Subject: Re: Article for AUGUST 17, 2007 (Indonesian Independence Day)
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Alex Sidharta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:13:26 -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: Alex Sidharta 
  To: Steve Bamford 
  Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2007 8:01 AM
  Subject: Article for AUGUST 17, 2007 (Indonesian Independence Day)

    
  "1/32 TNI AU F-16A : 

  Viper in the Dragon Nest" 

  by "Alex Sidharta"
  --------------------

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

  This is the third camouflage used by Indonesian Air Force (IdAF/TNI AU) F-16s since year 2000 after the three-tone blue-grey camouflage (often called as "Blue Spot") and the "Elang Biru" aerobatic team colors of bright blue and yellow. The colors itself was a result from competition held by the base commander at that time. Indonesian pilots of F-16 also comment that this camo is very effective in the air, decreasing visual sight significantly compare to the earlier colors.

  In the miniature form, finding match colors were no less difficult. Even after using FS 595b color charts. I had to scrap at least 4 models before finally found that Gunze Acrylic's IJN Grey and Humbrol 115 Russian Blue is the closest.

  Click on images below to see larger images

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 02.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 02.jpg 
       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 

  Big scale Revell's F-16N boxing I used needed a lot of modifications to make it (well, at least externally) an F-16A-15OCU. A-type fin from Hasegawa with resin parabrake housing is used as the main recognition of TNI AU Vipers. Thank-God Revell gives a PW engine exhaust instead of GE engine. Modeler who wants to build an F-16N from this kit must have more problems than me. Other things I did were scribing the 10-square panels on fuselage, adding details on cockpit and scratch-build simple intake duct.

  The model itself is not bad for a 80s-era kit. But surely can't be compared to current standard kits like the Academy or even Tamiya. I used minimal filler on this one. And amazingly, the Hasegawa fin fitted perfectly on the Revell's slot.

  Using Zozt's Vicacious Viper 2 decal sheet, which fixed perfectly on glossy surfaces, the look of an Indonesian F-16 emerging. But I had to hand-paint some stencils near canopy as I missed-out these were supplied in the decal sheet. Ouch! Zozt even includes the bright-orange strengthener-plate on back as decal.

          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 06.jpg here  

  I think there's no other perfect way to proof whether the colors matches the real thing or not than bringing the model to the place where the real thing belongs. I had the opportunity to present this model to the Squadron and at the same time, compared the color to the real F-16. The result was satisfactory..

  Now my model belongs to the Indonesian F-16 Squadron, side-by-side with the real F-16A serialled TS-1608 in the Dragon (Indonesian F-16 Pilot nickname) Nest.

  Click on images below to see larger images

        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 

  Below are another TNI AU F-16 models I built; AMT 1/72 F-16A TS-1610, Hasegawa 1/72 F-16B TS-1601, Revell 1/72 F-16A TS-1612 (with Diorama) and Italeri 1/48 F-16A TS-1606.

  Hope you all enjoy it....

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo AMT.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo AMT.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo Hasegawa.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo Hasegawa.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo Revell.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo Revell.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo Italeri.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo Italeri.jpg

  Photos © by Alex Sidharta & Dhani Iskandar, and text © by Alex Sidharta