Forum: Scale Models - F-16, F-35, F/A-22, F-2

Any news on the REAL release dates for these kits?

Many on-lines sellers are now saying late Sept. Very Happy

Wasn't the original release date the beginning of the year? Crying or Very sad

I understand they keep modifying it to make it right.

I have looked at the ARC forum on this topic, just thought you Viper folks would know more!

F-16.net Sponsor

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=KI-K48002

The first AM model is due out mid-Oct. Here's the sprue shots off Lucky Models web site. They look good.

Jeff

There have been major delays due to mold problems and major accuracy corrections. Also, a source mentioned that the factory wasn't being run all that well and there were a lot of logistical problems to be ironed out.

The sprue shots look ok, but compared to the Tamiya (and even Hasegawa) the surface detail is a little crude, typical of Chinese tooling; too soft, wide, deep, and grainy.

The F-16D upper forward fuselage and canopy test shots posted on ARC, were terribly inaccurate! They are supposed to fix it, but due to the major degree of shape error, that would require a whole new tool for those parts. We shall see, but so far I have not been blown away like some guys are, as I feel the quality and judging form the build up; the fit leaves a lot to be desired.

One thing the Kinetic F-16s will have are more ordinance options than the Tamiya kits. It's a bit disappointing that the surface detail will detract from the ordinance some.

Mike V

What I see of the latest test shot pics so far,it looks(and I only say looksmind you)to be a ok kit,above Hasegawa in detail and a touch below Tamiya in finesse.It's been posted that the F-16AM kit will be released in mid-October.

The F-16A pics posted elsewhere show that what looks like the modeler will have options to build the F-16A,F-16A ADF,or the F-16A ADF(the version I really want to build)right out of the box.The D is/was being re-done to be more correct after it's nits and niggles were pointed out to them,we'll see if they corrected them when those final test pics come out or when the kit is released.What I do like so far is the amount of weapons and targeting pods that are included in each release.

For building any F-16C in 1/48 probably even after Kinetic possibly kicks one out,I'd still go for the Tamiya kit for that version and just grab leftovers out of the Kinetic kits for any extras that Tamiya doesn't provide.I hope Tamiya will release a F-16D in the near future,until then I'd get the Kinetic(if it only has minor correctable issues)one since the Hasegawa ones are getting really scarce and/or expensive to get.

Hopefully we can get our hands on one soon so we can see how good/bad/so-so the kit really is.

Yes, the Kinetic F-16 will have more detail than Hasegawa alright, but again the soft-wide surface detail is in stark contrast to the finesse of the Hasegawa kit. The surface detail is a bit more than a touch less than Tamiya, but either way, the fit is seems, is going to be fairly poor in the Kinetic kit. Again, until there's a kit in hand, we just have to go by the sprue shots and build ups for now.

This kind of reminds me a little of the 32nd Academy F-16 slurry ride. From the sprue shots and build ups, I pretty much saw all that was wrong with the kit and made a comprehensive list. Hells gates, did I get ridiculed for that, yet when I got the kit to inspect, I was a 99% dead on with my observations. I am predicting mot much if any, will change from the Kinetic Sprue shots posted. Only the supposed F-16D correction is up in the air.

The original release date for the Kin F-16s goes back to March-April, then June, then August, then September (which is what most of the distributors were recently told) and now October. Man, these guys are starting to mimic Hobbycraft.

I've had both the Kin F-16D and F-16A on order, for over 6 months now, so I've been waiting a long time to review these kits in detail. It will be interesting to see if the F-16D fuselage and canopy will be totally corrected. I'm skeptical, but it's no worry as I know Tamiya will eventually do the D model and do it right the first time. Also, The Hasegawa F-16B/Ds are still well done and as it stands right now, are a hell of a lot more accurate than the Kinetic version.

Mike V

I'll be waiting for your review Mike, unlike some other people on the other board, I always appreciated your opinion, good, bad or ugly. Thanks.

Jeff

I'll be awaiting as well for several opinions on the kit.I'll let our bases resident Viper expert as well as a few other crew chief modelers I know run their grubby hands over the kit to see what they think of the kit(s) when they come out.I worked on the beasties for 14 years but it's always good to have several sets of eyes looking at things to see if anything is/was missed.[/i]

I appreciate that Jeff! There were a bunch of good guys over there, but all it takes is to get on the wrong side of the establishment (or a few cronies), to be a marked man. Nothing has changed on my part, as I still present the facts; from good to terrible, each kit has to own up to its own merit.

Racer, while I know quite a few well experienced Viper Crew Dawgs; only 2 I know of can build, as well as translate what they know into the whole shape and accuracy aspect of an F-16 kit.

Having 13 years on the jet myself, I know you can relate, as you too are a good judge of how well a particular F-16 kit actually replicates and captures the this subject. I also had to unique opportunity to be stationed at Edwards long enough to work nearly every Block F-16, including both XLs. It was not until then that I was able to grasp the whole F-16 breakdown.

If you think about this jet, it has more derivatives and versions than the F-4! I find that extraordinary, yet also a testament to not only the success of the airframe, but the popularity to, which also has a great deal to do with its aesthetics.

What ever you and your Crew find, write something up on it. I’ll probably post a trimmed down version, as Billy Crisler wants me to do a full blown review for his magazine. So long as I get enough time to work with, I should be able to get him something. If not, I can settle for a web version.

Mike V

Well,we have a few that putter around with the plastic from time to time Very Happy

A few crew chiefs,one weapons guy,the former base historian and a sheet metal guy,we all talked about kits and decals over the years and compared notes on kits.

The person I call our resident Viper guru,Craig Pratt,has had a career close to yours Mike,having time spent at Luke(IIRC),S. Korea and Edwards,he finished up his crew chief career last year in our QA.You guys probably tweaked wrenches on the same FrankenVipers at Edwards at different times,the man is a walking TCTO and JG,I don't see how his brain kept from exploding from all that stuff he filed away in his head Shocked

I was a CC in the ANG but a decent portion of that time was being put on orders full-time or working as a temporary technician both on the F-4 and F-16,helped out on various upgrades for both(NWDS for the F-4E,-220E upgrades,ect. for the F-16.),still with what I know about both airframes I still have the guys that blow me out of the water with vast knowledge of the jets inside and out and I'm humbled by their knowledge and experiance,if I get too cocky I just look at them and bow my head in shame Very Happy

I can look at a Block 25 and 30 based kits(NSI of course Cool

)and see the nits and niggles that need to be corrected or fixed and probably the various Blocks of the A/B models as well,I'm not to well versed on the later Blocks since my only exposure to them were when I caught/launched them while on XC when they came on base.But I do know enough people who can point out the later Block specifics to me or I can always turn to my books or photographs to help out.

I too know how it feels to get shoved to the other side of the tracks when people don't want to hear what you have to say but I take it in stride and just press on.The whole Academy 1/32 release was a let down but you can say you can use it for parts for the Tamiya kit at least Razz

As soon as I get the kit(s) in hand,I'll see what can be said about it,good or bad and see if there easy corrections that can be done if their are major/minor problems with the kit(s).

I just looked at the pics posted on Hyperscale showing the kit(s).Can't tell alot from the pics but the kit looks like Tamiya,Hasegawa,and Italeri F-16's had a kinky three way and this kit is a result Shocked

Here's the new link, it looks better than it did before, better pics. Its a mix of pics from both the A and the DG. This "looks" like the kit to beat, although for a C I'll probably stick with Tamiya for the better surface detail.
http://www.hyperscale.com/2008/reviews/ ... ewbg_1.htm

Jeff

I'll stick with Tamiya for the F-16C,and go with the Kinetic for the A versions as well as the F-16D,the extra parts will be nice!I'm sure it will have some nits but still looks very buildable.

Gotta agree there, as Tamiya is still looking far better in quality, and tooling. I am really interested to see the surface detail stacked side by side.

The Pratt and GE exhaust seem like decent attempts, but at closer look they are overly thick and have inconsistant tooling- real soft in some areas and sink marks. Also, what's up with the dil looking front end of the ALQ-131 Pod, LOL.

Mike V

Yeeeeah, that ALQ-131 front end is quite questionable Laughing

The fan faces for the engines are horrid though.

I'm really NOT waiting for this kit and from the sprues pictures that I've seen it's nowhere close to Tamiya,(just wonderin' did they used an axe to scribe the panel lines??!!) well , actually it is 'cause they copied everything and tried to improve it ...............whatever, I'll stick with Tamiya C and Hase D, hopefully Tamiya will come out with the D Rolling Eyes

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Forum: Scale Models - F-16, F-35, F/A-22, F-2

Kinetic 1/48 F-16's