1/48 F-16C Block 52
This is a Hasegawa Polish Pratt powered Block 52 kit finished as a South Carolina Air National Guard “Wild Weasel”. I built it pretty much from the box with the exception of the following items added:
1.) Quickboost Aces II ejection seat.
2.) Steel Beach FOD plugs.
3.) AIM-120 x 2, AIM-9 x 2, GBU-12 x 4 from Hasegawa weapons sets.
4.) Sniper pod from a Kinetic F-16 kit.
5.) Caracal decals.
I painted the interior with Humbrol enamels and Tamiya acrylics. The exterior was painted with the newish Hataka lacquers. I tried this paint primarily to get the metallic gray “Have Glass V” shade that the US F-16 fleet is being refinished with. I think it replicates a worn “Have Glass V” finish pretty well. The normal lo-vis grays on the nose cone, pylons, tanks, weapons, etc...performed perfectly like a regular lacquer paint. They don't budge with masking or handling. The “Have Glass V” shade was fragile and performed more like a weak acrylic, and pulled up with masking.
Overall this was an enjoyable project and after 6 weeks work, I now have a 21st Century Viper for the shelf.
Excellent work, John. These modern jets often have a monotonous look, but you’ve managed to give the greys a somewhat sinister vibe.
Very nice, indeed.
Thanks, Rob. It really is a sinister looking scheme!
Nice work on the still very good Hase F-16, updated with the latest scheme and weapons. It has been a while since having an F-16 grace the pages of Imodeler. Well done..thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Chuck. It’s still a great kit and can be found for very reasonable prices.
Beautiful and deadly, like it a lot. Looks like a solid build to me, congrats!
Thanks, Pedro!
Yep...what they said!
Thanks, Craig!
Looks great! I think the Have Glass scheme came out very convincing.
Thanks, Greg. I was going to try my own mix of Engine gray and chrome silver but decided to try Hataka’s.
Very nice indeed John !
Thanks, David.
Very nicely done, John! I agree with the "sinister" look statement by Rob. The F-16 is certainly NOT as pretty or graceful looking as a P-51 or a Spitfire or an F7F Tigercat or any of the cool REAL aircraft (LoL - just kidding!) that we usually see here on iModeler, but the "Fighting Falcon" is certainly an icon of modern aircraft.
Bravo!
Thanks, Jeff. These Block 50/52 Vipers will probably be in service until 2040. Icons indeed.
Your build looks very realistic... and I like it a lot. And yes it does look sinister !
Well done my friend...
Thanks, Louis.
Nice! Great looking Viper!
Thanks, Robert!
Don't feel even slightly qualified to comment on a modern jet - but it is a beautiful model John - the various finishes you have used make it look just about ready to fly off the page!
Thanks Paul!
I'll be a bit controversial here... I much prefer the modern jets 🙂
Very nice build!
Thanks, Richard. I like 'em all!
What an awesome little jet model! Great job. That finish is so so cool! I am a bit rusty with my modern jet updates so u just blew me away with the knowledge that all these F-16s are now finished with this paint. Very star-wars looking IMHO...high tech cool! Don't know what the Polish Pratt version is? I know maybe Pratt & Whitney engine? But Polish? If u get a chance can u educate me on this?
Thanks, Paul. Polish F-16s are Block 52 models. 52s are powered by Pratt&Whitney engines. Block 50s are essentially the same planes but have General Electric power plants. Block 30/32, 40/42, and 50/52 are all indicative of which engine is installed (GE/PW). Poland purchased approx 50 Block 52s which are are currently the newest and most advanced F-16s in NATO. They also use conformal fuel tanks , which the US does not. I used a Hasegawa Polish special edition kit since it is still a nice model and I was able to purchase it at a substantial discount. Other ways to get to a current SC ANG bird include the more expensive Tamiya kit and the much rougher Kinetic kit.