Mastercraft KIT #D82 1/72 SCALE F-16D REVIEW & BUILD
Last updated: Cockpit, airframe and control surfaces, and weapons - October 21, 2014
The Aircraft:
The F-16 was desinged in the early 1970s and entered service in 1978 with US Airf Force. It is the most widely produced and exported modern western fighter in the world, with over 5,000 aircraft delivered to over twenty-five nations.
The F-16 is a single-engine, highly maneuverable, supersonic, multi-role fighter. It was designed to be very cost-effective, and a combat "workhorse" perfomring various missions, while maintaing around-the-clock readiness. It is a lot smaller and lighter than its predecassor aircraft, and uses advanced aerodynamics and avionics to achieve its manueverability and perfromance characteristics. It was the first aircraf to use relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire (RSS/FBW) flight control systems. The F-16 was also the first fighter aircraft that was purpose-built routinely achieve 9-g maneuvers. It has a maximum speed of over Mach 2.
The F-16D is a two seat version of the aircraft. The D variant is not a trainer, rather, a fully combat quualified version used for misison where a rear seat weapons or ECM operator is necessary. This would usually be ground attack missions, b7t could also include heavy air dominance missions where heavy jamming and electronic warfare environment was expected. Both seats can fly the aircraft and activiate weapons. The "D" version began production in 1984 and has gone through various block upgrades in US service, including the block 30/32 upgrade, the block 40/42 upgrade, and the block 50/52 upgrade. F-16s are expected to remain in US military service through the mido 2020s, ultimately being replaced by the F-35A in US Air Force service.
The Kit:
This Mastercraft kit is an F-16D in 1/72 scale. I believe Hasegawa and maybe a couple of thers make a similar kit. Mastercraft is out of Poland.
I was not familiar with this company, but the cost was very good (I paid $12.00 for the kit, which included shipping), and so I purchased the kit and did a little reading.
Apparently Mastercraft has gotten a reputation over the last few years for supplying the kits for those who are modeling on a budget. They are known for having their kits modled in a somewhat thick plastic, While the the level of detail may be failrly decent, apparemntly it can be marred by large ejector pin marks. Also, the edges of the engraving are a more curved than sharp, and the texture of the plastic itself is slightly 'pebbly'.
They have a few sink areas and ejector pin marks on many of the parts. Apparently it is not not terrible, particularly for the price, but is something to be aware of.
I found all of these obseravtions to be true. At the same time, the kit is available, and the price allows it to be easily obtained and then measures taken to address any issues.
The model comes with a very decent box and box art. Inside you find numerous sprues...some of them of a lighter grey plastic than others, and clearly added to the kit to give additional parts. Their are some issues. For example one of the sidewinder missiles om an extra sprue was broken in half and the other half were not in the box. But, a total of four Sidewinder missiles were supplied, so the one broken one was not an issue. IN another instances, one of the larger sprues is simply missing one of the Sparrow missiles. The place fot it is there...but the missile is not. They did add a small sprue with two additional Sparrows, so you have a total of three. Finally, a sprue with two MAverick missiles is included...two only.
All told there are seven sprues modled in grey and one in clear plastic for the canopy. A total of 80 pats are indluded. Either a single seat F-16C or two-seat F-16D can be built with the included parts.
Let me say something about the canopy. The shape is decent, how3ever the clarity of the canopy itself is not as clear as I would like. it is somewhat blurry. I will try and use some measures to improve this if possible...using the single seat canpoy to test on.
Their are a lot of decals on three sheets. Three different decal sheets. One includes numerous small decals for all of the weapons stations, weapons, and small instructional/informative markings on the aircraft. They are not crisp and distint and the smaller lettering is blurred. Another separate decal sheet includes bacis makrings for the aircraft itself, and a third, has a special marking for a particular squardron. All three of them appear to come from different sources. We will see how they go on. I have ample spare markings to suffice in any case.
The instructions are detailed and decent. There are some holes in the wings that need to be drilled out for the pylons which is not clearly indicated. The holes have very small raised surfaces for their location, but the pylons themselves do not have any pins to fit into holes you may drill out...though the instructions show both the holes nad the pins. Easily rectified.
The painting instructions are also decent, showing the various FS colors and names for the various areas of the aircraft (as well as the weapons) to be painted.
Here's how the aircraft looked out of the box:
  
 
The Build- Cockpit, airframe and control surfaces, and weapons - October 21, 2014
I started by building the cockpit. Not a lot of detail for the cockpit. no raised surfaces, and no decals. The ejection seat is very basic, with the seat, headrest, andvanilla structure. There are the distinctive hand controllers on the right side for both forward and reap positions. I painted the cockpit area accordingly, added all of the parts, and then found some decals to be used for instrumentation for former builds.
  
I then began building the airframe. I added the cockpit assembly in and then glued the upper and lower fuselage together. I then built the air intake assemble and added it below the cockpuit. The wings are single pieces, as is the vertical stabilor and both of the horizontal stabilizors. I added each of these to the aircraft, along with the nose and the tail cone (which has an engine exhaust insert).
Then I painted the aircraft according to the instruction using MOdel MAster Gunship gray for the upper fuselkage, and Model MAster Light Ghose Gray for the lower.
  
Now it was time to start worrking on the weapons (After I had added the landing gear).
Well, the Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles that came with this kit were just either too old in terms of their versions, and/or not very detailed, so, I used some after market parts that I have on standby. So the issues about the parts and yhow they got to the proper number of missiles was a moot point for my build.
In this case, I used a Hasegawa 1/72 scale air to ground weapon kit and a Testors 1/72 scale US/NATO weapons kit to outfit the aircraft with the following:
2 x AIM-9L Sidewinders short-range, infrared air to air missiles
2 x AIM-120 AMRAAM Advanced medium-range air to air missiles
4 x AGM-65 Maverick air to ground missiles
2 x GBU-10 PAveway II 2,000 lb aser Guided Bomb
1 x AN/AQQ-33 Sniper Pod
1 x AN/AQQ-184 ECM Pod
1 x AN/AQQ-33 Sniper Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-13 Nav Pod
This is a fairly heavily loaded aircraft for air to ground, as well as being very capable of air to air. Such an aircraft could protect itself and others if attacked, then use its air to ground munitions to attack, and then be able to fly CAP for other attackers if necessary.
Here's those weapons, painted, and then as I added decals to them.
  
The various pods really add to the realism of the model and are typically not included in such kits.
In my next session I hope to complete the weapons and add them to the aircraft, and then do the work necessary for the canpoy and add it to the aircraft too. That will leave a final session for adding all of the decals.
Schedule for Future Activities: October 21, 2014
- By Dec 01, 2014, Complete the PLAN Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Trumpeter Type 071 LPD-998, with a FFG, and two DDGs.
- By Mar 15, 2015, Complete the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Iwo Jime, a 2nd LPD, USS SOmerset, LPD-25, a DDG, a SSN, and another LCS.
- By Mar 16, 2015 Go back and start fleshing out the rest of the DDG and FFG escorts for each CSG and ARG group.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91. I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit D612 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD
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