Really good progress, Chuck @uscusn

Moving along very quickly, Chuck (@uscusn). It will be paint time very soon. I wish the F-16 I am building had a one piece intake like yours. My Tamiya intake is composed of 3 parts, and there is no way they were going together without need some putty. I added some weight in the nose cone and behind the cockpit, just to be sure. I was worried that all the wing armament would probably be partially behind the main wheels, so I didn't want to risk it.

Finally back to start the painting process first with pre-shading the airframe.

Next is to paint the nose and intake lip Grey/Blue FS 35237 (15237 is Glossy) using Xtracrylix 15237.

The nose and intake lip are masked off and next is to airbrush FS36320 Dk Ghost Grey for the fuselage upper nose section to the canopy, the tail and fuselage sides.

Then the lower surfaces will be painted FS 36375 Lt Ghost Grey. First I install the drop tanks.

The Lt Gray is airbrushed over the undersufaces, pylons and wing tip rails top and bottom. I used Gunze Aqueous acrylics. This paint is excellent to apply.

Next up the final coat on the upper surfaces and just a light coat of future to prepare for decals,

More to follow.

Excellent paintwork, Chuck @uscusn

There are times when you just sit and just work on a model and not worry about taking pics, as happened after apply the final top color of Gunship Grey FS36118. Went direct to the clear coat, waitied over night and started the decal process.

The decals are from a set from Superscale #72-622 Desert Storm F-16's. 50th TFW, Hahn AFB, sqdn code HR.

Decals applied to the drop tanks. These are from the kit. These settled fine with Solvaset.

Vallejo Flat clear is applied, once set, I remove the masks from the canopy. (nice just a couple of minutes as the last few builds have required lots of glass).

Next up is to prepare the to install the landing gear and final details over the top.

More to follow...

Excellent job so far, my friend @uscusn!

This session will have me install the landing gear starting with the nose gear.

As previously confirmed with several modelers that built this kit for the GB, no nose weight is required to allow the kit to sit properly.

The wheel is attached to the nose strut. The contact point within the nose bay is excellent and will be a long term stable mate on the shelf for years.

Next is to work on the main gear.

The process of assembly is similar to the 48th scale kit. The RH main strut is attached along with the actuator.

Each side has an actuator and a retracting strut installed to the main gear strut.

Next the gear door actuators are installed.

As they set, the wheels are next installed to main gear.

The nose gear door is installed.

Next the main gear doors are attached.

After the cement has set for an about an hour. She is placed on her feet.

The nose probe is a Master brass unit. Installed and promptly falls and gets eaten by the resident floor monster.
Then the resin seat is installed.

Next up the ordnance to be attached to the wings rails and pylons.
More to follow...