Regarded as one of the world's leading jet fighters, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently employed by more than 20 countries, and has served in actual combat since the 1980's. The F-16CJ Block 50 variant is the newest F-16 currently being deployed to U.S. units. Major upgrades to the Block 50 included a more powerful turbo General Electric engine, AGM-88 HARM (High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile) and targeting system. The F-16CJ is used for "Wild Weasel" SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) missions, which include searching out and destroying radar and missile sites.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon model maintains the ease of assembly featured by all of the models in our 1/32 Scale Aircraft Series, and boasts the high level of detail and accuracy for which Tamiya is known around the world. This model has given our designers the opportunity to incorporate a number of modeling ideas and innovations that would not have been possible on a smaller 1/48 or 1/72 scale.
This is the first ever 1/32 scale F-16 model to replicate the characteristic large air intake duct, nicknamed "Big Mouth". The F110-GE-129 jet engine is also replicated in precise detail, and can slide into place on a hook and rail system exactly like the actual aircraft. The entire engine can also be displayed outside the aircraft using the included cart.
This model achieves a level of accuracy only possible in such a large-scale work. The upper surfaces of the wings are molded to the main body of the plane in one single piece, creating a "Blended Body" which artfully depicts the F-16's beautiful, streamlined form and proportions. The model features screw-mounted main body and die-cast landing gears with actual rubber tires for extra durability.
This model makes use of the newly developed mini poly caps to ensure that missiles, ECM pod and external fuel tanks are removable and interchangeable even after assembly. This way, modelers can enjoy depicting different weapon configurations specific to various F-16 missions. Use of poly caps also enables trailing edge flaps, horizontal stabilizer fins and vertical tail fin flaps to move freely after assembly.
Click to enlarge Pitot tube and static dischargers are reproduced using metal parts, and photo-etched parts are used for seat buckles, radar antenna, chaff/flare dispensers and name-plate adding to the models realism and display value. This same painstaking attention to detail led us to include an ejector seat fitted with a moveable slide rail, just like the actual aircraft. Curved bubbletop canopy features choice of clear or smoked canopy, and can be assembled in the open or closed position. 1 detailed pilot figure is also included. Gun hatch and nose cone can be opened after assembly to display machine gun and radar system respectively and metal weight has been added to nose for accurate front-rear weight distribution. Featuring decals to produce up to 4 different versions, including tiger design used during "Tiger Meets" and markings for F-16s who flew SEAD missions over Iraq, the list of fantastic features is truly endless. We guarantee that even the most fanatical aviation fan will be truly satisfied.
