Revell 1/72 F-16 RNLAF Tigermeet

REVELL 1:72 F-16 "RNLAF TIGERMEET" '91

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 12 March 2002 (#38)

Aircraft:
The idea of a LWF (Light Weight Fighter) concept was forced on the reluctant USAF by Congress. They thought that it would compromise their big and expensive F15 Eagle. When the Secretary of Defense provided five new TFW’s (Tactical Fighter Wings), they changed their minds as they could now have both aircraft. The YF16 first flew in early 1974 and proved to be a great success and as NATO air forces were looking for a replacement for the F104 Starfighter the announcement was made at the 1975 Paris Air Show that Denmark, Norway, Belgium and Holland were to take the F16. It was to be to be built by General Dynamics, SABC in Belgium and Fokker in Holland. Many other air forces operate the F16 including Egypt, Pakistan, South Korea and Israel which used it for it’s famous 1981 bombing of Iraq’s nuclear plant at Osirak. The F16 is powered by a single P & W F100 Turbofan and has one M61 20mm Cannon with Sidewinders on the wingtips and the option for two more on outer pylons. The four main pylons can accommodate a variety of missiles, bombs, ECM’s and fuel tanks.

The Kit:
This is a Revell kit , not one of their “orphans”. I know this because it says so, not only inside the fuselage but also in raised lettering on the underside of the wing! This was a bad habit that American manufactures had. I thought that the practice would have been discontinued by 1988 (the date on the kit) and certainly I would have thought that it would have been removed from the dyes by 1993 when this version was released.

Construction Notes:
The kit isn't too bad, although I suspect that there are better F16’s available. I have seen much finer intake lips elsewhere. The original sprues contain a good verity of hardware to hang under the wings, optional open or closed airbrakes, boarding ladder, 25’long towbar, P & W F100 engine, transport trolley, tow tractor and two ground crew. There is also an “update”sprue with larger tailplanes, fin, ejector seat, sidewinders etc.

The one piece canopy is correctly tinted golden brown. The cockpit is adequately detailed with decals for the dash and side consoles. Rudder pedals are supplied but can’t be seen and no, they haven’t missed out the usual joystick. The F16 has a tiny side stick not unlike a video game!

The three part Aces II seat is fine but as a small amount of weight is required, an Aeroclub EJ005 white metal seat would do the trick. I had my doubts concerning the nose wheel bay (1&2), intake (4) and trunking (9) but they all went together with a minimum of tidying up. It is possible but pointless to install the engine. Rather display it on the trolley. Spare engine fronts (15&21) , engine rears (11&24) and afterburners (14&25) are supplied to do just this.

I left the nosecone off till the end as I could then sit the model on it’s wheels and add weights till it sat firmly on it’s wheels. The main “chore”was to decide on which armament mix to use otherwise the kit went together easily and well.

Versions & Decals:
I am not particularly interested in F-16’s but was “sold”on this kit by the single decal option which turned out to be the worst part of the kit! It was for a Dutch 313 Sqn ’91 Tigermeet machine J004 or J012. The box lid (with great artwork) stated “Super Decal”. Revell should be charged with false advertising!

The decal artwork is first rate but the decals are very matt with acres of carrier film and although thin, are stiff and split when, even used with decal setting solution. This made the tiger on the tail very hard to settle down and not only that but it was slightly out of register resulting in a thin white outline which needed attention. All the decals had excessive carrier film and a lot of effort was required to minimise “ silvering”. I have only made a few Revell (Germany) kits and have been disappointed with the decals in all cases. One decal that can actually be read starts with the words “US Air force”. Would this be found on a Dutch manufactured machine in the Dutch Air Force? The decal and paint guide is rather vague as to the placement of some decals. Indeed, some decals don’t even rate a mention and I didn’t use the 60 and 61 decals as I couldn’t see them on photos of the afterburner and couldn’t even work out what they were meant to represent.

Painting:
This leads to the painting guide! Another Revell disaster! They recommend Revell 77 (Humbrol 79) over a mixture of Revell 75 and 5 (Humbrol 64 and 34) with Revell 57 (Humbrol 106) for the foreword fuselage. As far as I know it should read FS 36118 (Humbrol 125/Testors 1723) FS 36375 (Humbrol 127/Testors 1728) and FS 36270 (Humbrol 126/Testors 1725). As to the fin, Revell say blue Revell 56 (Humbrol 25) fading (top and bottom) to Black Revell 8 (Humbrol 33). Not only does the box art show the fin in dark blue and medium blue but a photo of the actual aircraft on the side of the box confirms this! The centreline tank Revell claim to be the undersurface colour but, again, the box photos show it to be blue! Come on Revell, this is simply not acceptable from probably the biggest kit maker in the world! The wheel wells are white, although Revell don’t bother to mention it.

Other Comments:
I see that Italeri (No.1204) do a Dutch 313 Sqn. F16 B (two seater) with the ’94 Tigermeet markings. It can also be made as an F16 A in Belgian or Danish markings. Matchbox (Revell No.40146) has an F16 B (with parts for an A) and decals for a Dutch J-068 at Tigermeet ’92. The kit is from 1979 re released in 1993. The kit is ‘orible and not worth the effort. The decals are, like the Revell kit, good artwork but poor quality.

Surprisingly, I haven’t found much information on F16’s except in Scale Aircraft Modelling of Nov.’86 and Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Vol.1 p. 204 to 211.

Overall:
In conclusion, the finished model wasn’t too bad and the extras quite welcome but it was badly let down by the painting guide and poor decals.

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