How to convert the 1/48 Tamiya F-16CJ to a Block 30 aircraft?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I have one of the Tamiya 1/48 F-16CJ’s, and I want to convert it to an earlier Block 30 aircraft. Does anyone have any tips for this, or have any links that might help? TIA!

2

Frank,

I tried to find a conversion kit for Block 52 for Tamiya kit and unfortunetely no such thing exists [:(]

3

Thanks for looking Greg. Hopefully, someone out there will have the answer!

4

At the moment, there’s no easy way to do it. But looking at the parts breakdown of the CJ kit, a Block 30 should be on its way sometime in the future, since the kit comes with both panels in front of the main gear doors (bulged and non-bulged). So that’s one area that needs to be addressed, though the kit only comes with bulged MG doors. It also comes with the heavier duty Block 40 and up main gear. There’s also the small bulges just inboard of the flaperons that need to be sanded down. Block 30s also didn’t have the four chaff/flare wells, only two. Of course that’s an easy fix, just add the blocking plates, fill and sand. Other than that, not much else differentiates the two blocks. But are you making a current Block 30 or earlier one? Current ones have the bigger LAU-129 rails on the wingtips, the beercan RWRs on the wings, and the lawnmover blade scab plates at the tailbase. Some even have the panel plates on top of the wing near the TE. So check your references. So it can be done, however personally, I’m just going to wait for the Big T to release a Block 30/32 like they did in 1/32 scale. I don’t that should be too far off.

5

Thanks Habu. Sounds like a very involved conversion; sounds like my best bet is to wait for the next Tamiya release!

6

Yep, it shouldn’t be that far off. Though they’ve been pretty slow with new aircraft releases. Though they’re #100 release is the Storch. I kinda wish it was something more auspicious than that, though the Luftwaffe fans will rejoice. So I guess we can hope for #101. I did put a moratorium on any 1/48 Viper builds that I can’t use the Tam kit for. [swg]

7

You could get the old Hase kit.
It builds into very a nice model