ACpilot

The first two releases have been announced for April 2012.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3802
F-16CG Block 42 "89-016"
555th Fighter Sqn., 31st Expeditionary Air Wing,
Aviano Air Base, Italy

April 2012 Release

As announced on Hawkone's website:

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3802 F-16CG Block 42 "89-016" 555th Fighter Sqn., 31st Expeditionary Air Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy

Not sure of the exact time period for this 555 (Triple Nickel) Sqn F-16 CG - but Aviano, Italy was known as the forward operating base for The UN no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina beginning in 1993 and during the Kosovo Crisis of 1999.




Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA3801
Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon
ROCAF "6677"

April 2012 Release

As announced on Hawkone's website:

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3801 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon ROCAF 6677

Dan

Sachiel

This is great news! I'm personally eyeing the Tawianese F-16. Its interesting though, that the first F-16 releases from Hobby Master will all depict planes from foreign airforces. No love for F-16s from the good ol' USA?

gospodin

The first one IS a US plane, from the Triple Nickel at Aviano AB.

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Steve







I've discovered what's wrong with my brain. On the left side there's nothing right, and on the right side there's nothing left.

Skinner67

Activated on 1 Apr 1994.

Designated as: 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and placed in provisional status when deployed to United States Air Forces Central as part of the Global War on Terrorism after 11 September 2001.

Source: 555th Fighter Squadron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You're correct Dan, the 555th was used in several operations in the former Yugoslavia as well as deployments over Iraq.

http://www.f-16.net/units_article149.html

Operation Deny Flight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1995 NATO bombing campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here's one over Iraq:



File:F-16C-555th-Fighter-Squadron.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Sachiel

Nevermind, I guess i was corrected. .

CarbonPlane

I believe the Triple Nickel participated in missions over Libya as well. You are right Dan, without knowing more about the time period we're not sure if the HM model represents a combat plane.

ACpilot

Found a pic of the real aircraft taken at Aviano in 1997. The F-16 CG was optimized for the Night attack mission and was called the " Night Falcon".

Hobby Master please note the Grey Helmet for the pilot (not white as in the artwork).

Dan

Skinner67

I don't see any accounts of this particular airplane online.

It would be cool if it were Capt. Scott O'Grady's plane, but it was shot down in 1995, and here are pics of 89-016 at later dates. Not sure of accuracy or source of pictures:

1997 1997 F-16C 89-016 16 AF | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

1998 1998 F-16C 89-016 16 AF | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

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mar_ji

finally....seldom do I like a first model release with a livery i wanted.....but this F-16 from Aviano is a ''must have'' for me....its a Beauty

phantomflanflinger

This one should be a block 40 jet not 42 and was painted in two shades of grey not three ie gunship grey/medium grey

Peter9R

Good for you!
I'll pass them... not my taste

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virtual_pilot

hey mar_ji I bet you will get alot of dutch F-16s right?
This one is indeed a beauty. Must email HM about the comments above.

tripoli

Interesting choice. They seem to be following suit in a livery scheme with the Hogan Wings series. If that is the case, I hope they do an IDF/AF next. Given the tensions inthe middle east, it might be a good thing to pop one or two out in the near future. I am not really keen on the ROCAF although they look nice. As for a US F-16, I would like to see a stateside model myself. I waited long enough that I can wait a little longer to get a livery I am interested in.

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Jeff

Archangel

What does livery mean?

I want US squads. True I want my national squad markings but we dont have much of an airforce so Im collecting the Russian and US markings of their makes. When Chinas stealth plane is ready Im sure Ill get theirs for the collection.

gospodin

Livery is the decoration on the model, the markings and colors. True, US Air Force aircraft are interesting and there are a lots of markings to choose from, but F-16s were sold to many nations, and those are pretty interesting also. Some of them extremely colorful, especially anniversary and Tiger Meet aircraft.

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Steve







I've discovered what's wrong with my brain. On the left side there's nothing right, and on the right side there's nothing left.

gospodin

By the way, Australia has a ton of great aircraft and livery schemes. Most of their aircraft from the 1960s on were US-built, but they have a number of European and British designs in the RAAF too.

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Steve







I've discovered what's wrong with my brain. On the left side there's nothing right, and on the right side there's nothing left.

mar_ji

I personally find nothing wrong with the Aviano based F-16s squadron....theyre one of the most active squadrons active outside the mainland during the past wars....its a USAF F-16 anyway....the rest will come from various foreign users and of course from the mainland too...no hurry

t001

Excellent news. Been hearing rumors of the HM F-16's for a while. The ROCAF one is probably a must. Looking forward to their introduction of the two-seaters as well.

ACpilot

Here is the revised artwork for the USAF 555th version.

Dan



OLD




NEW

Skinner67

Thanks Dan. I'm happy to see that they are listening.

The fuselage is now the correct 2 tone grey, but what about the pylons, fuel tank, missiles, and targeting pod? Shouldn't they match the fuselage?

Looks like they updated the engine nozzle as well.

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mar_ji

the targeting pod and weapons load look great ....does anyone know of the tentative release of the model ?

CarbonPlane

[QUOTE=mar_ji;941117]the targeting pod and weapons load look great ....does anyone know of the tentative release of the model ?[/QUOTE]

I'm gonna guess May.

ACpilot

April 2012 Release

Usually at N. American and European retailers the following month.

So May 2012 is a correct guess!

Dan

mar_ji

thanks for the info, AC pilot....

t001

Hope they come up with a B/D version as well. And also looking forward to their F-18E/F releases as well as F-15 series hopefully, especially the mud hen.

CarbonPlane

Thanks Dan

All we need now is to see the pre-pros. We'll know then if we should tell HM of any more errors.

Richard from Rotterdam

The Aviano Viper should be doing pretty well especially here in Europe I think. I am glad they are releasing both a C- and an A-model. Looks promising esp for us NATO-fighter collectors.

One thing I do hope is that HM will not only release special liveries but also the bog-standard F-16s.

peetrick

Agreed. A battle ready livery is a must have. Not sure if anyone has asked this before, but will the USAF F-16CG have an open or closed nozzle?

ACpilot

Here is the four view drawing now showing the dual GBU-12 arrangement along with Lantirn Pod.

Dan

Skinner67

I be liking this. Thanks Dan.

BLOCK 40 !?!?!

I wish they would offer additional munitions like the asymmetrical load in my previous post in the thread (#4).

Actually I cannot find a single pic of an F-16CG with that loadout. I acknowledge that I'm no expert, and I do almost all my research on Google, but the pic in post #4 and this one below show a different rail for the bombs:



If I were William, I would probably hate all us forumers, and say... "fine, here's your stinkin F-16... you do better..."

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ACpilot

The picture you used is a 1/48 Scale Hasegawa model so I wouldn't place a lot of faith in that load configuration.


I would prefer to see some actual pics of real airplanes to be convinced.

Dan

mar_ji

Im just too happy with the first USAF issue of the F-16.....livery and weapon load are good to begin with....as someone said....this is just the beginning of a long list of versions and liveries to be done just like the F-4 Phantoms....a long way to go

Ukrainian_Falcons

Now that looks freakin awesome, HM take note.

My only response would be..... How much ??? lol

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121 models and climbing

Skinner67

Wow. That is one fine model. It had me fooled. The one in post 4 is still real... I think...

Here are more pics...





Now, these two pics below show a side-by-side rail mount, but a different type of munition:





The following was taken at Aviano in 2011, so this platform may be newer than the one HM is using:



http://www.af.mil/photos/mediagaller...ryid=10&page=9

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ACpilot

Four View Drawing is out for the Taiwanese F-16.

Dan

mar_ji

the A models looks more simple than later models i think....looks good anyway

LoneWolf

There is a little update:
Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3802 F-16C Polish Air Force (Polskie Sily Powietrzne), 31 Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego, Poznan-Krzesiny, listopad 2010
Do you like it?

Skinner67

Yup. It's a must have for me. The CFTs make it look mean. Here's a link to another discussion about this release over at the Pub:

http://tdhp.49.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?f=165&t=11726

THE DIECAST HANGAR PUB • View topic - GOOD NEWS, HM F-16 Block 52 now comes with CFTs,

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ACpilot

Should look something like this!

Dan

CarbonPlane

I'll pass and wait for HM to do an Israeli F-16.

Richard from Rotterdam

I'm amazed at how quickly HM is building up its F-16 portfolio. The Polish one with conformal fuel tanks looks awesome.

hehe, in the real world I's say to the JSF-countries: skip the F-35 and buy more Vipers! The new F-16V should be more than enough fighter for half the price...

mar_ji

am just wondering...a very tiny country as the Netherlands......do we really need it (the JSF)......

ACpilot

You would rather have Dutch Air Force Pilots risk their lives in any future conflict with obsolete equipment?

Dan

Skinner67

I think they are active in NATO and I guess everyone's wanting to standardize. Maybe they just want one so HM can make a model for you.

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Richard from Rotterdam

Haha, well first let's wait and see if this F-35 will work at all, shall we? NATO-standard bombs that don't fit in the internal bomb-bay, arrestor-hook design flaws, weapons systems that don't work, etc etc etc. I seriously doubt this jet will make a huge difference to a brand-new F-16 with AESA radar and the newest weapons, apart from the enormous price-tag.

CarbonPlane

I suppose it's a question for the Dutch government. Spain are active in NATO and they fly F-18s rather than the F-16.

Richard from Rotterdam

The current Dutch government doesn't plan to place an order for fleet replacement, they are pushing it forward to a new government, with 2014 being the earliest date.

But, with the first Dutch F-35 already fitted with an engine by Lockheed Martin it is easy to see what the intentions are.

The Dutch ministry of defence is a bit naive though, as they still intend to buy 85 jets for a grand total of EUR 4.5 billion (USD 6 billion) which means USD 70 million per jet. Whereas latest US government figures show the current flyaway price at USD 135 million, and this will only increase over the years to come. And that is a huge amount of money for an airplane that has proven itself only on computers and paper...

Jaworski

I would love to see HM do an F-16I Sufa. That would be a must have.....

virtual_pilot

that would be the only HM F-16 that I wouldn't buy. It just looks too ugly with all the additions of spine & conformal ...
it barely looks like an F-16 anymore. The particular livery of that jet is too unattractive too but unfortunately many collectors love it. I wish HM would go plain on the F-16 and just make the regular USAF and ANG ones, like they did with the hornet.

Jaworski

The F-16C Barak then, perhaps with the current upgrade of block 50 capability. But Witty did that already with the mistaked wide-mouth intake for squadron they chose.