F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72)

par PanosGR Mar 7 Oct 2014 - 8:27

Hello everyone.

Another kit on my benchwork, by Italeri and again in 1/72nd scale.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa030013

Sprues photos. Alternative parts are provided in order to build a single or twin seater.
I will try to make a HAF block 52+ and test my brushes with the three-color and wrap around "ghost" camouflage, before attempting a similar project with a 1/48 Kinetic kit.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa030014

Started with the cockpit which i improved a little bit, i've decided do make the C version once the single seaters don't have the electronic dorsal spine and conformal fuel tanks are removable. I don't have the appropiate decals, will try to print some or make a what-if with the US markings.
I don't mind correct depiction and it's more like an expirimental model, but i'll try to correct some things wherever is possible and depending the mood.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa040010

Started modifying the air intake by drilling the marked area and sanding the inside, haf block 52 have the small air intake with a pratt & whitney engine
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa040011

Added a 0.40mm piece of evergreen sheet.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa060011

I first bended it with hot water to give it the distinctive curve f-16 intakes have.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa060010

Next, the vertical fin. All greek F-16's have the extended fin base, added the ~~ECM~~ ASPIS antenna on the right side and made the parachute with milliput.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa070010

That's all for now. Thanks for your time! F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Alcooli4

par tiger60 Mar 7 Oct 2014 - 10:06

good job

par Siegfriedt Mar 7 Oct 2014 - 11:27

Very nice work !

Greek modelers have a very good reputation here in France. I will be very happy to follow how you build your F-16 F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Alcooli2

!

par **vroux65** Mer 8 Oct 2014 - 17:02

Yesss good job !!! F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) 10375203

par onclebob Mer 8 Oct 2014 - 18:29

It's very good.

par PanosGR Dim 19 Oct 2014 - 20:57

Thank you all for your kind comments!

A little bit progress, dry fitted fuselage parts with the cockpit in place and came across an unpleasant gap i started closing with evergreen sheet.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa040017

Glued all parts of the air intake, filled with putty and sanded it. I then applied a grey matt to check progress before trying the house paint technique in order to hopefully achieve a better result with the white color of the inside.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa080012

The vertical fin was wrong, it is intended for the A/B versions, so i removed the extended base and placed it to the correct one for the C/D.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa080013

In the meanwhile, i am working on the armement and filled the sinkmarks on the aim-9 missiles. The spot is quite tricky for filling and sanding, tried the citadel liguid green stuff. Diluted it with water and applied it with a fine brush, have to repeat as the material has the tendency to shrink.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa070013

Thanks for your time watching F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Alcooli4

par onclebob Lun 20 Oct 2014 - 11:36

The good continuous work, it is good

par Anael-52 Mar 21 Oct 2014 - 11:59

Very good

par PanosGR Lun 27 Oct 2014 - 19:09

Thanks onclebob and Anael-52!

Finished the cockpit, light ghost grey 127 and black.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa270110

Glued it in place and closed fuselage parts, some additional painting is required before placing the canopy.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa270111

Painted the exhaust as well, mix of matt and metallic black and then gloss varnish.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa270113

And here's what i did for the air intake. I first painted the front edge with a light grey for the thin line, masked it with tamiya tape and applied an enamel varnish on top of the tape.
I filled the inside all the way to the top with white acrylic house paint and left it for about 5 minutes; it is very important there is no gap or the paint will go away! I closed the one end with some tape. Then, i removed the excessive paint, let it drain and wait while having my fingers crossed.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa250010

The procedure can get very messy, i did it over a container and covered the whole piece with cheap tape, but some water and paper towels were necessary.

Thanks for your time! F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Alcooli2

par Invité Lun 27 Oct 2014 - 19:58

Good idea, and nice work from the beginning of your post . I follow with interest, and also to see what happens now .

par PanosGR Mer 5 Nov 2014 - 9:47

Thank you pifoux!

I had to repeat the process with the house paint once it is sensitive as long as it doesn't dry, i left the part dipped in bleach for a couple of days. After i cleaned it, i glued the front door and the small part in the inside, and tried again.
The paint has dried after 1 day while being covered and without touching it, painted some other parts and removed the tape, it looks good and can say i am satisfied.
Still have to apply a enamel varnish in the inside and glue the intake to the kit.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pb040116

Assembled the rest of the parts, some sanding first to eliminate steps on the exhaust and radome, putty and again sanding. A little bit more work and placing other pieces before rescribing lost panel lines.
I also glued some styrene sheet on the fuselage as there is a small gap between the air intake.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pa280110

That's all for now! F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Alcooli4

par Invité Mer 5 Nov 2014 - 19:28

nice job . Interesting way . You paint the exhaust before all, did you paint under the cone fin ? Because now it would be difficult it seems . You glued the exhaust of the engine that is because it did not fit correctly ? Cause it would be easier to paint all the plane and to glue this piece after all painting .

par PanosGR Jeu 6 Nov 2014 - 11:34

pifoux a écrit:nice job . Interesting way . You paint the exhaust before all, did you paint under the cone fin ? Because now it would be difficult it seems . You glued the exhaust of the engine that is because it did not fit correctly ? Cause it would be easier to paint all the plane and to glue this piece after all painting .

Thank you for your kind words.

I haven't painted under the fin, there's a bit of space between the exhaust and i believe with a fine brush, i will be able to paint. Also, the unpainted area is going to be painted with the camouflage colors.
I first painted the exhaust as it was easier to do so before gluing, rather than masking with the part on the model. Apart from that, the fit wasn't good enough, the piece was quite bigger than the fuselage and had to sand it down.

par Invité Jeu 6 Nov 2014 - 21:15

Y're welcome . Allright i understand your method . Nice kit after you rectify bad things . divs6

par PanosGR Mar 18 Nov 2014 - 11:11

Finished last tasks before painting and glued seat in place
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pb140110

Also made the IFF antenna in front of the windshield and navigation lights on the sides of the air intake, added a pitot tube out of a needle and masking tape with a couple drops of cyanoacrylate glue. Placed the canopy and masked it.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pb160110

And drawed the pattern with a pencil, ready for some paint!
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pb180110

par PanosGR Mar 2 Déc 2014 - 13:36

Hello all.

Almost finished painting camouflage colors, still have to correct a couple of things on the pattern before painting other details. I first removed the horizontal fins which i painted separately, drilled holes on the join points in order to glue metal rods and assemble them later.
I used humbrol enamel paints; US gull grey 129, gull grey 140 and medium grey 145.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pc010114

par PanosGR Mer 28 Jan 2015 - 15:11

Hello all,

The model has finished, a relaxing break from the 1/48 scale.
I feel quite bad for posting a Greek F-16 after Monday's sad accident causing also the casualties of French personnel, so forgive me in advance. It's difficult moments for the Armee de l' Air and Hellenic Air Force, and the only thing i can do is to express my sadness and condolences.

I tried to do some extensive weathering caused by the antiradar coating "Have glass", which on most of the aircrafts the camouflage colors can hardly be distinguished and since i don't prefer heavily weathered models, i did a part of it.

After i painted other details, i sealed everything with a coat of floor polish liquid and applied a filter with black oil to darken the colors.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pc230110

Put decals on and did a wash and some dry brushing
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) P1170010

I then applied an enamel satin varnish with a couple of drops of gun metal in order to give it a metal texture.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) P1240010

And lastly, an acrylic matt varnish and dry brush on the exhaust before gluing missiles and fuel tanks
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) P1260010

In the meanwhile, i was working on the base the kit would be placed, air hardening clay inside a plastic cup to give it form and then painted with masks cut with a new blade attached to a caliper.
F-16C Block 52 (Italeri 1/72) Pb210110