Robert ‘Wilbur’ Wright’s F-16 Tamiya 1:48

Gallery Article by Andreas Gordes on February 28 2014

  20th anniversary of Robert Wright's aerial victories 

 

 

1/48 Tamiya F-16 kit # 61106

"Operation Deny Flight (ODF) was the NATO enforcement of the UN established no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. NATO began flying Combat Air Patrol and Combat Air Support missions on 12. April 1993.

On 28 February 1994, NATO AWACS detected six Serbian J-21 Jastrebs cross into the no-fly zone. Two 526th FS jets were vectored to intercept the J-21s. Capt. Robert "Wilbur" Wright (callsign Black 03) and Capt. Scott "Zulu" O'Grady (callsign Black 04).

The J-21s ignored warnings and dropped bombs onto a military factory. Black flight was cleared to engage the Serbian jets. Black 03 fires one AIM-120 and destroys the lead jet. The remaining J-21s scramble. Black 03 then fires two AIM-9Ms, destroying two more J-21s.

Black 04 then fires one AIM-9M but missies. Low on fuel, Black flight is replaced by another pair of 526th FS jets, Knights 25 and Knights 26. Capt. Steve "Yogi" Allen (callsign Black 25) fires one AIM-9M destroying a J-21. The F-16s disengage when the remaining two J-21s flee Bosnian airspace." Courtesy AFTERBURNER DECAL.

 

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In the second part about Tamiya’s F-16 today we examine item 61106 ‘F-16C/N “Aggressor/Adversary”’ (while in the first part we had a look into the Block 50, which was released as first F-16 item 61098, follow http://www.arcair.com/Gal13/12401-12500/gal12462-F-16-Gordes/00.shtm ).

This kit allows You to build any F-16C, from Block 25 through Block 52. It contains parts for both engines, both landing gears, both intakes, both launch rails and both HUDs. Yes, the WAR HUD of the Night Falcon is very clever reproduced and superior to any after market solution because it contains all four visible glasses. Also the kit allows You to build a perfect F-16N and it contains for this reason the A-type wheels as well. The early Block 40 wheels are not included. Additional equipment are the typical Aggressor stores. The decals have markings for inert training weapons, but not for lethal. The instructions ignore the ext. fuel tanks and the ALQ-184 including the pylons, which is sad. Also there is no sprue map, so You will spend some time searching parts.

The particular model shown here needed some additions:

First the perfect decals from Afterburner.

The ALQ-131 and the Mk-82 were taken from the Kinetic F-16. Author added graffiti from Verlinden because the mission was two weeks after Valentine’s day.

Metal parts from Tamiya are a must for the Block 40.

Seat is from Eduard, also the AMRAAMs.

The nozzle is from Aires. Please be aware when ever you use a foreign nozzle for the Tamiya F-16, that it will collide with the vertical stab fittings. There is some surgery needed. Also the weight will make your F-16 to a tail sitter, so add weight into the radom.

Aircraft is shown directly before mission.

Andreas "Goggo" Gordes name

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Photos and text © by Andreas Gordes