1/48 Hasegawa F-16F Desert Falcon

by Corbett Legg

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United Arab Emirates National Day 2007 

 

The United Arab Emirates Air Force are the only users of the very advanced Lockheed Martin single seat F-16E and twin seat F-16F Block 60 version, referred to here in the Emirates as the "Desert Falcon".

This was my first attempt with a resin conversion.  I had hoped to use the impressive Isracast F-16I Sufa conversion, but the Block 60 was just too different.  So I went down the path of adding parts meant for other F-16D's.  The F-16F used by the UAE is not exactly the same as the various F-16D parts I used, so additional modification and scratch building was needed as well.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

I started with the very nice Hasegawa F-16D kit.  From Cutting Edge I added the "big mouth" intake for the GE engine, conformal saddle tanks, and their Peace Marble spine.  I used as much of the Eduard photo etch set as I could and added their ladder as well.  I installed the Aires wheel bays and cockpit set, which had to be additionally modified for the Block 60.  Flying photos of F-16F's from many sources taken in Ft. Worth where the planes are built and Tucson where the Emirati pilots are trained helped in adding additional scoops built from sheet styrene in the right places.  I finished it off by including six Mavericks and two sidewinders from a Hasegawa weapons set.  I used Revell paints, the only type readily available here in Dubai, and lightened the colors for scale effect to match the photos.  The decals are from the Zotz Decals 'Vivacious Vipers Set 2.

Corbett

Photos and text © by Corbett Legg