Kinetic 1/48 F-16C Fighting Falcon 'Turkish AF' Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

For a quick history of the F-16, look here.

For a look at the differences between F-16 blocks, look here.

Kinetic Models has released another version of their F-16 series, this time the Viper in Turkish Air Force service. Turkey started with the F-16C Block 30 and has since procured the Block 40 and Block 50 variants. Turkey not only built many of their aircraft, they also produced airframe assemblies for other production Vipers for Lockheed-Martin. Turkey also kept their aircraft up-to-date with the Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP), which provided the latest capabilities like the AIM-9X, AIM-120, and more. The Turkish Vipers provide air defense of their national borders/airspace in addition to supporting NATO operations. You might remember the Russian Su-24 that Turkey shot down in 2015, but they've also downed a Syrian MiG-23 in 2014 as well.

As with previous releases, this kit is modular and can be configured in a variety of configurations. With this release, Kinetic provides the parts for the wide-mouthed GE F110-powered aircraft along with the extended vertical stabilizer base. The kit subjects include two Block 40 and one Block 50 aircraft, though there are some things to consider:

The box art depicts the Block 40 aircraft with AIM-9X and AIM-120, though at the time of the special artwork on these aircraft, the airframes had not been given the CCIP, so they wouldn't carry these missiles.

If you look online, the Turkish F-16C Block 40s did not have the holographic HUD, though the F-16D Block 40s were equipped with the holographic HUD. The two special artwork examples are equipped with the 'standard' HUD.

The kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on 13 parts trees, plus the lower fuselage half, and two trees of clear parts. Among the features and options in the kit:

• Nicely detailed cockpit
• Positionable canopy
• Modular plate ahead of cockpit
• Updated radome with lightning protection
• Delicate but nice static dischargers molded to the wing and tail trailing edges
• Widemouth inlet with F110 compressor face
• GE afterburner nozzle
• Detailed wheel wells
• Heavy-duty landing gear
• Bulged main wheel well doors

The kit provides decals for your choice of three subjects:

• F-16C Block 40 pre-CCIP, 143 Filo, Turkish AF, 2007, special scheme red tail
• F-16C Block 40 pre-CCIP, 143 Filo, Turkish AF, 2007, special scheme blue tail
• F-16C Block 50 CCIP, 93-0672, 132 Filo, Turkish AF, Anatolian Eagle 2015 (see note below)

As with the previous releases in this series, this kit provides a wealth of external stores options:

• 2 x 370 gallon tanks for stations 4/6
• 1 x 300 gallon centerline tank
• 1 x AAQ-13 LANTIRN
• 1 x AAQ-14 LANTIRN
• 1 x AAQ-28 LITENING
• 4 x AIM-9M Sidewinder
• 4 x AIM-9X Sidewinder
• 4 x AIM-120B AMRAAM
• 4 x AIM-120C AMRAAM
• 2 x AGM-65 Maverick
• 4 x Mk.82 (slicks)
• 4 x GBU-12 Paveway II
• 2 x GBU-24 Paveway III
• 2 x GBU-31 JDAM
• 4 x GBU-38 JDAM
• 4 x CBU-87

Note: photos of the Block 50 example can also be found online and it is a CCIP aircraft, which means the modular front plate should be the part with the 'bird-cutter' IFF antennas should be used in place of the one shown in the instructions.

This is another nice release from Kinetic Models and provide more colorful NATO Viper options for your scale flightline.

My sincere thanks to Lucky Model for this review sample!