls, Ed.) Tamiya
Model Magazine International(168), pp. 30-35.
David Porter
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images below to see larger images
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