Best 1/48 F-16 kit? - Aircraft of World War II

109ROAMING · 05-17-2009, 08:28 PM

Hey guys

Brother's birthday next month -Recently went to Avalon airshow in Australia where he was quite impressed by the American F-16's -now seems to be in love with them

So I've decided I'm gonna build him a model in 1/48 model (as well as a F4U-1D Corsair but thats another story)

I've had a look through my LHS and found it has 2 F-16 kits -one for about 80 bucks and the other for $67

Just though I'd ask for your guys opinions on what I should buy? wanting one loaded with bombs etc

Also one last question how many JDAM's can an F-16 carry? I'd like to 'load' it up with a few

Heres the 2 Tamiya kits at my LHS

Airframes · 05-17-2009, 09:26 PM

Modern-day 'paraffin budgies' aren't really my strong point, but from what I've seen of the Tamiya 1/48th scale F16's, and particularly their latest F16C/N 'Aggresor' kit, I'd say you wouldn't go far wrong with one of those Daniel.
It might not be the version you're looking for, but the pic in Tamiya's advert for the latest kit shows one of the F16's in the black and greys camouflage scheme in Alaska, as shown in a recent thread on the forum. Very nice!

109ROAMING · 05-17-2009, 09:49 PM

I know next to nothing about modern day aircraft Terry -Its called an F-16 ,it looks cool and it carries JDAM's (the reason why I'm asking the experts here)

Just found that F-16 kit you mentioned on hobbylink and its $45USD -which is about $90 NZD although impressive compared to the $70NZD for the kit at my LHS I think Il stick with the latter

Think Il have another look and then decide -Whatever I decide Il have full build photos here as I've got about a 4 week deadline to make so hope to start soon!

Wayne Little · 05-18-2009, 09:31 AM

Haven't got any of the Tamiya F-16's but I'd bet any one of them (all the same pretty much with minor variations I would think) is a real stunning kit. Good idea Daniel to do a quick search for any reviews to see just what each version contains.

Just did a quickie search and both those kits get excellent reviews Daniel!

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 12:07 PM

I don't know if this matters, but the top one you posted is going to build up into a newer aircraft than the second one.

109ROAMING · 05-18-2009, 05:22 PM

Cheers Wayne and Catch for your imput (Wouldn't have a clue about that Catch)

Due to time constraints I've decided to ditch the F-16 and go ahead with a 1/48 F4U-1D RNZAF Corsair (spose Il put it in the GB too) Gonna either go with the Tamiya or Academy kit -most likely the Academy due to availabilty (would of done trumpter's kit but there isn't enough time to order and build a 1/32 fighter by june 10 -well me anyway

)

What'da you guys reckon? Academy kit ok? or should I order the Tamiya? Thanks again guys for your opinions

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 05:51 PM

TAMIYA! TAMIYA! TAMIYA! I don't think I can say that enough!

It's as close to a perfect kit as you're going to get, you certainly will not regret it. It's actually the best model I've ever built for ease of assembly. It pretty much just falls together. I have no experience with the Academy model, but I can say that the Tamiya will be much better. Really worth it. Oh, and if you can't get a -1D easily, but can get a -1A, you're good to go as the only difference are the instructions (which I'll send you the -1D's in a PDF) and the decals (but that's not a concern to you).

109ROAMING · 05-18-2009, 06:13 PM

SWEET!

Il buy the Tamiya F4U-1A later today then!

Thanks mate! quite interested in the difference of the -1A to -1D

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 06:16 PM

No worries! I'll have to take a peek to see if your -1Ds had the rocket mounts or not. I'll start scanning everything now.

109ROAMING · 05-18-2009, 06:20 PM

Awesome -Thanks mate!

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 06:30 PM

That'd be a cool one, with the yellow cowling. I'm not sure if that's a -1D or a -1A. It's painted DSB, but has the braced canopy. I can't see if there are the pylons under the wing roots so I can't be sure. Some late -1As were painted DSB, while some early -1Ds had the braced canopy. Very confusing! Still searching.

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 06:55 PM

Ok, so what I could find was that your F4U-1Ds did NOT have the rocket pylons under the wings, while your FG-1Ds (Goodyear made -1D) DID have them. All of your -1Ds had the pylons under the wing roots.

Here's an F4U-1D:

It's had to see, but you can just make out the pylons underneath the wing roots, while clearly there are none of the smaller pylons on the wings themelves.

Here's an FG-1D:

You can clearly see the rocket pylons.

So basically Dan, it boils down to the plane. What plane do you plan on doing? If there are any pictures of it, please post them!

Here's a cool picture:

While mostly not of Corsairs, this place has some good RNZAF pictures:

Google Image Result for http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2420214098_e012acbbd4.jpg

109ROAMING · 05-18-2009, 06:55 PM

I've always wondered about that one -whether its yellow or bare metal .It was recently brought up on an NZ forum and alot thought it was bare metal as most thought it odd that an RNZAF Corsair had a yellow cowling having never seen one before

Il be doing this bird ,sorry its such a small picture

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 06:57 PM

Posts collided and my picture isn't showing up!

From that picture it's impossible to tell if it's an FG or an F4U. Can you link me the source?

Thinking about it, the colours look more like a -1A.

Catch22 · 05-18-2009, 07:01 PM

Fixed the image up top.

05-17-2009, 09:26 PM	#2
Airframes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,062	Modern-day 'paraffin budgies' aren't really my strong point, but from what I've seen of the Tamiya 1/48th scale F16's, and particularly their latest F16C/N 'Aggresor' kit, I'd say you wouldn't go far wrong with one of those Daniel. It might not be the version you're looking for, but the pic in Tamiya's advert for the latest kit shows one of the F16's in the black and greys camouflage scheme in Alaska, as shown in a recent thread on the forum. Very nice! __________________

05-17-2009, 09:49 PM	#3
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,004	I know next to nothing about modern day aircraft Terry -Its called an F-16 ,it looks cool and it carries JDAM's (the reason why I'm asking the experts here) Just found that F-16 kit you mentioned on hobbylink and its $45USD -which is about $90 NZD although impressive compared to the $70NZD for the kit at my LHS I think Il stick with the latter Think Il have another look and then decide -Whatever I decide Il have full build photos here as I've got about a 4 week deadline to make so hope to start soon! __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

05-18-2009, 09:31 AM	#4
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 12,511	Haven't got any of the Tamiya F-16's but I'd bet any one of them (all the same pretty much with minor variations I would think) is a real stunning kit. Good idea Daniel to do a quick search for any reviews to see just what each version contains. Just did a quickie search and both those kits get excellent reviews Daniel! __________________ Last edited by Wayne Little; 05-18-2009 at 09:37 AM.

05-18-2009, 12:07 PM	#5
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	I don't know if this matters, but the top one you posted is going to build up into a newer aircraft than the second one. __________________

05-18-2009, 05:22 PM	#6
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,004	Cheers Wayne and Catch for your imput (Wouldn't have a clue about that Catch) Due to time constraints I've decided to ditch the F-16 and go ahead with a 1/48 F4U-1D RNZAF Corsair (spose Il put it in the GB too) Gonna either go with the Tamiya or Academy kit -most likely the Academy due to availabilty (would of done trumpter's kit but there isn't enough time to order and build a 1/32 fighter by june 10 -well me anyway ) What'da you guys reckon? Academy kit ok? or should I order the Tamiya? Thanks again guys for your opinions __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

05-18-2009, 05:51 PM	#7
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	TAMIYA! TAMIYA! TAMIYA! I don't think I can say that enough! It's as close to a perfect kit as you're going to get, you certainly will not regret it. It's actually the best model I've ever built for ease of assembly. It pretty much just falls together. I have no experience with the Academy model, but I can say that the Tamiya will be much better. Really worth it. Oh, and if you can't get a -1D easily, but can get a -1A, you're good to go as the only difference are the instructions (which I'll send you the -1D's in a PDF) and the decals (but that's not a concern to you). __________________

05-18-2009, 06:13 PM	#8
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,004	SWEET! Il buy the Tamiya F4U-1A later today then! Thanks mate! quite interested in the difference of the -1A to -1D __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

05-18-2009, 06:16 PM	#9
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	No worries! I'll have to take a peek to see if your -1Ds had the rocket mounts or not. I'll start scanning everything now. __________________

05-18-2009, 06:20 PM	#10
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,004	Awesome -Thanks mate! __________________ "When all else fails read the manual"

05-18-2009, 06:30 PM	#11
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	That'd be a cool one, with the yellow cowling. I'm not sure if that's a -1D or a -1A. It's painted DSB, but has the braced canopy. I can't see if there are the pylons under the wing roots so I can't be sure. Some late -1As were painted DSB, while some early -1Ds had the braced canopy. Very confusing! Still searching. __________________

05-18-2009, 06:55 PM	#12
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	Ok, so what I could find was that your F4U-1Ds did NOT have the rocket pylons under the wings, while your FG-1Ds (Goodyear made -1D) DID have them. All of your -1Ds had the pylons under the wing roots. Here's an F4U-1D: It's had to see, but you can just make out the pylons underneath the wing roots, while clearly there are none of the smaller pylons on the wings themelves. Here's an FG-1D: You can clearly see the rocket pylons. So basically Dan, it boils down to the plane. What plane do you plan on doing? If there are any pictures of it, please post them! Here's a cool picture: While mostly not of Corsairs, this place has some good RNZAF pictures: Google Image Result for http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2420214098_e012acbbd4.jpg __________________ Last edited by Catch22; 05-18-2009 at 07:01 PM. Reason: Trying to fix image.

05-18-2009, 06:57 PM	#14
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	Posts collided and my picture isn't showing up! From that picture it's impossible to tell if it's an FG or an F4U. Can you link me the source? Thinking about it, the colours look more like a -1A. __________________

05-18-2009, 07:01 PM	#15
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	Fixed the image up top. __________________

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