Landing Gear Updates?

[planehazza]

Did various block 30s get 'retrofitted' with the heavy gear later on? I've been looking at photos of #86-0314 (as that's the airframe I'm building in 1/48) and being a block 30 it had the lighter gear. I've found more recent photos (late 2017) where it has the splinter camo, and it has the newer heavy gear with the NG light. Was this airframe upgraded to the later block 30 standard? Am I right in saying it was about halfway through the production of the 30 series that the gear changed?

For example, here is #86-0314 in 2007 with the 'normal' arctic aggressor camo. Notice the lightweight gear:

http://www.f-16.net/g3/var/resizes/f-16 ... 1371068567

And the same airframe, 10 years later. Notice the heavy gear:

http://www.aeroresource.co.uk/wp-conten ... 8Y0882.jpg

[MVSGas]

Are you talking about the landing/taxi light location?
If so, AFAIK, the landing gear was not change, just the location of the light so that if pods are carried on the intake (like a TGP) the light will not be block. Same thing has been done on some A/B models as well.

[MVSGas]

This is a large photo
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Jan/11/2 ... 9-1228.JPG
You can see here the bolts on the Main Landing Gear (MLG) tires, indicative of the small MLG.
Moreover, the way the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) torque links are connected are indicative of this.

[planehazza]

Thanks for the answers and sorry for the double post. I tried posting this thread a few times and can only assume it was held for moderation due to the image hotlinks. I posted the other thread without links and it went straight through.

Typically I've gone and used the wrong gear but tamiya's representation of the main gear struts is average at best, so I can sort of hide the mistake by using the correct, non bulged doors. Here's my LG part currently.


https://photos.app.goo.gl/cz4YMNPqc6CWG3t6A

[planehazza]

This is a large photo
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Jan/11/2 ... 9-1228.JPG
You can see here the bolts on the Main Landing Gear (MLG) tires, indicative of the small MLG.
Moreover, the way the Nose Landing Gear (NLG) torque links are connected are indicative of this.

Thanks for this. Do you have any more images of this airframe in that splinter scheme I could use please?

I guess I forgetting to look at the wheels too. I'll hide my mistake of using the wrong struts further by using the correct wheels.

[MVSGas]

Your best bet will be to go to www.eielson.af.mil or pacaf.af.mil and look there for photos.