1/32 Hasegawa F-16A Falcon

by Jeffry Hutama

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I can say that I am one of the F-16 maniacs, I like the product from Hasegawa in 1/32 scale.  But Hasegawa has 3 different kinds of F-16. The best product that I always use is the "F-16C Ramstein" because it has good detail, but now I will move to Academy or Tamiya for my next project. The F-16 in this photo is F-16A block 15 belonging to the Indonesian airforce. This is the color for the old F-16 squadron, the new squadron  has only 2 color schemes ( Camouflage grey & light fulcrum blue ) like the F-16 US NAVY. Since the embargo by the US, Indonesia only has about 6 or 8 aircraft ready to fly and the others were put in storage for parts & engine replacement.

Actually, Hasegawa makes a good product, but one thing that I don't like is the fuselage has combination of access & recess panel lines so I have to sand it very carefully. The parachute housing is build from scratch...I used my old credit card. And for the parachute, I used "Food plastic wrap".

I added anti electro static on the nose cone/ radar dome from styrene and replaced the original front antenna, which usually made from soft plastic with Alumunium pipe and  a needle. I burnt the needle a little bit so it will looks like the real antenna. I also added some cables in the radar area, landing gear for lights and brakes and some details inside the cockpit. I used paint from model masters "Light fulcrum blue" and Camouflage grey also Tamiya "Dark Blue". And I used "Future" for the canopy and lights.

Before I applied the decals, I sprayed all the surfaces with 'gloss clear' before applying the decals, I then covered the decals with 'Satin finish' from Micro Mark and finally covered all the surface with 'flat clear'.  After you spray 'Flat Clear', you have to make it dry with a 'heater' or put it under the sunlight around 75-80 F. degrees for about 10 minutes. (below 75 F degrees you will not get a good result). The jet will appear as if the decals are painted on.  Nobody will realize that it's decals.  I always use a heater to dry the 'flat clear' color between fall-spring.

This model got a Gold trophy from IPMS on 2003 at Fort Washington,PA.

The reason why I built this model is to remind myself about a small incident above the Indonesian Sea, Indonesia has about 6000 big & small islands.  So when they are doing an air patrol, they always bring 3 fuel tanks. And between the Java & Kalimantan sea there is about 10 or 15 miles (in width) of International water/sea. On July 2003 when USS Carl Vinson (usually based in Japan - 7th fleet) sailed thru this international water/ sea, 4 F/A-18C Fighting Redcock flew across the international sea and did patrols over Indonesian territory over Bawean Island (small island North of Java island).

2 Indonesian F-16A & B took off from Magelang-Java, they took about 30 minutes to Bawean island. Because the US NAVY didn't want to go out from there and back to international sea. Then 2 of the F-16A&B did a fast turn and increased their speed and had a good lock-on on the F/A-18C. 4 F/A-18C broke into 2 groups.. and 1 of the F/A-18C finally got a good lock on to 1 of the F-16. This dogfight happened for about 3 minutes. The US NAVY confirmed with the F-16A&B IAF that they are now already above the international sea. The F/A-18C then landed back on the carrier and the F-16A&B had to go back home. But some Indonesian warship sailed close to the 7th fleet. This story is based on the Angkasa magazine and some Indonesian news paper. The name of the pilot of F-16 is 'captain Ian'.. That's why I put his name on my jet.

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The Sidewinder missile caps I built from alumunium tube and the Indonesian markings are painted by airbrush.

Look at the nozzle area, the connection ring between the fuselage & nozzle.. I imitated burnt metal. 1st  I spray with Silver/ stainless steel color, 2nd I sprayed with clear blue, 3rd I sprayed with clear red, 4th I sprayed a little bit 'Burn Metal' from model masters/testors. BUT... you CAN'T coat/spray 'Flat Clear' because the 'clear Red/blue' color will spread out.  You have to coat/cover it with 'Future' so it will be shiny.

For the nozzle I use 'Burnt metal' over the 'Burnt iron' from model masters. Inside the nozzle, I used Tamiya 'Deck tan' but you can use 'white' or 'Light grey' washed with black water color mixed with liquid soap. 

Jeffry

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Photos and text © by Jeffry Hutama