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2. The build was quite a slow process due to
the high complexity of the project that involved building two F-16's
side by side. Various components are shown here after the Flaperons were
removed. |
3. This view shows in good detail the nose
avionics assembly comprising of Verlinden resin items in light orange. A
white section of plastic card separates resin from cockpit. |
4. Between the two resin plugs there was
space for a nose-weight. In this case it is lead shot secured with PVA
wood glue. The unpainted avionics bay doors are also shown here. |
5.
This view shows the avionics wiring
reproduced in copper wire. |
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6. The ejection seat before painting. This
is another resin item from Verlinden. |
7. A view of the upper cockpit coaming. Part
of the rear coaming was cut away to make room for a photo-etched metal
insert from the Verlinden superdetail set. |
8. A view of the cannon bay with the resin
ammo drum and Gatling Gun body. The gun is made of sprue and
photo-etched parts. |
9.
Another close up of the unpainted ammo
drum, nose cone and radar assembly. Verlinden photoetched and resin
parts made up all these items. |
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10. The cannon bay includes the ammo drum
bay. Some ribbing had to be removed before the Gun body would fit
properly. |
11. Another view of the various assemblies
going into the nose area. These photo's were taken much later as the
parts are now painted. |
12. The ejection seat is now painted. |
13. The blue masking tape here was used to
mask the mating section of the front bulkhead. Here we see the radar
assembly before it was mounted on the nose. |
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14. Two F-16's were built side by side so
here we see two ejection seats and one of the ladders. |
15. An interior shot of the now painted
avionics bay doors. Note the wiring and door hinges. |
16. A look inside the cockpit after fuselage
assembly and painting. |
17.
The Gatling Cannon bay fully painted and
assembled. |
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18. The
avionics bays now painted. |
19. A further view of the painted avionics
bays. |
20. Overall view of the front section before
final painting of the camouflage scheme. |
21. One last
shot of the model before it was finished.... Once again we get to see the
Gatling Cannon bay with its gun and ammo drum. Compare these photo's to the
similar ones show to the right and below. It took a lot of work to get
between the two.... |
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22. A Pilot of this Dutch
Airforce walks over to his awaiting F-16A being prepped by his crew
chief. Well, actually it is the Hasegawa 1/48th scale F-16A built during November, December, January & March 2003/2004. |
23. This kit is detailed with
the Verlinden "F-16 Super Detail Set". Here we see the open
Gatling gun bay with it ammunition drum. The gun itself is made from
stretched sprue. Weathering is with black acrylic wash and oil pastel
dust. |
24. The open avionics and
radar bays come from Verlinden and are resin and photo-etched parts. The
ladder is a kit item thinned down. |
25. A view of the mid-section
showing the belly tank. This aircraft is an F-16A, J-142, of the Royal
Netherlands Air Force 316 Squadron, Gilze Rijen AB, depicted in 1993
when it celebrated its 40th Anniversary with this special paint scheme. |
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26. The decals are from
"Dutch Decal" but were disappointing as they refused to stick
without silvering. |
27. The Dutch Decal sheet instructions are
not in colour and the decals were applied before I realised that the tail was meant to be yellow.... The ejection
seat is a resin and photo-etched item from Verlinden. Canopy framing is
all from Verlinden. |
28. The model was airbrushed
with Xtracolour enamels. The sidewinder missiles are from the kit but
the tip covers are by PP Aeroparts, as were the RBF tags. The roundels
were from another Dutch Decal set whilst the stencils are from
Aeromaster. |
29. The wing Flaperons were cut out and
lowered and the tailerons were drooped. The exhaust nozzle is a resin item
from Cutting Edge covered in Bare Metal. |
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30. The cockpit is super-detailed with another
Verlinden product - the "F-16 Cockpit Detail Set". Although
excellent the side instrument consoles should not be replaced with the
photo-etched parts supplied. It is almost impossible to make these look
good. |
31. An underside view as the model is held in
my hand over the model bench itself. This Dutch aircraft only
carries its belly tank and one luggage carrier. |
32. The Verlinden kit supplied all of these
details for the Radar and avionics bays. Sadly the
undercarriage bays are bereft of detail so the various pipes, wires,
boxes, aircraft battery and halon gas bottle were all fabricated from
scrap items from the spares box. |
33. This final view of the F-16A show it
alongside a sister ship from the USAF - an F-16C. The pilot and crew
chief are added to give an impression of scale. This photo is taken on
top of the model work bench itself. |
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34. The next set of photo's were taken in
December 2004 after this model was mounted on its Display Base. A name
Plate has been added too. |
35. These photo's are starting took an
awful
lot like the Verlinden Catalogue pictures for their Superdetail sets! |
36. This Base differs in style
to the others seen on this web site. This was the original prototype. |
37. The base may well benefit from some
1/48th scale Ground Equipment in future. |
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38. The Base Name Plate shows the origins of
the Aircraft represented here. |
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