¹⁄32

High Stakes Gambler

introduction

Arising from the Lightweight Fighter competition of the early 1970s, the F-16 has matured into a fully capable multi-role fighter aircraft. F-16s have served in the air forces of 26 nations. The F-16's official name is Fighting Falcon, but to its pilots it will always be the Viper.

The 77th Fighter Squadron is part of the 20th Fighter Wing, based at Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter, South Carolina. The Squadron was activated at Shaw in 1994, equipped with Block 50 F-16CJ aircraft for the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defence) role, which had first evolved during the Vietnam war as the Wild Weasel mission. The 77th is the US Air Force's East Coast F-16 demonstration team, which performs at air shows throughout the Eastern United States as well as meeting its regular USAF commitments.

the model

The kit is a Tamiya 1/32nd scale F-16CJ Fighting Falcon that's mostly out-of-the-box. The kit's rubber wheels were replaced with Wheeliant resin versions, and the cockpit was enhanced with the Eduard color PE. Additional wiring was scratched for the wheel well, and an RB Model pitot tube was added on the nose. I also replaced the trailing edge sensors with ones made from .5mm brass tubing and brass wire.