1/72 Israeli F-16A Netz 'Operation Opera'
Seeing as I have about 5 Israeli F-16's in my stash, I thought I'd give the 1/72 Hasegawa kit a build. It was a nice change from all the Italeri kits I've been building. The fit was great and the AK Paints were lovely to work with. I tried some pre shading for the first time which came out relatively well.
I chose the legendary Netz 107 as it epitomizes the F-16's multi-role capabilities. with 6.5 air to air victory markings and a special marking for Operation Opera.
Israel received their F-16 is 1980 after the sale to Iran fell through, due to the 1979 Islamic revolution. these aircraft were allocated to 117 Squadron at Ramat David Airforce Base. Netz 107 was the very first F-16 delivered the Israeli Airforce.
During 1981 it took part in Operation Opera, piloted by Amos Yadlin it was the second F-16 to bomb the Osriraq Nuclear Reactor in Iraq, using 2000lbs Mk84 bombs.
Netz 107 scored its first aerial kill on 21 April 1982 when pilot Zeev Raz shot down a Syrian Air Force MiG-23, using an AIM-9 Sidewinder. During Operation Peace for Galilee it shot down 6 more Syrian aircraft.
- 9 June 1982, Eliezer Shkedi shot down two MiG-23s, using AIM-9 Sidewinders, although one was shared with another pilot.
- On Friday 11 June 1982 pilot Eytan Stibbe shot down four Syrian aircraft. One MiG23 and one Sukhoi Su-22 with AIM-9 Sidewinders, another Su-22 was downed using the M61A1 Vulcan Cannon. The last victory was an Aerospatiale Gazelle helicopter using what is presumed to be an AIM-7 Sparrow.
Netz 107 was retired in 2015 and now sits at the Israeli Airforce Museum at Hazerim Airbase in the Negev desert
Very nice F-16, Neil!
Thank you Spiros!
Beautifully done, Neill @neillroos
Pre-shading definitely gave it an extra nice result.
Cheers John, It definitely takes the painting up a notch
Excellent build!
Appreciate it Greg!
Very nice. I can’t go past any aircraft in the IAF desert colours. Sharp looking F-16 Neill @niellroos
Thanks @popeofchillitown ! I'm the same, I have a ridiculous amount of IAF aircraft in the stash. Nice pic in the Flying Undertaker btw!
Excellent build Neill. Israeli colour schemes always look so good, and you got the F-16 spot on đź‘Ť
Thanks for the kind words, Guy!
Nice work on a historic plane!
Thanks John! Glad it's preserved at the museum
Great work on this F-16 , the paint looks awesome … nice weathering.
Cheers Jay! Getting there with the weathering