Just saw a picture of this aircraft, does anyone make a kit of the block 60 or perhaps an upgrade from an exsiting kit? thanks for the info guys!!!
No, there is no conversion or kit available now, and probably never will be for a while. The reason is that the Block 60 is 80% different from all other Vipers before it. Panel lines are different, humps and bumps galore, the cockpit is all new and has little if any in common with previous blocks.
It’s not impossible, but to make a conversion, you’d need a new fuselage, with the revised panels, and bits for all the new humps and bumps. You’d need a Marble spine with all it’s updated humps and bumps, including the formation strips. You’d need CFTs, which are available now as stand alone pieces, or you could use the ones from the Isra sets. You’d need a new cockpit with the revised layout and instrument shrouds. You’d need the revised turkey feathers for the GE F110-332 engine, and some carbon fibre pattern decals for it.
And that’s just a concise list. It’s not impossible as I said, but it is a very extensive conversion. Which is why I don’t think we’ll see a kit soon or at all.
Just a quick question… Not saying that you are wrong in what your saying but… Just looking at the Block 60 looks to me more like a F-16D Blk 52J w/ Conformal Fuel Tanks.
I know that the “Echo” & “Foxtrot” differ w/ an internal, FLIR navigation sensor that is housed on the front upper section of the a/c kind of like a “Ball Turret”.
That alone make it stand out from all the other variants. You also have externally; a targeting pod w/ a facetted windows… And if you notice, the pitot tube has been omitted from this Block number.
As you mentioned, it also has various other blisters n exhaust ports… Anywho, I truly can not see why not eagle15 can’t use the Isreali F-16 that comes w/ the avionics fairing and order the after market CFT’s…
Ok w/ a little TLC and some scratch building of the various bumps and blisters as mentioned, he could get away with it…
As for the interior, I myself have not gotten close enough to one to say… I am sure though that they added a few other CRT screens, switches and the like since this is the most advanced Falcon on the market.
Anyways, I’d say go for it my friend… Build what you like…!!!
Flaps up,
Mike
Rangers Lead The Way
Thanks guys First I think more research on my part is needed plus I need to find Isralei Kit to have a good foundation to start with. Thanks again guys!! I let you know what I come up with!
Great Models or Squadron should have the Israeli F-16D. It is made by Hasegawa and is called the F-16D Barkeet (or however it is spelled)
You won’t find the Hasegawa kit there either. It’s very rare, and about the only place you can still find them is on eBay, and for a pretty penny. Hasegawa chose to name it Brakeet for some reason. This means nothing as the aircraft is actually named the Barak.
Block 50/52 front cockpit:
Block 60 front cockpit:
As you can see the MFDs are much larger in the Block 60 and thus required a resdesign of the front instro shroud. There are no current conversions for this, it would have to be scratchbuilt.
The IRST ball on the nose is called Falcon Eye:
It works much the same as the MiG-29 system, and is integrated into the JHMCS. Also, no current conversion, would need to be scratched.
The targeting pod you mention is the Sniper XR pod:
There are a couple of these in resin currently.
Every new closeup pic that I see of the E/F shows a new panel line, scoop, exhaust port, ane/of bump that isn’t present on any other variant. The pitot tube is present, but not on the nose anymore. An additional alpha probe was added to the port side, pointing about 45 degrees down, and that serves as the pitot tube:
It’s the second red pyramid cover that’s protecting the new pitot. You can slo see in the above pic the revised radome panel line. It now open upward instead of sideways. You can also sev several bumps not present in other variants, and the new slime light strips.
Yes, the Sufa is a good place to start, but again, there’s a lot more to get it to true E/F standard. Sure, you can get away with it to a point, with little effort, but in my opinion, it’s just too different to get it close enough.
Hey Habu,
Ah I see… Very cool. Thanks fer the updated info on the office…!! Yea I was just thinking, Italeri also did an Isreali F-16 w/ the avionics hump and its readily avalible…
So if anything, eagle can start out on that kit… Come to think of it, I believe my LHS has the Hasegawa variant. I shall check on it tomorrow.
Anywho would you have any other pix of the Blk 60? Thanks again.
Flaps up,
Mike
Rangers Lead The Way
I wouldn’t recommend the Italeri kit, it’s substandard. If your LHS has the Hasegawa kit, BUY IT!!! I have at least one of every Hasegawa kit of the Viper in 1/48 and that is one of three rarest there is. So if they have it, get it, consider yourself lucky.
Here’s some more:
Thanks guys for all the info and pic’s and kit info, Now im gonna just have to find a suitable f-16 kit. thanks again guys!!![:)]
Welcome! The Hase kit is the only reasonable place to start. The Barak (Brakeet), DJ or D kit is the way to go.
I’ve shot the Block 60 fairly extensively, and I can agree with Dan. There’s no modifying an existing kit without some SERIOUS scratch building. From a distance, it looks fairly similar to an earlier Viper, but up close, it is an entirely different machine.
Jake