SCM Aggressor Group Build Fall 2019
Bird1: 86-0295, USAF 18 AGRS 'AK', F-16C Block 30D
Bird2: 85-1373, USNavy NFWS, F-16N Block 30C
This is it! Stash for both Aggressors accounted for and ready for October. 🙂
And one daylight photo...
These gray tones are going to be a challenge to match! And not so many decent photos available...
Carpetry and masonry hath begun...
Aires resin cockpit. Cleaning it was... I ought to be rescued by Greta, breathing so much plastics...
Dryfitting...
Cleaned the main wheel bays and nozzles...
F-16N's fifty shades of gray test...
F-16N's updated gray shades. I think this is much closer now...
Well I haven't been sleeping... just slow over life
My eyesight is fubar after this...
But it does look decent tho.
IP surface still work to do
This ought to do it...
Putty time, my least preferred part of modeling :/
...because it is never OK enough 😄
Resin... my first time.
This is better 😄
Ordnance for both birds
F-16N will not have anything under wings.
First time pre-cut masks... don't want to do it any other way ever again, this is pleasure 🙂
...and drying
The official scheme for the N-bird
Mr Surfacer 1500... this stuff rocks.
And that is it for this weekend 🙂
Nozzles insides in bourbon vanilla cream 😄
Had fun with preshading 😄
Will be pity to cover it with paint
from below
and bits and bobs...
Alaskan Viper waiting primed..
first shade of gray
putty over first
putty over second
from below
...aaand last of the three grays
with radome painted
closeup, manually rolled rivets... go count them 😄
left wing
...looks really massacred from close, but that's just technology, eyes don't see...
F-16N with fifty shades of gray. Seems about right, check reference photo, feedback most welcome.
163272 Glazed for decals and paneling
Front
Looks beat up like an averge MiG 😄
Nozzle AKI steel with transparent Tamiya red and green for variation
Decals mostly on, will not be adding stencils as they were overpainted on the original aswel...
Paneled, weathered, matt lacquered, main part done. Now small bits...
Minus the ordnance, I deem this one complete! ACME pod and Sidewinder and better pix, when I am home for daylignt
Meanwhile, the Alaskan Aggressor is standing by for the paint job...
Using Aero Masks is easy peasy...
Maybe its comparable to e-bike v. bike arguements...
...but since this is for my soul...
...masks FTW! 😄...
green, mask, brown, mask, black, mask...
final green, and....
...unmasking!
Took me five hours for all the masking and painting. I'm sold, ordering more!
Propperly glazed for decals! 2 layers of GX then twice over with Mr Leveling Thinner to get that shine.
Comments
1 8 August 2019, 14:00
Jos JansenNice Sergej I...looking forward to this GB, excellent choice by the way...👍
8 August 2019, 15:08
Sergej IGood story of the Viper here:
thedrive.com/the-war..uns-legendary-hotrod
8 August 2019, 20:44
Jos JansenGood and interesting story about the history of the F-16N series, thanks for sharing this...
8 August 2019, 22:04
Nathan DempseyGreat subject and a great article too. In the article I like the one painted tan and black.
8 August 2019, 23:26
Nathan Dempsey@Daniel: Right? I almost want to buy one just to try and build that bird. I did buy and F-5F and will try and complete this one for the group build as well. Love those Florida aggressors from VFC-111.
9 August 2019, 19:04
Maciej BellosA difficult one, especially with the walkways. I love it nonetheless.
27 August 2019, 13:49
Sergej IThanks, Hans.
Maciej, I haven't decided entirely on the walkways method, this being a 1:72, decals are still an option... but AK RC paints are a pleasure to work with, can take heavy taping and weathering without the lacquer protection so... let's see 🙂
27 August 2019, 14:01
Dejan LukicHello Sergej.. Just a heads up. If You intend to build BDU splinter keep in mind that is USAF Blk 30 bird and not USN F-16N. N version had small intake mouth, u will need big one for Blk 30. Any chance both intakes are in kit?
27 August 2019, 19:50
Maciej BellosI concur. Block 30s got the big mouth intake after 86-0262. Before that, all F-16s had the same intake later called NSI.
27 August 2019, 20:21
Sergej IThanks for the heads up, Dejan. Indeed the Hasegawa kit only includes the small intake, but for the Splinter F-16C I got the CMK 7053 Exterior set with large resin intake and some other parts.
I will also use the other parts for the F-16N, except the intake.
Have to study the nozzle aswel. The wa I understood is, that F-16N already had a stronger engine and nozzle like F-16C. Is that about right?
27 August 2019, 20:28
Dejan LukicNozzle is ok for Blk30 General Electric F110 and 18th Aggressor squadron (AK). 64th Aggressors (WA) Block 32 F-16C's have the P&W F100-PW-220 engine and different nozzle.
27 August 2019, 21:12
Sergej IJust dumping both airframes to be built:
f-16.net/aircraft-da..rframe-profile/1744/
f-16.net/aircraft-da..rframe-profile/2078/
Also found out I will need to scratch improvise the RWR "beer can" antennas on the splinter aswel, Hasegawa model is a Block30C with antennas on the fuselage. Might rework the RWR's from intake and position them on front wing where the Block30D have them...
20 September 2019, 23:17
Patrick HagelsteinDejan, both birds are GE F110 powered Block 30s. The only difference I can distinguish is in the intake as you described. The Exhausts should be the same though.
2 October 2019, 18:13
Sergej IThanks all 🙂
The blue-gray is still a bit too blue... going to wait for daylight then play between FS35237 and FS35450
2 October 2019, 18:52
Sergej IPatrick, next to air intake, the differences are also RWR antennas on wings/intake and gear design, the 30D is supposed to have reinforced design and 30C normal. Still finding what that means 😄
Decals wise, Hasegawa missed a bit, F-16N #163272 had much lighter NAVY inscription (see photos) than decals (almost black) and tail-number was 45 (see photos) not 46 (Hategawa)... but minor inconvenience, I anyway need standard navy numbers and letters 😛 already in transit...
2 October 2019, 19:38
Patrick HagelsteinSergej, I once posted a link to a very detailed overview of all the Block details somewhere here on Scalemates but I can't seem to find it anymore... Should be something like Hyperscale or any other forum...
3 October 2019, 13:48
Patrick Hagelsteincybermodeler.com/air../viperversions.shtml
Not the one I meant but also quite informative.
3 October 2019, 13:53
Sergej IThanks Patrick for this. The page lacks differences of different Block 30 models. Like Block 30 C (F-16N) and D (F-16C of 18 AGRS).
That is better described on "F-16.net" site: f-16.net/f-16_versions_article6.html
3 October 2019, 14:14
Sergej IThanks Patrick. I found Gunze to be better matching than Real Colours from AKI. So going with them on F-16N.
24 October 2019, 04:31
PierreNice work on those cockpits.
I just noticed your comment "the 30D is supposed to have reinforced design and 30C normal", from what I gathered from pictures for my build, this means reinforced block 40/50 gear+landing lights on the front gear door, but block 30 wheels and non-bulged MLG doors (with corresponding actuators). This is just my observations on the airframe I'm modelling, so not to be taken as gospel 🙂
24 October 2019, 06:55
Sergej IOops, Patrick, missed your comment. Here are the grays:
1. The lightest is FS36307 in instructions, used Mr Color C334
2. The bluish is supposed to be FS35237, I am using MrColor C73, it's spot on...
3. The medium gray is supposed to be FS36251, this one is a tough mix. I'm using 50/50 C317 and C334
But it seems the colors were fading fast on these birds...
3 November 2019, 17:38
Patrick HagelsteinGreat! Thanks Sergej! These come in handy for both Aggressor and Greek F-16s as they basically use the same paint scheme in the same harsh environment.
3 November 2019, 18:39
Sergej IYaaay, work-life-modeling balance finally allowed some modelling this weekend 😄
24 November 2019, 20:59
Daniellooking really good, very neat camo pattern Sergej! Might be the photo, but it looks maybe just a little tad too bright? But after a wash&some weathering it may as well just come out photo-realistic 🙂 Just my 2c, enjoying your build! 👍
24 November 2019, 21:22
Sergej IThanks Daniel, my perception is the same. Luckily it's much easier to darken than it is to brighten...
24 November 2019, 21:26
Patrick HagelsteinAs the real aircraft is sun bleached, it's not that bad that the colors are a little light. Adding a wash and some grime will darken it up enough. I think it looks great already! 👍
25 November 2019, 00:40
Patrick HagelsteinReally looking good! It darkened up a bit, right? Curious to the final flat coat.
8 December 2019, 19:47
Sergej IThanks Patrick! I hope to finish it in this decade still. I'm heavily procrastinating gears and other small bits...
8 December 2019, 20:13
Sergej II think I will not finish by deadline, but I had much fun weathering this one with oils... I spent a full weekend on it 🙂
25 December 2019, 22:00
Sergej IMerci, Laurent. It did turn out quite well, panel lines a bit too strong but I do like scale 72nd a bit cartooney 🙂
26 December 2019, 16:07
Sergej IThanks Holger, I hope this is not the british version of interesting 😄.
Patrick, now I am off to check on Ronan's work 👍
27 December 2019, 18:16
Sergej IOh wow. That mate is a helicopter god. Even hinting that my wallpainting resembles his technique is both blasphemic yet so motivating 👍
27 December 2019, 18:33
Sergej IDUNN! It's been my first resin parts, my first PE parts and some other firsts... details show that there is still potential, but in general I am happy with the outcome. Please share your observations, not necessary only good, I like to learn. Better pix coming up in a week or so.
19 January 2020, 16:35
Patrick HagelsteinHi Sergej, the Viper looks awesome! Thinking of ways to improve I come up idle. There's been a discussion about colors above but you nailed that perfectly! Nothing comes to mind right now, keep up the good work! 👍
20 January 2020, 14:32
DanielI agree, looks cool in the bleached "cartoonish" look you gave it 👍 and I also agree: nothing as fun as to get carried away in a nice all day oil weathering session😉
21 January 2020, 15:14
Sergej IPhoto phinish 🙂
F-16N Num. 85-1373 NSFW Aggressor | Album by Vargbrujo (1:72)
26 January 2020, 12:07
Sergej IThanks James, it's really more tools than skill... but allinall, it was FUN to mask and paint 🙂
26 January 2020, 17:56
PierreMan I wish I had gone for those masks for my arctic viper. Great looking results on both planes Sergej 👍
26 January 2020, 20:49
Sergej IDone! Complete! Took a pandemic to finish it, but here we are 😄
Two Tamiya Vipers already waiting in stash for black/gray and blue/gray Alaskan Splinters... we need another Aggressor Group build haha...
7 April 2020, 13:56
Sergej IThank you all, the two have been pain and pleasure to build,
now I have a brief R&R with two F9 Panthers, then back to Vipers 🙂
7 April 2020, 18:55
Patrick HagelsteinBeautiful!!! It reminds me that I joined that group build as well with a Hornet. I do not only need a face mask for this pandemic, but to protect me from the collected dust on that one too. 😉
7 April 2020, 20:28
Sergej IThank you Patrick and Stefan. Indeed I was the smart one in the family who was already equiped with PPF2 masks while the rest of the town are wearing scarfs to the shop 😄 But yeah, resin is teh lung destroyer of the model builders 😄
Stefan this was my first real attempt in oil weathering. I would say I overdid a little, next challenges will be in more subtle way... thank you though, I am glad you like it.
7 April 2020, 21:01
DanielThose are looking very good, nice crisp work and a unique, interesting post effect - even looks a bit like hoarfrost after a cold Eielson night, very nice 👍
8 April 2020, 06:10
Slavo HazuchaVery nice couple there in 2 very different finishes 👍. Really cool treatment for the camo version too!
The Aggressor GB really brought some creative action 🙂
8 April 2020, 08:05
Project info
Group Build
SCM Aggressor Group Build Fall 2019
1. October
1. October