Revell 1/72 F-16A MLU

REVELL 1:72 F-16A MLU
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Andre Van Der Hoek (taken from rec.models.scale newsgroup)
- with additional comments edited in from Eric Verschuur
A fully built review of this kit is on SMAKR, see links below

Kit: Revell 1/72 Lockheed F-16A MLU

Revell's updated Falcon is now out. A quick in-box impression:

It's a brand new tool. Panel lines are nicely recessed. The single seat version kitted in this release is catered for by a separate insert for the full forward fuselage, forward of the wings which are molded integral with the main fuselage. The wings and horizontal /vertical tails have finely molded static discharge rods. Separate fin base extensions are given for Dutch and Belgian Falcons, the KLu fitting a brake parachute in there and the FAeB opting for the Carapace ECM system (another Carapace antenna goes under the intake for the Belgian bird).

A upper nose panel with the 'chicken slicer' IFF antennae goes before the canopy (the entire panel forward of the canopy is an insert); probably a more sensible approach to these than the curved-base-with-antennae thingies on the Fujimi F-16ADF kit. Nose radome is a separate one-piece molding. The panel with the M61 muzzle is separate, a variant on this is also included but marked as 'do not use'. Both the early-.15 analogue REO/SCP and late MLU twin-MFD panels are on the sprues and decal sheet, although one (assume the former) is marked 'not used'. Some other items are unused as well, so more variants of this kit are certain.

The cockpit has raised details on the side consoles and instrument panels, the seat is in three parts and looks decent enough for a kit item, and a nice pilot with separate right arm is included. Instructions tell you to paint the cockpit medium grey, but MLU jets may be black in the interior region; check your resources.

The main undercarriage bay is the best yet, with much more detail then all previous Falcon kits. Gear and wheels look good as well. The canopy is clear (with some distortion) and without seams and is not smoked in any way - among the clear parts are separate rear upper fuselage lights, another first for a Falcon kit. The Pitots/data probes are separate parts. There are no separate coamings, they are molded in with the top fuselage and the HUD base but several scoops are included as separate inserts.

The fuselage is separated on the panel line just in front of the row of engine access hatches, this line meets the wings just behind the LE flap hinge line. IIRC this is the division between forward and centre fuselage sections on the real thing. In terms of the alignment between wing LEF and fuselage LERX - the separate top halves of the fuselage joining near the LE flap hinges, combined with some flex in the lower fuselage allow for a couple of degrees of play in the vertical plane, unless you clean up every minute bit of flash along the top halves join line. On a similar note, the rear sprue attachment points for the forward fuselage are on the edges facing the LE flap insides. If you don't shave these attachment points perfectly flush, it will cause a subtle spread of the top rear fuselage, thereby slightly impairing fit and causing the wings to adopt an exaggerated dihedral. But dry testing reveal the fuselage parts fit together beautifully.

The intakes are made up of Tongue and NG well as a single part. The outer parts of the intake fit better than Hasegawa, but for fit of the duct I'd prefer the seamless Hasegawa part, although the seams are easily accessible in the Revell kit. There is a raised ridge inside the intake to hide the front edge of the tongue but it is too far back for a paint demarcation line. PIDS pylons are included. No ejector slots in the gondola, AFAIK
NATO F-16's don't have these fitted. The kit provides a the deep burner can, this
is another considerable improvement over all other F-16 kits.

The Wings are integral, stabs are separate with pivot pegs. The static wicks on the horizontal surfaces look slim when viewed from the top, but rather thick in side view, with the vertical tail it is just the opposite. On the sprues it appears that the wicks are sufficiently protected but I'd replace the wicks anyway.

Underwing nasties in the box are two underwing and one under-fuselage fuel bags, two somewhat bland Sidewinders and two AMRAAMs. Two types of missile rail are given for both the wingtip and outboard underwing stations, depending which missile you use. I had hoped for LANTIRN pods and modern LGB's. Oh well, I want some of the new Hasegawa weapons kits anyway. 8)

Don't get me started on the decals! Designed by DACO (yeee-haw!), they feature the most comprehensive stencilling of any F-16 kit decals (it goes as far as including stencilling for the canopy and for inside the intake!). They are in good register, even though Revell printed them. 8)

Markings are included for several Dutch and Belgian aircraft. The Dutch aircraft are J-063 (322 sq.), J-251 (OT&E) and J-624 (313 sq., not 314 as I mentioned yesterday). The Belgian ones are: 50th NATP anniversary aircraft (no serial given), FA-93 (OT&E), BL/FA-124 (31 sq/10 Wing, Kleine Brogel) and FS/FA-46 (2 Wing, Florennes).

All in all it looks like a great kit so far. As some items are surplus, more versions of this basic kit are sure to follow.

Related Reviews:-

Related INBOX Reviews:-

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