Hello,

Those of you that also regularly check out the Armorama forum might have seen my question about the benefits of Trumpeter's BMP-3 vs Zvezda's T-90. Well, as it happens I just got home from a model show, and with me was neither of them, but a rahter old example of Hasegawa's two-seat Viper A few questions:

1) I assume the F-16B Plus means it is a Block 15, is this correct?

2) Are there any major external differences between a Block 15 and a Block 10, except for the size of the elevators?

3) The canopy has some light scratches, which really is a shame, especially on a plane with a canopy of this size. Are there any ways to try and remedy this, or is sourcing a spare canopy the only way out? F-16B canopies seems few and far between according to a quick Google-search.

identifying the scale might help matters too BTW;

Yes, the Hasegawa F-16B is a basic Block 15. There are differences between Block 10 and 15. Besides the small stabs (elevators are a WWII aircraft aspect) of Blocks 1-10, there are some antenna differences. The cockpit difference is primarily in the aft Cockpit where the Radar Display and CRT screen are configured side by side; just like the F-16D aft cockpit IP with the side by side MFDs. The kit cockpit; though a bit sparse and too wide does have the correct F-16B aft cockpit IP config. Black Box made a nice F-16B cockpit for the Hasegawa kit, but it’s been OOP for a while now. It improves the cockpit so much, so if you can source one I highly recommend it!

Note that Block 1-5 NLG/MLG gear doors had a totally different inner door structure.

Externally, the last lot of block 15s ended up with some F-16C/D specific parts, like the High Profile ECS duct and 8 slotted gun muzzle. Do you have any reference pics of the F-16B subject you want to build. The time frame of that subject is critical, since some F-16A/Bs were also converted to ADFs and FMS/EPAF F-16s have been MLU converted.

The canopy scratches shouldn’t be a big deal. Since you need to remove the outer/mid seam anyway, you can mesh out the scratches in the process.

Mike V

Thanks for the swift relpy, I suppose the more detailed question the more detailed the answer will be

The aircraft(s) that caught my eye was this picture of a IDF/AF F-16B in standard USAF grey as opposed to the typical desert camo. Long story short, the Peace Marble IV program was made up of surplus USAF/ANG F-16A/B (mostly Block 10, though some also mention Block 1 and 5 in the mix) to Israel in 1994, and they are the only Israeli F-16's to have flown in grey.



After digging deeper, I found this nice post about a similar F-16A, which helpfully lists a number of smaller conversions "needed": http://www.arcair.com/Fea1/901-1000/Fea923-F-16-Sargent/00.shtm

My model is the 1/48 variant, V5, with the decal sheet dated 1989. The decals *might* be usable, but I don't think I'd want to take that chance even if I would do a US aircraft.

Well that makes things simpler. I know all about Peace Marble IV. I had a Crew Chief buddy who was part of the PM IV refurbishment team at DM. I was stationed at Nellis at the time and made a couple of visits to DM during the process.

For Block 10 there’s not much AM needed to make a Block 10 F-16B, other than Stabs as you’re mainly removing/deleting small details like the lower “canines” Threat Warning antennas; which BTW is wrongly called lower TACAN Antennas in that ARC F-16A article.

I still strongly suggest the Black Box F-16B cockpit, even though it’s a Block 15 configuration. It’s hard to find though.

The Hasegawa kit decals are usable, but are thick too and have a hard time conforming. Look for the SKY Decals F-16A Netz sheet, as it has markings for the surplus PM IV F-16As. It’s pricy, but there’ not a whole of options, unless you can source the Irsa set. I think Aeromaster made an F-16A Netz sheet at one time too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Skys-Decals-1-48-ISRAELI-AIR-FORCE-F-16-TAIL-MARKINGS-/360725670991?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53fcecec4f

Mike V

That's great to hear, I know whom to ask then Were there any Israeli modifications done to them, or were they shipped as they served in the US? Thinking about e.g. the Israeli chaff/flare dispensers. Are the IDF/AF droptanks standard US-made versions, or do they feature some Israeli variant?

They PM IV jets were ferried over as is. From what I know, just about all of them stayed the same configuration as training jets. I did here some Block 10s getting the Block 15 upgrades to replace attrition F-16A/Bs; the original PM 1 jets.