1/48 Tamiya F-16CJ Block 50

Gallery Article by Burt Gustafson on July 4 2009

United States of America Independence Day 2009

 

For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos of my latest build, Tamiya's F-16CJ Block 50, another great kit from Tamiya. For those who may be unfamiliar with the mission of the CJ, F-16CJs are used for SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) missions that include searching out and destroying air-defense radar and missile sites.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

The key elements for suppressing SAM sites are the HARM Targeting System (HTS) pod attached to the CJs Station 5 (right) pod mounting and the AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile). The HTS pod detects, identifies, and locates radar guided threats at long ranges. It then displays the target location to the pilot for HARM designation and firing.

For SEAD missions the F-16CJ sports two HARMs on LAU-118 launchers at Stations 3 and 7. The HARM is a really "smart" air-to-ground missile. It has three operational modes and has a range of 80 nm. It also has an onboard inertial guidance system so that whenever it has acquired a lock, it will continue to the target even if the emitter shuts down. 

Top speed for the HARM, while classified, is greater than Mach 3. This allows it to out run almost any SAM system in a "quick-draw" contest. 

About the kit: This kit was a pleasure to build, even though it has lots of parts. In other words, a dream to build. Parts fit like a glove, requiring very little filling or sanding. It was an out of the box build all the way. Note that the kit offers some interesting features, such as, the vertical and horizontal stabilizers are detachable along with the external fuel tanks and the ECM pod. 

For painting, I airbrushed the model for a factory fresh paint job using Model Masters and Floquil enamel paints. Note the camouflage scheme for Block 50 F-16CJs consists of only two colors, Neutral Gray and Gunship Gray. The USAF deleted Light Ghost Gray. The nose cone is painted Dark Gray. 

For the model decals I used the kit decals which are excellent. They are sharp, easily placed and snuggled down nicely with the help of some Micro Sol setting solution. The kit provides decals for three different aircraft. I chose to go with the decals for the 79th FS leader, 20th FW, Tiger Meet Version, Buckley AFB, Colorado, USA, August 2001. 

This kit was of super quality, well engineered, typical of Tamiya, and just plain enjoyable to build.

Burt Gustafson

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

Photos and text © by Burt Gustafson