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Newbie Joined: Jan 22, 2005 Posts: 2 Status: Offline

I'm starting a modelling project of a F-16 with AIM-7 on Stations 3 and 7. Can anyone help with several questions about appropriate pylon and launcher? I've only seen one photo of the pylon with AIM-7 mounted and it looks 'different' than the normal Sta. 3/7 weapons pylon. Less rounded nose. I couldn't tell if it had the 'wings' normally fitted on current weapons pylons (don't know the proper term), but I'd guess it didn't. I've seen no good close up side view or rear view photos. Did the missile have an ejector or a rail type mount? What changes are needed to a weapons pylon to model a sparrow mount pylon? Can anyone post or link to good close up photos? Thanks in advance for any help.

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Hi Ranger

Check out the photofile of US ANG Vipers, there you will find most of what you seek. Look for Vipers from 159FW (FL), 119FW (ND) and others, wich I know that there are photos of with these special Aim-7 launchers mounted.
As for modelling projects, the pylon on station 3 and 7 can be found in the (less-than-good) Revell/Monogram offering of the F-16 ADF fighter.
Be warned that there is a lot of flash on many of these, and I don`t think its too accurate. Still its the only game in town.

Good luck !

Yeah, the Revell kit is the only one available of this launcher in 1/48 scale.
They're called radar rails, and carry AIM-7/120s. It's not ejector launched. The "wings" as you call it are actually aerodynamic fairings/sway braces for the bolts that secure the pylon to the wing.

Besides the ANG ADF units, Singapore and Taiwan (Republic of China) also use them, checkout the pic gallery of these two operators.

Here's a close up pic from af.mil:
http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/ ... 9A-016.jpg

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AIM-7 launcher