Tamiya 1/32 F16 CJ bloc 50 Fighting Falcon.

[Jakko]

Do the fuselage parts go together with screws? It certainly looks like that from those photos.

 

[BarryW]

Yes Jakko. Lots of screws.

 

[BarryW]

I was in and out of the garage yesterday painting various metallic shades on the exhaust. I decided to paint that before installing the engine for ease. I will mask it up before pulling the airframe components together. It will need weathering at the end.



Three metallic shades were involved,


As you can see I also painted the front wheel well.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Sounds as if you're enjoying this. Seems fair after the issues with your recent builds. Details so far look superb. Are the screws used because of the size at this scale? Is it just Tamiya or do other makes use screws?
Jim

 

[BarryW]

Size and strength. Also the engineering ensure some sections can be removed so it avoid supply’s cement ‘leaking over’. Typical Tamiya thoughtfulness.

 

[Jakko]

Is it just Tamiya or do other makes use screws?

Though I’ve never built a plane kit like this one, I can only remember Tamiya kits that have them — the small number of of 1:12 scale bikes I built (25+ years ago) all had them, some of their 1:24 car kits did, their 1:35 T26E3 Pershing tank kit has screws. But I don’t recall building any other manufacturer’s plastic kits that came with screws.

 

[BarryW]

I have joined the subs so far completed.




The main wheel well components fit like a glove.




I will detail the wheel wells with lead wire then paint them.

 

[BarryW]

I am getting on with some internal detailing


Above you can see the pe set. I scraped of detail ready for it and then base painted

 

[BarryW]

I have been working on cockpit detail...

The seat has been detail painted and had a sealing semi-matt varnish applied. I still need to attach the seatbelts and do washes.






I am working on the i.p. and side panels. This is the first time that I have used one of these Eduard p.e. detailing sets. In the past my use of p.e. has been seatbelts and an 'kit' p.e. and have never really got on with it. It did feel odd scraping and sanding off detail ready for the p.e....

The i.p. has two layers, I did the bottom layer last night, top payer tonight.


I invested in some specialist tools for doing p.e. and the ones that I am using for this are:
Tamiya file specially designed for p.e. - I have found this much more effective to use compared to the standard needle files.
Tamiya p.e. snippers, these have a sharp point so they can get right into a fret. I also find that by positoning them carefully I can cut right close to the part minimising the sanding.
A pick-up pencil, essential in handling these.
Gator Grip - in the past I have used c.a. but I decided on this for practicallity. You have to allow for its slow drying but I think it is a good choice for this.
Standard pointed tweezers, more for adjusting the position of the piece.
Finally and most important tool of all - patience and resisting that urge to keep on adjusting....


I also cleaned up the upper fuselage parts, screwed and glued them together.


Superb fit.

 

[yak face]

Great progress barry ,its one of the best looking modern jets and Tamiyas f-16s in all scales are superb examples of the kit makers art ( except the Italeri rebox which is yonks old ! You can tell the tamiya own tool 1/72 by just looking at the price difference!) Loving the decal choice too , fifty years of ‘ ygbsm’ wild weasels ( as one of the pilots reputedly said when told of the mission they were going to be doing ‘ you gotta be shittin me ?!’ , the acronym has stuck ever since and is the un /official motto of the wild weasel units) cheers tony

 

[BarryW]

I have been making solid progress. First detailing the cockpit. After the pe I did a semi matt varnish then I used Micro Kristal Klear for the glass screens and dials.





Washes and dry brushing done.






Masked the main wheel wells


Fitted the nose weight and screwed in the cockpit.


Then I screwed the top fuselage on. Perfect fit. When firmly screwed on I ran around with thin cement to seal the joins. I had to hold the pieces together in a few places, as you would expect .




Bottom of wings into place


Cockpit masked



Then I sprayed primer to check joins.



As it happens the joins are perfect needing a very light sanding in some small areas. I have never put together the two major fuselage halves before without having seams to treat. The engineering and fit is amazing.

 

[flyjoe180]

Looking good Barry, another superb Tamiya offering.

 

[boatman]

HI Barry yes its lookin great will you have the Vulcan gun cover open so the gun can be seen ?
chris

 

[BarryW]

HI Barry yes its lookin great will you have the Vulcan gun cover open so the gun can be seen ?
chris

No Chris. I like my models all ‘buttoned up’ apart from an open cockpit. I have just put the Vulcan together (photos will be done soon) and it really goes together nicely.

in fact it all goes together really well

My sessions at the bench just seem to speed by so quickly as progress with building is so quick for a number of reasons:
The great engineering and fit. The quality of the mouldings and plastic means there is very little clean up to do.
The ZM sprue cutters and scraper are so good they really speed up any part clean up needed.
All in all a sheer pleasure in every respect so far.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Stunning detail. Very neat work.
Jim

 

[boatman]

OK Barry
chris

 

[JR]

Barry some stunning work blending those exhaust colours. Glad that you mentioned about the Gator Glue taking time to dry,I'd bought some and had't been impressed, I can see why now.

 

[scottie3158]

Barry,
Very nice some lovely detailing work

 

[BarryW]

I am working through various sub-assemblies and adding them to the core structure. You can see what has been aded so far on nthis pic



I am working on more and here are a few ready. I am not sure yet what I will add before painting and what after.

 

[BarryW]

Fin done and it is removable with pins fitting into poly caps. Here it is pushed into position



Some more subs done.