F-16C Wisconsin ANG 60th Anniversary WIP 11 March 2010

I'm working on that kit right now, its an awesome kit. I haven't had any problems with it at all. I'm not sure about the blocks, sorry i can't help you there, but as far as the kit goes you'll really like the kit, its a fun build.

Jason

Have you looked or asked questions here?

http://www.f-16.net/f-16_versions_article6.html

Remember, Google is your friend.

AF tain number 87 0278 is an F-16C Block 30H Big Mouth. 

Here is a link.

http://www.f-16.net/gallery_item327539.html

Have fun!

According to the database here: http://www.f-16.net/aircraft-database/F-16/serials-and-inventory/year/1987/106/ 87-278 is a Block 30H (not sure what the "H" means)

The most obvious visible difference between the Block 25 and Block 30 is that  Block 25 aircraft have the P/W F100 engine with the "small mouth" intake and the Block 30 have the GE F110 with the "big mouth". The afterburner cones are, of course, different too.

In other words, the kit you have will not be correct for the plane you are modeling.  The intake will be too small and the tail feathers are for the wrong engine.  This link:

 http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/f16blockssb_1.htm

 Will give you all the info you need to make this project work.  It tells you exactly what parts you need to source from the other tamiya kit and how to put the details together.

Jason,

Thanks for the reply. I have built 3 of Tamiya's F-16 and they are great. I just want to make sure this one is accurate.

Mike, Phil & satch_ip,

Thanks for the link and I did check it out a little last night.

F-8fanatic,

OK! Now that I checked your link, and thank you I have another ?

It says:

 To get to a block 30, (Which Is What I Want) first you need to decide if the jet you want to do has an NSI or MCID intake. If it's GE/NSI, all you need to do is obtain a GE nozzle and aft fuselage section, sourced from either the block 50 kit or aftermarket. If it's GE/MCID, you'll need to swap the intake as well. This involves sprue H from the block 50 kit, which includes the intake upper and lower pieces

Looking at the photo can you tell if it is a NSI or MCID intake? I hope it is the GE so I can get the nozzle and fuselage section.

F-8fanatic,

Will this do the trick?

1:48 Aires F-16C Falcon Block 30/40/50/60 Exhaust Nozzle (TAM kit) #4425

1:48 CMK F-16C/D Block 30/40/50 Falcon Large Intake Set (HAS kit) #4189

1:48 CrossDelta F-16C Falcon Stiffener Plates for Block 25/30/32/40/42 #CD48001

Thanks

IBuild148 wrote:

F-8fanatic, OK! Now that I checked your link, and thank you I have another ? It says:  To get to a block 30, (Which Is What I Want) first you need to decide if the jet you want to do has an NSI or MCID intake. If it's GE/NSI, all you need to do is obtain a GE nozzle and aft fuselage section, sourced from either the block 50 kit or aftermarket. If it's GE/MCID, you'll need to swap the intake as well. This involves sprue H from the block 50 kit, which includes the intake upper and lower pieces Looking at the photo can you tell if it is a NSI or MCID intake? I hope it is the GE so I can get the nozzle and fuselage section.

 EDIT--let's get this right.  The plane you are modeling has the MCID--which stands for "modular common intake duct".  This is the Big Mouth intake.  The only GE-powered Block 30's that came with the NSI were Block 30 A, B, and C's.  Beginning with Block 30D, the MCID became standard and you are trying to make a Block 30H, so get a larger intake and the GE engine set.

  That GE engine set looks flat-out amazing too....I may have to pick me up one of these kits before this is all done with.  Be careful though--the intake conversion you posted is for the Hasegawa kit, not the Tamiya one.  Still might work but I am not familiar with the two kits enough to say how well that would go together.  You may have better luck checking around to see if anyone built this kit as the Block 25/32 version and converted to the Pratt & Whitney engine, they might have the Tamiya kit parts hanging around.  Worse comes to worse, get yourself the other Tamiya kit and build both.

Also, per that link I posted, not all of those stiffening plates are used on the Block 30 jets.

Some action pictures of that plane here

Some of these pics make a great desktop!

http://www.115fw.ang.af.mil/photos/mediagallery.asp?galleryID=5933&page=2

 Well here's another pix... I think they have one of the finest fin flashes around!!

Flaps up,

Mike

Rangers Lead The Way

Great pics!  Just saw a couple of these WI ANG birds fly over yesterday.

Sounds like the guys have got you covered. An excellent F-16 resource is The Modern Viper Guide by Jake Melampy.  It's the main F-16 reference I use.  He also has a title concerning the F-16's of the ANG, but I have not seen that one up close.

I wonder why the F-16 boys don't come up to Appleton to shoot approaches? If it is good enough for KC-135s...it should be good enough for F-16s. It is a very short hop from Madison to Appleton.

My guess is Appleton doesn't have any emergency recovery barriers/facilities. It would be nice to see them on occasion as we do the tankers.

Frank and Gerald,

Thanks for chiming in. Being from Wisconsin and all my family still there it is good to here from the neighborhood!

Once I have all the AM parts I will start on this project and keep you all posted.

IBuild148 wrote:

Frank and Gerald, Thanks for chiming in. Being from Wisconsin and all my family still there it is good to here from the neighborhood! Once I have all the AM parts I will start on this project and keep you all posted.

AHA!  A displaced local.   Where in WI are you from?  I am about 15 miles West of Madison.  Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend an afternoon with the men from the 176FS.  They let me crawl all over 87-0300. 

As you are building one of their AC, check out this video, keeps me motivated on the 176FS F-16 I am building right now too.

Here is a link to a huge batch of photos of the 176FS/115TFW, hope they help!

Frank,

Born in Milwaukee and raised in Weyauwega. GREAT place to grow up and TONS of memories.

Things I don't miss:

Humidity

Anything below 40 degrees

Thanks for sharing the link and I may be seeking your input as I proceed through this project.

IBuild148 wrote:

Frank, Born in Milwaukee and raised in Weyauwega. GREAT place to grow up and TONS of memories. Things I don't miss: Humidity Anything below 40 degrees Thanks for sharing the link and I may be seeking your input as I proceed through this project.

Born and raised in Mount Horeb, land of trolls, mustard and big fire trucks.   If you do ever miss the humidity and arctic weather, by all means say something- I'd be happy to send some of both your way.

By all means, if there is anything I can help with, just ask.  I am also using the Tamiya kit for my build, excellent choice.

F-8fanatic,

So if I understand you correctly, go with the 1:48 Aires F-16C Falcon Block 30/40/50/60 Exhaust Nozzle (TAM kit) #4425?        Yes?

As for the large intake instead of the cmk AM what if I just cannibalize it from the Tamiya 1/48 F-16CJ Block 50 Kit - 61098???

If you have both the Block 25/32 and the Block 50, you can combine the parts between the two kits to make a Block 30 and a Block 52. 

To make a Block 30, use these instead...

In step 2, use H2 from the Block 50 in place of Q3 in the 25/32.

In step 6, use A18, H1, H3 and H12 from the Block 50 in place of Q4, Q2, Q1, and Q12 from the Block 25/32.

In step 13, use H4, H5, H9, and H10 from the Block 50 in place of Q6, Q7, Q7, and Q10 from the Block 25/32.

In step 14, use H6, H7, H8, and H11 from the Block 50 in place of Q8, Q9, Q13, and Q14 from the Block 25/32.

In step 16, use F23 from the Block 50 in place of F22 in the Block 25/32.

Other than these parts swaps, use the rest of the instructions from the Block 25/32 kit to make a Block 30.  If you have any questions, just ask!

Exactly what I was searching for. Now I can move forward.

Roger That!

   Daywalker, a friend of mine from the local model club knows the author. I got a chance to look at the book. Amazing! Color photos throughout, some units had a TON of pics, some fewer(ex:Tulsa's Vipers were being deployed to Bosnia at the time I believe,maybe less than 10 pics)It is dated for modern ANG aircraft.

  I planned on building a Tulsa version based on the Hasegawa kit,found out it will only work for pre-2000 Tulsa ANG,and The Thunderbirds. I plan on buying the Academy offering as it is the correct variant for the color-painted Indian head on the tail.

Are you speaking of the ANG F-16 book?  May have to add that one to my library as well.  I just bought "The Modern Eagle Guide" of his, stunning photography and a wealth of info.  Worth every penny IMHO.

I have chatted with Jake here on the forums a couple of times, but haven't seen him around lately.  perhaps if we keep mentioning his name he will reappear.

Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Many thanks to all of you who have shared information on this project.

Special THANKS to F-8fanatic and Daywalker.

Following are the 2 kits that will make an F-16C Block 30 Wisconsin ANG, 176FS/115TFW aircraft. The Tamiya F-16CJ Block 50 and Tamiya F-16C Block 25/42. I will be using the TwoBobs Decal sheet on the left in the photo and Daywalkers excellent instructions on the right on what I need to use from the Block 50 Kit to make a Block 30.

I am still awaiting the Eduard F-16 C/N Block 30/32 undercarriage, Color cockpit set and stiffening plates.

Thanks to everyone's input and more will follow!

Well I finally finished the cockpit using Eduard's Color Photo Etch Set:

Up next is the Eduard Photo Etch Undercarriage Set:

I will update after I finish and check out of the asylum. If you have any pointer's / heads up that I should beware of besides working slowly and patiently please share.

Until my next update.

Some excellent progress so far!

As far as tips, I found one that might help.  Not sure if you purchased a set of Tamiya (or anyone else's for that matter) airframe stiffener plates, but if you are using the PE metal ones, the ones that go in front of the sides bumps on the nose can be tricky to get to conform to the curved surface.  On mine, I simply took the PE piece and traced it's shape onto a piece of Scotch tape, and stuck it on.  A little CA glue around it's perimeter and it's good to go!  Much easier that way.

If you're not certain about the stiffener plates like which ones to use or not, here's a link to an excellent article on F-16 Blocks and how to differentiate between them.

Hi Frank,

Hope its not to cold back home!

I did buy the Tamiya stiffener plates/pitot tube and will print your comment so when I get to it I am prepared. You had sent me the F-16C article and I have that printed.

This Undercarriage set is going to require thought and patience.

More updates to follow.

LOL, it's been unseasonably warm the past few days!  Highs near 65 degrees.  I don't want to hijack your thread, but I recently got my Tamiya Viper primered.  Can't wait to spray some paint on her!