Dear F16 experts,
Other than the HTS pod how does the CG differ from the CJ? I have Hasagawa’s CJ and would like to produce a CG block 40.
Thanks for your time,
BW
Okay, here is what I found out:
Block 40/42 - F-16CG/DG - gained capabilities for navigation and precision attack in all weather conditions and at night with the LANTIRN pods and more extensive air-to-ground loads, including the GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24 Paveway laser-guided bombs and the GBU-15. Block 40/42 production began in 1988 and ran through 1995. Currently, the Block 40s are being upgraded with several Block 50 systems: ALR-56M threat warning system, the ALE-47 advanced chaff/flare dispenser, an improved performance battery, and Falcon UP structural upgrade.
Block 50D/52D Wild Weasel F-16CJ (CJ means block 50) comes in C-Model (1 seat) and D-Model (2 seat) versions. It is best recognized for its ability to carry the AGM-88 HARM and the AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS) in the suppression of enemy air defenses [SEAD] mission. The HTS allows HARM to be employed in the range-known mode providing longer range shots with greater target specificity. This specialized version of the F-16, which can also carry the ALQ-119 Electronic Jamming Pod for self protection, became the sole provider for Air Force SEAD missions when the F-4G Wild Weasel was retired from the Air Force inventory. The lethal SEAD mission now rests solely on the shoulders of the F-16 Harm Targeting System. Although F-18s and EA-6Bs are HARM capable, the F-16 provides the ability to use the HARM in its most effective mode. The original concept called for teaming the F-15 Precision Direction Finding (PDF) and the F-16 HTS. Because this teaming concept is no longer feasible, the current approach calls for the improvement of the HTS capability. The improvement will come from the Joint Emitter Targeting System (JETS), which facilitates the use of HARM’s most effective mode when launched from any JETS capable aircraft.
All this info came from http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-16cd.htm
A truly remarkable website for info.
Mike
Mike,
Thanks for the link! Some really good data there on the militarys inventory of aircraft.
Mike,
Thanks for tacking the time to list all of that and thanks for the link! I hope in the future i can return the favor.[:D]
Happy Modeling,
BW
Dear F-16 gurus, [;)]
Okay, I have one more question about Hasegawa’s CJ kit.
The model I am building is for an ANG plane. I have been told that they are mostly block 30 aircraft. The CJ kit is for block 50’s. So, when my reference tells me that the ANG bird is a F-16C with “large-mouth intake,” should I go ahead and use the intake parts from Hasegawa’s original F-16 sprues, and ignore the extra sprues for block 50 stuff? (I already know not to put on the HARMs or HTS pod), but am just wondering about the intake differences. I really can’t notice a big difference in the online photos out there. Do certain block 30’s carry different intakes modified to carry different engines? Did the intakes shrink for block 50’s? Help out a rotorhead[:)]
Snake, according to F16 .net (another wonderful Viper resource): The large inlet didn’t appear early in the Block 30 development, but became the standard for F110-powered Fighting Falcons from Block 30D #86-0262 onward. Guess that means you’ll have to match up the intake with the tail number if you want to really get it right.
You might want to pay attention to the cockpit details, too, since some of the most visible differences appear there.
Happy building!
Ok this might help.
the CG is a block 40/42 F-16. The difference between the 40 and 42, is the 40 is a GE powered bird, while the 42 is P&W powered.
Same goes for the CJ, 50 is GE, and 52 is P&W
The difference between the GE and the P&W is the intake and the engine. GE powered birds(for the most part) use the Big mouth intake, the new blk50 intake on the hasegawa kit. The P&W birds use the Small mouth intake. In the Hasegawa blk50 kit the tell you to use the Big mouth intake, which is correct for a Blk50 and Blk40, but not always the case for Blk30’s. About 170 F-16 Block 30’s have a small mouth intake mated with GE engines, but for the most part GE engine means Big mouth intake. I know its gets a little confusing, and i might be making it a little more confusing [:I]
All F-16N, Navy F-16’s, are block 30’s with small mouth intakes. You will just have to check references and serial numbers for the rest as it varies.
For Bwog’s question. The blk 40 and blk50 are almost identical except for a few things. The cockpit is one major difference. The block50/52 have a WAC Hud that comes with the Hasegawa kit. To make an accurate blk40/42 you would need a WAR HUD. Also the blk40/42 have about 10 stiffener plates that need to be added. Everything else should be about the same, just follow the Hase instructions. Also remember most blk40/42 are “night falcons”, most carry the LANTIRN system(AN/AAQ-13 navigation pod and AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod), with a mix of laser guided weapons. As opposed to most blk50/52 CJ’s that are armed with Harms.
As for AH1Wsnakes question. There are some major differences between a Block 50 and Block 30. To start, the cockpit is about the same, so no change there. But the landing gear will be different. the blk40/42 and blk50/52 F-16’s have beefed up gear. Also, the landing lights are different. Then block 30’s also have some stiffener plates, i think about 4. On the blk50/52, they are built into the F-16 so they do not show.
Hope that helps some
Oh, yeah, snake… I forgot: At casual glance the intakes look similar, but you know modelers… anything but casualy observers. I saw a photo on a website (sorry, I don’t remember now which one) that showed the “small mouth” intake cover in the “big mouth” intake. The latter is noticably wider and “pointier” at the sides. If you look at a handful of head-on photos of both, you’ll soon be able to notice the difference.
Some Block 30s really did have different intakes, but with later blocks they were standardized. (Block 40s and 50s are all Big Mouths, Block 42s and 52s are all small) Some less-informed sources lump 40s/42s together and 50s/52s together, so use good sources. If you spend some time on the web you might even find photos of the very plane you plan to model.
Jakevas is right about the other changes (landing gear, doors, lights, etc.).
Have fun doing your research AND your Viper!
Tally ho
I’ve got some great shots of Eielson AFB Alaska’s 18FS F-16CG Block 40’s to include the LANTIRN, nose and main gear, engine turkey feathers, and the AN/ALE-50 towed decoy launcher.
Send me an E-mail if you’d like the pics (and make sure you have the room in your inbox).[:D]
Wow! That’s a lot of info! I wonder if I confuse people with that many details when I talk about Hueys and Cobras.[:)] But, that is what we are on this forum for[tup]…to share ideas and info. And when it comes to building good models, I am beginning to become somewhat of a detail-aholic, so this stuff is great.
Jake: thanks for the stuff about the Hasegawa kit. I verified that my block 30 bird does have a large-mouth, so I will be using the block 50 intake, then. Stiffener plates and landing lights I will have to do research on, so thanks for the heads-up. Sorry to make you cringe at the details, but I think I’ll just bite the bullet on the landing gear differences and use the kit’s block 50 style.[;)]
Medic: thanks for all your advice as well, but especially for the f-16.net site. WOW…so much info on there I’ll need a week or two to go through it all. Should be just the thing to find all those details and hopefully good reference photos.
Thanks again all you guys for your input.
i have some pics of the beef plates if you wanna do that but not all F-16s have them.
also CJ use the sniper pod now for mor accurate weapons delivery