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
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images below to see larger images
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