F-16A IAF ‘Netz’ – ESCI 1/72 Fighting Falcon
Just completed last night. this ESCI kit #9026 was initiated a long time ago and was put in storage with the fuselage and wings assembled.
Pulled out of storage, I worked on the build and paint on and off the last few months.
I decide to go for the Israeli Air Force scheme once I found and was able to get the Vallejo IAF Colour pack of Air Acrylics from a LHS.
The kit itself is a decent build with some filler at the wing roots. There isn't much to do in the cockpit, a little tub with 3 decals for instruments.
The decals looked great on paper but were a bit of a problem being about 30 years old. Very stiff and Liquid Decal Film was required to keep them intact during application.
I found a lot of photos with the static discharge rods on each of the trailing edges so I gave it a whirl, most frustrating part of the build as every time I placed one rod another was knocked off. There are 15 probes and I must have placed each one four times by the final end.
Finished with Micro Satin.
9 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Thomas Woo said on February 22, 2021
A very nice F-16. Congrats!
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thank you Thomas
Greg Kittinger said on February 22, 2021
Nice looking Viper! Love the IDF desert scheme.
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thanks Greg - I’m glad I got the paints for this scheme.
John Healy said on February 22, 2021
That’s really nice, George. That’s still a solid kit, like many of Esci’s 1/72 jets.
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Yeah, very nice kit. Great recessed panel lines.
Carl Smoot said on February 22, 2021
Excellent work on the F-16. Looks great in the IDF scheme. One thing about the F-16 is that it looks fast even when on its wheels, but I also think its one of those that looks really good in flight.
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thanks Carl.
Seeing it from the side view, I always see the F-16 as always ready to jump into the air.
Tom Bebout said on February 22, 2021
Nicely done George, I really like the way she looks in the desert camo.
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thanks Tom, I think the Vallejo paint colours look bang on.
John vd Biggelaar said on February 22, 2021
Beautiful build in a great scheme, George.
An absolute "Like"
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thanks John, its my first desert scheme.
Spiros Pendedekas said on February 22, 2021
Excellent result on that classic kit, my friend @georgeswork!
Fantast ic painting on a very beloved scheme.
Congratulations!
George Schembri said on February 22, 2021
Thanks Spiros, glad you like it.
I guess I’m a classic too 🤔.
A quick search found that this ESCI kit was initially released in 1983 😳
Robert Royes said on February 22, 2021
Nicely done,George!
George Schembri said on February 23, 2021
Thank you Robert.
DE4EVER said on February 23, 2021
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
Nice job on this model George !
A very refreshing look at a different choice of payload, gives it a look all it's own.
George Schembri said on February 23, 2021
Thanks DE4EVER, the kit does come nicely appointed.
Allan J Withers said on February 23, 2021
Nicely done George, looks good in that clean scheme.
George Schembri said on February 23, 2021
Thank you Allan.
I needed to do something else besides Grey-on Grey
George Williams said on February 24, 2021
Glad you finished this one, it looks great, and the photographs really set it off, definitely liked.
George Schembri said on February 24, 2021
Thanks George!