Tamiya 1/48 F-16 Fighting Falcon Detail-Up Parts Set First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | July 2008 | Manufacturer | Tamiya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-16 Fighting Falcon Detail-Up Parts Set | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 12621 | Primary Media | Turned Brass, Photo-etch |
| Pros | Provides the different distinctive details for the various blocks of the F-16C | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $14.00 |
First Look
Tamiya has raised the bar with their 1/32 and 1/48 F-16 Fighting Falcon kits. These are the best kits of the F-16 with the 1/32 scale kit being the best in any scale. The 1/48 scale kit is definitely sitting at the top of the pyramid in this scale, but Tamiya isn't resting on their laurels.
In this detail 'supplement', Tamiya offers some interesting enhancements to the detailing of their 'stock' kits. This set offers an interesting combination of details that would provide the modeler with distinctive details found on older F-16C airframes that have been 'patched' with modifications to extend their structural lives.
Not imaged here are the turned brass detail parts - pitot tube and a pair of angle-of-attack sensors. The Photo-etch set provides a number of details to distinguish the distinctive structural update differences between F-16 blocks. The 'scab plates' found at the base of the vertical stab that are on most Vipers are here as well as the distinctive plates found on Block 40/42 airframes, different plates found on the earlier Block 25/30/32 airframes, RAM plates for the sides of the upgraded airframes, and seatbelt and shoulder harness attachments to the pilot's harness to mount him/herself to the aircrafts ACES II ejection seat.
This is a nice enhancement as the one set will upgrade up to two Tamiya Vipers, as long as you're building two different blocks.