Being a prop modeler as far as aircraft go, I’ll apologize for my ignorance in this area ahead of time. Never the less, can someone point me in the right direction with online resources that outline the differences between the standard US F-16, and those flown by the IDF?
I have a 1/48th Revell F-16A/C kit in my hoard, and would like to examine the feasibility of modeling an Israeli variant.
I’m a scratch builder, so good reference material rather than simply advising a pre existing kit of the subject or drop in resin conversions etc. are what I’m after.
Check out Airliners.net for pictures. Photos of IAF stuff can be hard to find.
Also, what era IAF F-16 are you going for? If you want an early one the Revell kit probably won’t need much except for decals. Iron Eagle would be a good reference for the early to mid 80s. If you can stand the movie
If you want the most modern version with CFTs there will be a lot of scratch building and modifying… Like to the point most people would buy a different kit.
Personally, I have never built the Revell F-16. I am kind of partial to the Tamiya kit.
Thanks for the input. I’m using the Revell kit only because it is an extra that I have in my stash, and figured I would model an IDF bird with it this time around. If I were choosing the kit to suit the subject, I would go for one of the newer Sufa or Barak kits available.
The early F-16 A or B variant will do. I’m mainly concerned with any glaring differences between the US and Israeli versions that I might not be aware of without adequate references, beyond simply adding the IDF paint scheme and markings.
What point in the F-16’s IDF career do you wish to show? The Osirak reactor raid in summer of 1981? The Lbeanon air battles over the Bekaa Valley in 1982? Or any one of the countless ther missions flown since then? IDF F-16s have evolved in those years from initial production with smaller stabilators to the latest with all the home grown add ons.
If you really want to be accurate with this, you need to join a forum or forums in Israel. Easy enough, they are in English usually and the modelers on them are, well, inspired by their nation.
I used a couple for references for my only IAF build; an S-199 Sakeen. Start by going to the Isradecals website and get to know them. They have decals for every Netz/ Barak/ Sufa ever flown.
Just a little piece of Israeli trivia. Jordan took delivery of 29 F-104s in early 1967. They were flown to Turkey in May where they remained in quarantine until after the 6 Day War was over, during which Jordan had it’s entire Hawker Hunter inventory reduced to zero. No big mystery- the war had been anticipated for a good five weeks.
I had the opportunity to take photos of one, a gate guardian, when I was in Amman last Fall. Certain to be a project in the future.
Cheers. The links provided should help me on my way. BTW, looking through my stash, I see that I have an Academy 1/48th kit of the F-16 as well. I believe I will utilize that kit for this instead.
