Italeri 1/72 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon, previewed by Scott Van Aken

The mainstay of many of the world's air forces is still the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Though the earlier A and B models are no longer being used by the USAF, production of this variant continued into the 90s for export. The F-16 combines a fairly decent fighter-bomber role in along with its air to air mission, and this ability to perform multiple missions with a single airframe, one that can be upgraded without too much effort is what has made the aircraft such a success. It is hard to see how the F-35 could be more effective as it is slower, less maneuverable, and does not quite have the same payload capabilities of the F-16. Probably one reason that the F-16 is still in production with the block 70/72 now being produced. While it is quite unlikely that the aircraft will surpass the production numbers of the F-4, more than 3,000 F-16s have been built.

THE KIT

Italeri's initial release of the F-16A/B was the older ESCI kit reboxed. This is still a nice kit and offers the ability to build the very early F-16 before the enlarged stabilizers. This one is not the ESCI kit, was developed in the 1980s, and was originally kit #188 as the sprues still have this stamped on them. What is in the box allows you to do not only the F-16A/B, but also the C/D version as that fin is included. If you decide to build the C/D from this boxing, you'll be limited to the early blocks as it does not include the wider wheels or bulged main gear doors.

Pretty much every F-16 kit I've ever built has a horizontally split fuselage and a large upper fuselage insert to allow for either the single or two seat version to be built. This one is exactly like that. You get two separate cockpit tubs and they are minimally equipped with a single piece seat and an instrument panel. A decal is provided for decals. No real HOTAS, just a nub on the right to simulate the control stick. Once you decide on the number of seats, the interior(s) can be installed and the fuselage halves closed. The canopy is a single piece and you cannot pose it open as there are no hinges.

The intake provided is the small mouth and is three pieces with the nose gear well molded into the lower piece. The main gear bay is molded in with the lower fuselage half. Next, one attaches all the flight surfaces. There are two different fin inserts, one for the parabrake. Wings and stabs are a single piece so the holes for pylons are already drilled out. You are also provided with an alternate open or closed burner can piece.

Next steps are installation of landing gear and doors. Again, pretty standard stuff and somewhat simplified. Building up tanks and weapons is next. there are cluster bombs provided and the pylons have the proper rack for these items (two per side). There are also Sidewinders and AMRAAM missiles for the various pylons.

Instructions are well done with Italeri Model Master and FS595 paint references. There are four markings options, all but one in the early three greys scheme. The box art plane is with 313 Squadron, Dutch Air Force, there is a 162FG, Arizona ANG plane, A Danish aircraft from Esk 723, and finally a Belgian plane from 2 Wing. The decal sheet looks to be very nicely done and should provide no surprises. If you don't like what the kit offers, there are plenty of aftermarket options.

CONCLUSIONS

This is not the best F-16 in this scale. Most would tell you that is the Tamiya kit, but the Tamiya kit is a C, not the earlier A version. I'd put this one up with the Hasegawa kit in terms of detail and unlike the Japanese kit, this one comes with ordnance. It also does not look to be as fussy a build as the Revell offering, which some will appreciate.

KIT #:	1204
PRICE:	$19.95
DECALS:	Four options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	2000 release