When
the photos of the 18th Aggressors started appearing on the internet,
I knew that I just had to do one on them in the 3-tone “Arctic Flanker”
scheme. Luckily, 2 decal companies came to the rescue with their recent issuing
of decals for this squadron.
I
used the recently issued 1/48 Tamiya F-16C Block 25/32 kit as a base. I swapped
out the NSI/P&W intake/exhaust combo and replaced them with the MCID/GE
combo from the F-16CJ box. Since there was little difference between a Block 30
and Block 50 cockpit, I decided to use the Eduard photo-etched cockpit for this
build. The seatbelts came from there too. The scab-plates, RAM plates, pitot
tube and AoA sensors came from the Tamiya Detail-up set for the F-16.
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images below to see larger images
Construction
was the usual Tamiya standard. Very little in terms of fitting problems but it
was a little difficult getting the Eduard PE set to sit under the instrument
coaming.
The
model was airbrushed with Gunze paints. The black and white were custom-mixed
while the grey was FS36231 straight from the bottle.
After
a gloss coat, the Afterburner
Decals
Arctic Aggressors sheet was used. I chose to model the Wing Commander’s bird,
Red 14.
Another
gloss coat was applied and a light black oil wash using was applied to the panel
lines and rivets. It was then sealed with a matt coat.
For
the armament, I did not want to chop up a perfectly good Tamiya AIM-9M so I took
a Hasegawa one from the spares box and modified it to a CATM-9. The ACMI pod was
from a Hasegawa weapon set and I replaced its tip with a pin to give it some
strength. The kit’s centreline fuel tank was used as a temporary measure until
I can get an ALQ-118 pod from Cobra Company.
Static
discharge wicks were done using the bristles of an old toothbrush and painted
black with a white end.
Many
thanks to the ARC Forum Members for the help rendered to this project. The insights
that they gave were invaluable.
Happy
Modelling,
Mark
Singapore
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images below to see larger images
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