F-16X 'Advance' - FINISHED!

[silverwindblade]

Well, it's a long time since I've posted anything, and it's a long time since I've had space and time to do any model-related activities. But, to break the spell of downtime after moving and all that entails, I'm back to pick up a project I vaguely started before moving home.

It's my first attempt at building one of the aircraft from the story I've been writing over the last couple of years, a full length sci-fi novel, where a handful of contemporary aircraft are modified extensively with advanced technology, some of it of exotic origins, to better integrate with specially selected pilots, and to fight against an extensive secretive organisation, which is similarly armed.

In terms of modelling, I wanted to take an F-16, and make it look 'futuristic', but still recognizable, and kind of anime-inspired. Playing to my strengths, really. My inspiration visually was the F-16 Improved Night Falcon from the Patlabor 2 movie, though I didn't want to replicate it exactly.

The plane in question is piloted by the protagonists' sister, who is a member of the US Air National Guard. She doesn't become a main character in the story until some way through. Like the other characters' aircraft, hers is designed for a mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and has been refitted with a variety of weapons and systems to give it a competitive edge. The airframe has likewise been refitted and re-jigged for its' new mission.
So, this involved things like redesigned and refitted composite airfoil sections and control surfaces, new sensors, new engines, and other stuff that generally makes it look awesome.

With that in mind, I started with an Italeri F-16C in 1:48, and a few aftermarket bits from Hannants - my first order from the big H.
After a bit of thought, I put knife to plastic.

As normal, I started with the cockpit (but forgot to take any photos). I sanded off all the instruments and added some MFD's using plasticard, and then painted them up. I put in the 'tub', and then sealed the canopy over the top with some clearfix, and then masked it all to protect it. I also weighted the nose with a couple of pennies and some putty.

The next thing was to remove the flaps - I wanted to reshape the wing, and make it look more 'futuristic' like the F-22 or F-35's trapezoid-shaped wing.



After that, I also removed the base of the tail, and the horizontal tails as well, as I wanted to change them around.

Next thing was the engine - I wanted a thrust-vectored engine, and obviously so. I looked at the X-31 for reference, and then had a rummage through my bits box to find something suitable, and looked at the engine nozzles in the kit.
After much head-scratching, I came up with an arrangement to evenly-space the 'paddles' around the engine exhaust, and a way to space the slip-on nozzle a bit from the 'bucket' of the engine, making it look a little different again.



I'm pretty proud of the results! I think it looks a lot like a vectored thrust engine should. It didn't even take too much faffing about with bits and pieces to create.





Then it was time to apply the resin CFT's and the Avionics Spine.
Both of them were designed for the Hase F-16's, but a bit of careful sanding and messing about with boiling water to shape and squish them down did the job.


Unfortunately, when I removed the left-side CFT from the molding block, I was a bit too generous with my dremel, and managed to sand off too much of one side. Putty will fix this, however!
I also have to create a new fairing in behind the cockpit, since the spine isn't designed for single-seat F-16's.


A bit more work done - I added the putty fairing at the front of the spine, put on the nosecone with some fishing weight in for good measure and added a nose probe from a needle. Which I then put some tape over, because I kept stabbing myself with it.

I also cut off the wingtip rails and reattached them after turning them through 90-degrees. I added on a set of forward-swept wingtips after that too, which look ultra cool.
The tail was also re-shaped, and the original base for it, trimmed down a little, was added too. I'll get a side profile pic later on.

I've got a fair way to go still, but it's looking good. Large horizontal tails are in the works, and I'm going to add some canards as well (since every jet looks better with canards!  )

Weapons fit as it stands are AMRAAMs, Sidewinders, a droptank, and some LGB's. I did want to use some HARMs, but I don't have any, and I'm not willing to buy a whole Hase weapon set just to get some right now - money's a bit tight for that!

I have another project on the bench too, which you can see in the background of one of the pics. Both are currently temporarily on hold, as we have guests coming to stay shortly! I will put some pics up for the other project shortly as well.

[ChernayaAkula]

I like where this is going! 

[silverwindblade]

Well, I'm hoping it won't go there slowly!

I'm not decided on a paint-scheme yet, but I'm thinking something like a Ferris scheme or an aggressor scheme, or maybe - for no good reason - desert camouflage? I would do digital, but it almost drove me nuts last time, and I'd like to save digital for another bird I've got in mind.

[kerick]

This looks great! Keep us posted on this one.

[pyro-manic]

Looking good so far!

[silverwindblade]

Thanks guys! I will be working on it after I sort out my modelling space in our spare room.

[Caveman]

How about mounting over-and-under on the wingtip rails?

[silverwindblade]

So, I got some more work done on this beast!



Added the horizontal stabs, the ventral fins and the canards. I was a bit dubious at first about the stabs because they were so large, but after taking a break and looking at it again, they've grown on me.


The profile from the top looks mean as hell. I think it's got the sufficiently futuristic look to it, but still recognizable as an F-16, which is what I was going for in the first place.


Another angle showing the pretty side. I think I'm going to be pleased with this when it comes together. I'm slightly worried those canards will be too low for the landing gear when I put it together, but we'll see.

Just waiting for some putty to dry in a gap filled on one of the stabs, and I've added all the little greebles on the fuselage for sensors and antennae, etc. Then it'll be time for the undercoat to go on.

I've got a weapons load in mind, though it's kind of a bit... lacking. I'm running low on sophisticated and hi-tech weapons! I need some JDAMS or HARMs or something, but I've settled on a couple of big paveways and a pair of Mavericks I had floating in my bits box for now.

I haven't quite decided on a colour scheme yet either - Boring Grey is an option, and I'd rather avoid camouflage, as I don't think it'd suit. But I'm not sure what else to consider. Any good recommendations?!

[Old Wombat]

Really bright, hi-viz animal/bird scheme (falcon, cheetah, eagle, tiger, chicken, meercat, duck?).

... &, yes, I am serious!



Guy

[silverwindblade]

Interesting suggestion, but I think that's one I'll pass on this time!

[Old Wombat]

Fox?

[kerick]

Meanest looking falcon you can find!
Those canards could be a problem. Can you test fit th landing gear before you paint? I would hate to see you have to damage a paint job to correct something.

[silverwindblade]

I just test fitted the gears without wheels attached and there's just enough clearance, so there ought to be a little more once I put the wheels on too. So phew, that's just as well!

[Captain Canada]

Nice ! Always like an aeroplane with lots of 'bits'...and this one fits the bill perfectly !

[perttime]

Color...
I've seen some cool looking fish/snake/dragon skin paint jobs done by spraying or airbrushing through some sort of a mesh or net. That is no good as a camo, unless you use a couple of different colors for the larger areas, because such small features do nothing to break up the shape of the aircraft. It can look cool, though.