Tamiya 1/48 F-16C (Block 25/32) Fighting Falcon Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2008 | Manufacturer | Tamiya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-16C (Block 25/32) Fighting Falcon | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 61101 | Primary Media | Styrene, White Metal |
| Pros | The best F-16C Block 25/32 in 1/48, the only CCIP in 1/48, and has the ONLY AIM-9X missiles available in any scale (for now) | Cons | No provisions for Block 52 (Pratt-powered), no ALQ-131, seamline on the canopies |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $57.00 |
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.
Here is Tamiya's second installment in its F-16 series - the Block 25/32. The first was the F-16CJ Block 50 Fighting Falcon (reviewed here) which was a scaled down version of their beautiful 1/32 F-16CJ Block 50 (reviewed here). Like the F-16CJ, this Block 25/32 was also previously released in 1/32 scale. In other words, Tamiiya is taking over the F-16 market, and quite effectively I might add.
Since Hasegawa previously ruled the 1/48 scale F-16 market, we can see that Tamiya has engineered this kit to not only backfill where Hasegawa has gone, but to provide versions (like the CCIP) where Hasegawa will probably not go. Rather than repeat the similarities and differences between the 1/48 and 1/32 versions of these kits, let's look at the possibilities that this kit and the Block 50 offer. If you are interested in the differences between scales, you can read the earlier Block 50 review here.
Like the Block 50 release, this kit is set up to be modular so they can swap parts to render other blocks in the future. It is molded in light gray styrene and presented on seven parts trees, two new trees in dark gray styrene, plus three trees of clear parts.
If you note the box art, the ANG Viper depicted there is indeed an early block F-16C, but it also has the 'bird cutter' IFF antennas on the nose. These antennas are for the AN/APX-113 IFF system that is being retrofitted to the F-16C Blocks 40, 42, 50, and 52 Vipers as part of the Common Configuration Implementation Program, the F-16A/B as part of the Mid-Life Update (NATO and export Vipers), and also to the F/A-18 Hornet fleet. These are also standard equipment on new-production Block 20 F-16A/B and Block 50/52 and Block 60 F-16s.
These IFF units and other upgrades are also finding their way into the older Block 25/30/32 F-16s, especially for those units whose capstone mission is air defense and had traded their specially-modified F-16A/B ADF interceptors for 'newer' F-16Cs. The APX-113 provides better performance over the APX-109 system that first introduced 'bird cutter' antennas to the F-16 fleet. In short, these IFF antennas are correct on older C-models, just check your references to see if the machine you're modeling has been so-equipped.
The main differences between this kit and the Block 50 release:
Block 25/32:
- NSI (narrow-mouth) inlet
- Pratt & Whitney F100 afterburner nozzle
- 'Flat' main gear doors
- Landing lights on main gear struts
- AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod
- GBU-12 LGBs (4) on TERs
Block 50:
- MCID (wide-mouth) inlet
- GE F110 afterburner nozzle
- Bulged main gear doors
- Wider main wheels
- Landing lights on nose gear door
- HTS pod
- AGM-88 HARM (2) missiles
Possibilities
You can see in the design of the tooling that the kit is very modular:
- The upper section of the nose is molded separately. There are two-seaters in our future
- The base of the dorsal spine is modular, we'll be seeing A/B models as well as parapack housings
- The cockpit is modular. The HUD module can be changed so we'll have F-16CG Block 40/42. The instrument panel is also modular so it will support F-16A/B easily
You get the idea. But now that we have one GE-powered kit and one Pratt-powered kit, what can we do now?
- Block 25/32 - this kit straight out of the box
- Early Block 30 - this kit plus the GE nozzle out of the Block 50 kit (or an aftermarket nozzle). Check your references to see if your early Block 30 retained the narrow mouth inlet or was retrofitted with the widemouth
- Block 30 - this kit plus the GE nozzle and the widemouth intake parts from the Block 50 kit
- Block 40 - use the Block 50 kit with the Black Box F-16CG cockpit
- Block 42 - use the Block 50 kit with the Black Box F-16CG cockpit and the intake and Pratt nozzle out of this kit
- Block 50 - use the Block 50 kit straight out of the box
- Block 52 - use the Block 50 kit plus the intake and Pratt nozzle out of this kit
You can also backdate this kit to an F-16A, but you'll need to have an A/B vertical stab base and these are available in the aftermarket. You'll also have to backdate the cockpit, but A-model resin cockpits are out there.
If you're patient, I'm sure Tamiya will offer all of these (and more) in the future, but AMS modelers can definitely start to mix and match parts to render versions that are not yet on the market. With the wealth of interesting aftermarket decals 'out there' for all of these blocks, it is nice to have options.
Decals are provided for three examples:
- F-16C Block 32H, 87-0301, 144 FW, Wing Commander's aircraft, CA ANG, 2007
- F-16C Block 25B, 83-1144, 144 FW, Wing Commander's aircraft, CA ANG, 2006
- F-16C Block 32D, 86-0279, 188 FW, Wing Commander's aircraft, AR ANG, 2006
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.
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
My sincere thanks to HobbyLink Japan for this review sample!