This is Academys nice F-16C/J Block 40/50 kit. I built it using the Super Scale decals no 32231 for a 180^th FW F-16C remembering the “Tuskegee Airmen”. Shortly before I decided to build the Academy F-16C after I had done Tamiya’s a year before, I saw the film about these first black US fighter pilots. I also read an article about this special F-16 in “Jets” and couldn’t resist when I saw that my German supplier had a set of these markings in stock. You can read more about these brave men and their history at http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/ .

Click on images below to see larger images

There isn’t much to say about the kit: it’s less complicated than Tamiya’s having superb surface structure, optional clear parts. But it has no screws, and because of this, it is not as easy to build as Tamiya’s. I know many modelers don’t like the rubber tires, but I missed them in this kit. On the other side, this kit comprises a full load of weapons, you can either build the CJ or CG variants, all US variants for which there are decals supplied with this kit have a big-mouth intake, only the Korean version has the older, smaller one. AIM-9L/M, AIM-9X, AIM-120B/C, LANTIRN/FLIR, AGM-88, ECM pod, drop tanks, GBU-12 and GBU-31 are on the weapons sprues. I decided to hang AIM-120Cs, AIM-9X and drop tanks under the wings, with two GBU-12 w/TER on the right side and a GBU-31 on the left side. Centerline is an ECM pod, and I also took complete LANTIRN/FLIR.

Minimal sanding was required on the weapons, the seam between Gun installation cover and main body I couldn’t sand away, it was my fault having glued it to early. I did the camo with gunze colors, FS 36118, 36320 and 36375. Weathering was applied using Tamiya Smoke, Black and Medium Blue to highlight some panels, looks nice. After gloss coating, Super Scale decals were applied using Gunze Mark Softer, they did really well.  A final coat of Testors dull cote, finished.

Daniel

Click on images below to see larger images