Tamiya F-16CJ 1:32

[hkopper]

I started this build a little while back and have posted most of these pix on the Facebook site....I just haven't gotten around uploading them to the forum. Here we go:

This build will mark my first modern jet build and my second in the 1:32 scale range. The kit, like most Tamiya kits, is a marvel and has all of the usual attention to detail that you will find a kit by Tamiya. It practically is 3 kits in one box as the engine and it's dolly are builds on their own. The level of detail top notch with plenty of interior details for the cockpit, vulcan gun bay, wheel wells and radar. It surely won't be a build that I will be able to finish within a reasonable amount of time.

The GE F110 engine was a charm to build and with little or no need to fill or sand (most of the imperfections are in spots that will be either covered by other parts or not visible at all). Here are some pix of the finished engine:








The painting of the engine was a lengthy feat that required a lot of experimentation with combining different shades of alclad metalizers colors...namely duraluminum, steel, aluminum, burnt iron, magnesium and jet exhaust. The good thing is the fact that Alclad paints dry extremely fast and it allowed for correction and tweaks in a timely manner. The next order of business will be a coat of gloss varnish followed by an oil wash to make the details pop and give it a dirty or worn look. I will also post shortly the engine bay and air intake assembly. That is it for now, thanks for watching,

Hermann.

[hkopper]

For those interested, here is the collection of sprue trees and misc parts that come along with the kit:

[shortCummins]

nice job on the engine

how much of it will be seen?

rgds
John(shortCummins)

[hkopper]

Thanks...I plan to display most of the included details as possible: radar, Vulcan gun, canopy open, air brakes, and the engine on the dolly.

[hkopper]

Progress continues ....Finally after many repeated sessions of sanding and filling (btw tried out Perfect Plastic Putty and it worked like a charm) the front and rear air intake halves are close to seamless. Both received a generous coat of Tamiya XF-2 and a dip in future. I am now ready to start the painting and weathering of the engine bay.

Here the top portion of the bay received some Alcald metalizer paints for the metal portion and XF-4 (yellow green) for the rest




Below are pix of the wall and the lower portion of the engine bay...masking and painting these were a royal pain as I am trying to paint almost all of the parts using an air-brush:





After sealing the paint work with Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear (this is quickly replacing Future as my choice of acrylic Gloss varnish), the parts then received an oil wash. Here I mixed black with burnt umber oils with odorless turpenoid...the mixture was them brushed through out the parts and left to dry. Once dry I started the process of removing the wash with a cotton bud dipped in the turpenoid trying to simulate the flow of air:




Once I was was satisfied with the results, I applied a coat of matte varnish to seal the work and proceeded to assemble the parts for the engine bay:








Next on the agenda will be the assembly of the front air intake (which also includes the front wheel well) and I will also continue my work on the engine's display dolly. Again, many thanks for watching and till next time.

Cheers,

Hermann.

[AdamLuscombe]

looking good!

[Twokidsnosleep]

superb engine work!!!

[hkopper]

Thanks again for those kind words. As I previously mentioned on the FB page, I recently encountered a bit of a road block. While attempting to fit a delicate piece of plastic that goes right through the front air intake, I managed to split it into 3 pieces (it was a tight fit and I apperently applied too much pressure to pass it through).




I tried to glue it back into place but it looked quite distorted and bit mangled. So I decided to give Tamiya a call to see if I could buy these replacement parts but I was pleasantly surprised when I was told that they were going to ship them to me at no extra charge. Kudos for their exceptional customer service! Fast forward 3 day and behold...they came through:



Now I will need to prime, paint the parts again. Once the halves are joined, I will then start the ritual of filling and sanding until the join seams disappear. Till then, thanks for watching.

Hermann.

[Lee1979]

Nice work top job look forward to seeing it done

[TommyKillander]

Great stuff!

Fantastic work sofar.

Tamiya customer service seems awesome.

Cheers

[hkopper]

It's been a while since my last post but I am glad to announce that a bit of progress has been made. The front air intake has been assembled along with the front wheel well and landing gear. After many filling and sanding sessions, I am glad to report that the nasty seam resulting from joining the 2 halves of the front intake was removed. I have to praise Perfect Plastic Putty for the ease in filling and clean up as it is a water based filler. There was also a bit of a fit issue with the metal landing gear and required a bit of violence in the part of a Dremel and sanding bit and some filler and sanding:





The next step was to join the front intake with the rear intake and the rest of the fuselage....along with finishing the rear wheel well details and installing the rear landing gears. All of the parts were primed and received a coat of Tamiya FX-2 flat white. That was followed by a coat of Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear.








The next step to the build will come in the assembly of the cockpit and the pilot's seat. Until then, thanks for watching and remember that comments and critiques are always welcomed.

Cheers,

Hermann.

[TommyKillander]

Great job, the air intake looks really impressive!


Tommy

[Paul]

Yeah nice work herman, its a superb kit, i loved building mine

[hkopper]

Thank you Tommy and Paul for those kind words! Paul: I followed your superb build thread and it is inspirational. I hope that I can finish mine half as good as yours......exceptional work there as always!

[hkopper]

Quick side note...it was brought to my attention that the color of the battery box is wrong. After further review, I have to admit that it is (it should be blue instead of yellow green). It was an honest mistake of confusing Tamiya X-4 for XF-4. I'll see if I am able to remove the part and make the necessary corrections. I really need to stop these late night painting sessions.

Cheers,

Hermann.

[jbellos1]

Good stuff Hermann. Such a nice looking kit. Your build is moving along well - except for a color change on the battery - the engine looks fantastic, the engine bay looks darn cool too.

Looking forward to the rest!

[hkopper]

Thanks..
The build continues...the battery housing was been painted with the correct color of blue as indicated in the instructions (I confused X-4 for XF-4)



The upper fuselage along with the wings have been joined and they fit like a glove (I am glad to say that very small amounts of filler will be needed).




I then proceeded to work on the cockpit. The exterior was painted using Tamiya (XF-69) Nato Black and I then dry brushed some Tamiya Sky grey (XF-19) to make the details pop and give it a weathered feel.

Below are some pictures of the ejector seat (painted and weathered):





The interior of the cockpit was painted using Vallejo RLM 76 and Tamiya Nato Black for the panels and Tamiya XF-19 was dry brushed over the details. The same is true for main the instrument panel:




Here is everything put together:






Thats it for today. Like always, comments and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks again for watching,

Hermann.

[hkopper]

Let's fast forward 1 year and we finally have something that is starting to resemble a jet fighter. The painting phase is done and decals have been applied (no issues here except for the crappy Tamiya decals that turned out to be quite the mission). As for the paint, I black based the 2 tone camo scheme using Vallejo Model Air Colors: 71046 for the light grey and 71053 for the dark grey).







I then proceeded to weather the aircraft. Here I used Ammo's engine grime wash to weather the wheel wells and the gun bay. I also used clay washes to bring up the panel lines.:





Cheers,

Hermann.

[hkopper]

Forgot to mention the radome: it was painted using Vallejo Model Air 71049 (FS36231).

[hkopper]

Applied a final coat of matte varnish (50-50 mix of Mr Color leveling thinner and Testors dullcote lacquer)
Painted and installed the gatling gun (using Mr. Metal Iron)
Finished the cockpit and canopy.
Weathered the engine (using AK Interactive Engine Oil wash)









The next and final step is to finish the assembly of the engine dolly and to put the radar in place.

Thanks again for watching,

Hermann.

[GollyPo]

Wow! Fantastic work. The subtlety of the weathering and the overall balance of the paint work is stunning. Bravo!

[hkopper]

Thanks. Many times I thought that this build would end up in the shelf of shame but it was a true labor of love. I'm glad to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Absolute masterpiece
I am very impressed with your work here

[AdamLuscombe]

Fantastic Work!

[demarcation]

I'm lost for words buddy, superb work!!

[Avgas]

Superb work all around. That engine is a masterpiece in itself.