Airfix 1/72 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon

[Stuart]

It's amazing, no matter how many new tool kits I buy, or how many nice kits I have in my stash, it's always the old klunkers that end up on the bench - I think I must have a screw loose somewhere...

Anyway, the other Saturday my son woke me up at 04:00 and rather than dozing on the sofa whilst my wife slept, I fancied trying to build something quickly - rather than an exercise in procrastination like my other builds had become.

So I stuck Arnie's 'Commando' on the Kindle (''Let of some steam Bennett'') and pulled the old Airfix 1/72 F-16A/B I'd started to write a review on a while back - and cracked on. (I do realy love these old Airfix Modern jet kits!)









Now when I started the reveiw, I got stuck not long after I started because I decided the fit was too poor, it needed to be re-scribed, it needed PE in the cockpit etc - basically nowt got done.

Having picked it up again I just cracked on with it - WOW what a lot of fun - by the time Arn' was firing endless rounds out of an M60 (with a ammo belt that kept getting longer) and killing everyone in sight - I'd got this...





(yes that IS x6 AGM-65 - and yes they're all going on)

I have to say I really enjoyied the 'build it like a kid' (ish) mind set of this build. Yes it's raised panel lines, yes it was covered in large gaps that would need tons of filler - but it REALLY does look like an F-16. In the fleash it's a really cool looking model.

Since then I've spent a good few happy hours with a tube of 'Perfect Plastic Putty' - more pics to follow.

(Nice fitting intake - and look at those 'GAPS'!!!!!)



Cheers!

(Hi I'm Stuart and I'm an old-kit-a-holic...)

[Stuart]

Oh and just to compete with Torben's Spitfire thread...

The one on the left woke me up at 4, the one I the right I left alseep in bed (I woke her up at 9am with a Tea).



Cheers!

[Stikpusher]

Nothing wrong with an older kit. They make you better at those new kits which present fewer obstacles! And it is hard to beat a F-16 in the looks department.
And you have a good looking family there to top it off!

[speedgraflex]

So nice to see your family, Stuart! Great photo of them both. I want a shirt with dinosaur drawings on it like your son's; that looks cool. It's really an honor to see the closest members of your world! Cheers, bud.



The plane looks great, too. I think what you did is outstanding. Working through a mental idea on the set of kit's problems is one of the most important outstanding level breaking moves, ever.



I was going to add something here, but it will keep... no, wait. What's next?

[Stuart]

Nothing wrong with an older kit. They make you better at those new kits which present fewer obstacles! And it is hard to beat a F-16 in the looks department.
And you have a good looking family there to top it off!

Thanks Stik - The two Hasegawa kits I have in my stash certainly have a better fit!

So nice to see your family, Stuart! Great photo of them both. I want a shirt with dinosaur drawings on it like your son's; that looks cool. It's really an honor to see the closest members of your world! Cheers, bud.



The plane looks great, too. I think what you did is outstanding. Working through a mental idea on the set of kit's problems is one of the most important outstanding level breaking moves, ever.



I was going to add something here, but it will keep... no, wait. What's next?

Thanks Bruce!

What's next..?

Filling, Filling, and more Filling (and sanding)



Actually I am very thankfull for PPP - being able to remove all of the excess without sanding is so helpful. I can imagine building this kit back in the 80's would have been a nightmare - you're certainly loose most of the raised detail. AS it is I only have a few sink-marks to contend with which'l require mimimal sanding and re-scribing.

As you can see, I've already pretty much finished the putty work, it's just the canopy to do and then the sink-marks. Once that's done I'll give it a coat of primer to seal it all in.

Once that's done, I think I might put the airframe to one side for once and crack on with the other bit like the loadout etc. before I get onto painting. Nothing is more a mojo killer than finishing off the painting and decalling of the airframe, only to be back at square-one with all the other bits. I'm going to avoid that on this one.

Cheers!

Oh and PS - Thanks for the kind comments. Dinosaur T-shirts are indded cool! I can send you it after he's grown out of it if you like - I foresee fit issues though

[BorgR3mc0]

I always have to convince myself not to buy old kits.... with build time beeing minimal I should not fuss to much with putty etcetra. That beeing said, I like building them. I always feel the stakes are a bit lower with an old kit and thus I (mentally) have more room to experiment.
And you are doing a fine work with thar F-16!

[Stuart]

I always have to convince myself not to buy old kits.... with build time beeing minimal I should not fuss to much with putty etcetra. That beeing said, I like building them. I always feel the stakes are a bit lower with an old kit and thus I (mentally) have more room to experiment.
And you are doing a fine work with thar F-16!

Thanks Borg!

I don't have a lot of time either (1-3 hours a week) and I do know what you mean, but I sometimes find that new kits can take just as long, especially with more detail to be painted and the bigger parts count needing longer assembly times. I've never built a kit yet that didn't require somekind of seam-work or filler.



I can't stop buying the damn things either

[Duke Maddog]

What a beautiful family Stuart! Now I know one reason why you build so slow.

Excellent job on the Falcon; those older kits are quite fun sometimes. I started a couple of my own that I hope to have posted soon.

Keep plugging man!

[Stuart]

Thanks Duke!

[Medicman71]

The Viper is looking great!

I too seem to keep pulling old kits out of the stash and building them. I even have some of the latest and greatest kits in the stash. Something about building them that I can't figure out.