Subject: Re: F-16C Arctic Bandit Submission
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 11:12:12 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: [email-masked] 
  To: Aircraft Resource Center 
  Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2010 12:16 AM
  Subject: F-16C Arctic Bandit Submission

  "1/48 Scale Hasegawa F16C Arctic Bandit" 

  by "Burt Gustafson"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of my 1/48 scale Hasegawa F-16C Arctic Bandit. The Arctic Bandits are the aircraft (24 F-16Cs) of the 18th Aggressor Squadron, based at Eielson AFB Alaska, USA. 

  The mission of the 18th Aggressor Squadron is to provide realistic, combat adversary training in air, space and information operations. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat. In short, the F-16s of the 18th Aggressor Squadron play the role of the bad guys. 

  In the photos note the weapons load out, a captive AIM-9L and an AN/APX-95 TACTS Pod. Captive AIM-9L missiles have live seeker heads but the rest of the missile is non functional. The blue bands on the missile body signify that it is a training missile. The AN/APX-95 TACTS Pod is an airborne air data sensor, electronic altimeter, and inertia sensor used to send data to ground receiving stations. As a training tool, it is used to judge the effects of simulated weapons fire.

  Construction
  This was an out of the box build except for the AN/APX-95 TACTS Pod and the seat belts I added to the ejection seat. The TACTS Pod is from the Hasegawa Aircraft Weapons: D kit. This was a straight forward kit to build because the parts fit were excellent. Note though the two canopy parts had parting lines down the middle which had to be sanded out. And it required some extra sanding to get the pieces to fit into place.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg 

  Painting
  All paints used for this model were airbrushed with Model Masters and Floquil enamel paints. The model here is painted in the new “Arctic” paint scheme: Camouflage Gray FS36622, Dark Gull Gray FS36231, and Semi Gloss Black. The landing gears and wheel wells were painted with Floquil Reefer White, and the nose cone Dark Gray FS36176. Note that the Arctic paint scheme (Black, White, and Gray) is just one of three paint schemes used by the 18th Aggressor Squadron. There is the Blue/Gray Camouflage scheme and the Brown/Green Camouflage scheme.

  Decals
  The decals for this kit were flawless. They are well printed, easily placed on the model and snugged down nicely to the model. The kit offers decals for four aircraft. I chose to go with the decals for aircraft number AF86290. Looking at the model photos one might get the impression that there are not a lot of decals. Trust me there are a ton of decals on this model, many are stencil type decals.

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  Comments
  This kit was a pleasure to build. The parts fit was excellent, cockpit and external detail is quite good, and the decals were super. The overall quality of this kit is excellent, typical of a Hasegawa kit. I was pleased with the finished model—an impressive model and it looks like the real aircraft.

  "Burt Gustafson"

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 09.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 09.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 10.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 10.jpg 

  Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 12.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 12.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 13.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 13.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 14.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 14.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 15.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 15.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 16.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 16.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 17.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 17.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 18.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 18.jpg 

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 19.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 19.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 20.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 20.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 21.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 21.jpg Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 22.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 22.jpg 

  Photos and text © by "Burt Gustafson"