Tamiya 1/48 F-16C/N Aggressor/Adversary Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | March 2009 (Updated June 2017) |
Manufacturer | Tamiya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-16C/N Aggressor/Adversary | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 61106 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Beautiful details, versatile kit | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $74.00 |
First Look
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For a quick history of the F-16C, look here.
For a look at the differences between F-16 blocks, look here.
For a look at the differences between F-16 kits, look here.
What we have in this box is what you might call a 'superset'. This is last release of the 1/48 F-16 series from Tamiya and the first time all of the intakes, nozzles, gear doors and main wheels have all been released together. No more need to buy two (or more) kits to create one of different Viper blocks. The kit also provides for the first time the Block 40/42 holographic HUD parts. In addition, this kit has some additional new parts that are noteworthy:
- New main wheel halves to replicate another wheel hub design used on the earlier Vipers
- Two ACMI pods carried by aggressors and combatants alike during training exercises as well as in combat operations over Iraq
- Two new AIM-9 missile rails - not the newer/larger types that can carry AIM-9 and AIM-120, these are the earlier pylons that have previously been in the kit, but for the first time, they've been molded with the rail detail so that they would look just as nice without a weapon or ACMI pod loaded
The instructions also show you where the scab plates go along the dorsal spine of the airframe, though this diagram is a shameless plug for their optional photo-etched detail set available separately.
What is not in this box is the wide array of weapons that have been available in previous releases since this release is about unarmed aggressor Vipers. What is in this box though:
- 2 x AIM-9L/M
- 2 x AIM-120
- 2 x 370 Gallon tanks
- 1 x 300 gallon centerline fuel tank
- 1 x ALQ-184 ECM pod
- 1 x ALQ-188 ECM Pod
- 2 x ACMI pods
- 2 x RHAW Pods (for the F-16N)
Decals are provided for four examples:
- F-16C Block 30, 86-0314, Red 14, 354 FW Wing Commander's aircraft, 2008
- F-16N, BuNo 163271, US Navy Fighter Weapons School, NAS Miramar, 1993
- F-16C Block 32, 86-0272, 64 AS/57 Wing, Nellis AFB, Squadron Commander's aircraft, 2008
- F-16C Block 42, 89-2148, 62 AS/57 Wing, Nellis AFB, 2006
So out of the box, this kit can build up into the F-16C Block 25, 30, 32, 40, 42, 50, 52 and the F-16CM block 40, 42, 50, and 52. What you won't have are the external stores and targeting pods for the mission-specific blocks without raiding another kit or going to the aftermarket. You can also backdate this kit to the F-16A blocks with the right vertical stabilizer (USAF versus NATO), smaller horizontal stabs for the block 1/5/10 aircraft, and the right markings. What's more, with the AIFF parts, you can also do the F-16A MLU or Block 20 aircraft, but again you'll need a Litening pod and pylon.
These Tamiya kits are still the best F-16 kits in 1/48 scale and would be the best in any scale were it not for their big (1/32) brothers, but those are limited to the F-16CJ or F-16CM Block 50 without aftermarket parts. If you want a good utility kit that has nice engineering, nice details, and the versatility to render a variety of variants, this is the kit you'll want to stash several copies away.
Here is a list of paints Tamiya identifies for use with this kit and the equivalent colors from other brands (Note: the first two colors are matches to the early war colors applied to USAAF aircraft, the remainder are the Tamiya-recommended colors):
H022
N022
B054
C054
XF53
H316
B049
C049
A062
H308
B037
C037
A065
XA1136
H306
B053
C054
A064
H002
N002
B125
C125
A012
36107
X01
H001
N001
B125
C125
A014
36104
X02
H004
N004
B290
C290
X08
H028
N028
X10
H008
N008
B003
C003
36190
LP11
X11
H009
N009
36194
X12
Aotake
H063
N063
X13
H025
N025
N01
H095
N095
X19
H094
N094
H090
N090
X27
Dilectric Green
H026
N026
B327
C327
X28
H012
N012
B041
C041
XF01
H011
N011
XF02
H413
A036
36115
XA1213
N013
C132
36131
H044
N044
XF15
C078
XF16
H334
H315
H417
B038
C038
A050
XF23
XA1208
H301
B030
C030
H081
N081
H423
B022
C022
A061
XF51
XA1226
H072
N072
B009
C009
XF52
XA1002
H313
B090
C090
B224
C224
A019
36109
XF63
XA1800
H047
N047
H309
B016
C016
XF65
XF70