Hi everyone!
This is my Academy 1/48 F-16C, that I intend to build for a good friend. It will be a HAF Block 30 bird, as it stood early in its career, at the start of the 90s. Here's a pic of such abird from that era:
The simple and cheap Academy kit looks to be sufficient for the job. Here's a look at the sprues:
Instructions seem ok, too:
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As the plane will wear HAF insignia, only the stencilling will be used from the decal sheet, which, by the way, looks well printed (but willI restrain my joy until using them...0. here is the sheet:
Construction started last night:
I assembled and attaqched the MLG bay, secured with liquefied styrene:
I patrtially assembled and attached the cockpit at the lower fuselage half:
and then attached he top fuselage:
Fit as really bad, especially at the bottom of the wings. After an initial excess material shaving, I applied liquefied styrene at all offending joints:
I then assembled the intake trunking. The assembled duct innards have the lower (wheel bay) base wrongly protruding, ruinning the duct looks, no resemblance with reality whatsoever.
To even it, I applied liquefied styrene at the start of the protrusion,
then sanded it as even as I could. Looks a bit better now, but more smoothing sessions will follow:
In the meantime I assembled the wing tanks. Fit was good here.
The turbine face was attached at the circular rear fuselage section, which in turn was attached to the rear of the fuselage.
Upon drying, my F-16 received its usual QC inspection and corrective actions by my younger son, Nikos (QC/2).
Audit Result: acceptable
Recommended action(s): proceed to sanding and filling
