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

Guys, here's the latest Tamiya Viper in the Philippines...

The sprues are all in white. Basically it's the 61101 F-16C Block 25/32, less GBU-12s and Litening pod. To replace it were the Block 50 MLG, MLG Doors and other components like the nose gear doors. Decals are provided for Thunderbirds 1 to 6. Beer

I'll build this one as Thunderbird 3 (MAJ NICOLE MALACHOWSKI) Right Wing. Salute

Am still hoping for Tamiya to release a Polish F-16D Block 52+ Viper. Question

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I don't see Tamiya doing a Polish variant.

Tamiya will eventually make a D, though as to when they will actually release it is still anyone guess. Personally, I see a D model coming out in 32nd scale before 48th. If so, then a 48th scale D model will soon follow.

What ever the case, I hope it's sooner than later. After seeing Kinetic's "nice try" F-16D forward fuselage, Hasegawa will still be the best option for a 48th B/D F-16.

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/ind ... amp;st=400

I don't understand how Kinetic screwed the pooch so bad with their D model fuselage? After all, they did a decent job copying the Tamiya kit, so they could have just as easily turned to the Hasegawa D kit to copy. Confused

Mike V

My understanding was that Kinetic was correcting the problems hence it's release being pushed back.

It was not until many critiques about their crude GE exhaust that the claim was made that they were delaying the project for “retooling” corrections. That was 3-4 months ago. BTW, from the most recent sprue shots posted, the GE nozzle parts look unchanged.

That was round 1 of supposed “Correcting via ARC Critiques”. Their original fuselage sprues I was shown over a year ago were pretty bad. From what I understand, those critiques were forwarded and most of the corrections were made. I never heard anything else after that, until I stumbled across the ARC critiques about 7-8 months later.

That brings us to the recent test shots of the F-16D forward fuselage posted about a week ago; see link my previous thread. The Kinetic F-16s were supposed to be released around June-July, and yet still nothing. Now they are going to delay again to fix their D Model Fubar?

So, Kinetic’s form of proofing consists of posting pictures of their test shots through a 2nd party, on a modeling forum? So are they relying on a bunch of enthusiast from ARC to proof their test shots, cause that what it seems like. That just paints quite a non professional approach!

I seriously doubt they have any kind of real technical advisor on this F-16 project, as it appears that they are relying of mostly copying other kits and accessories.

Mike V

I read Jake Melampy's June 8, 2008 post on the link as well as other forward top fuselage critiques. If all goes well, then Kinetic Viper will surely be very good. I'm still eager to get a couple of these Vipers and those of Tamiya's as well. Drool

Not holding my breath, especially from what I’ve seen thus far! Not to mention I'm not all that favorable of Chinese manufactures (or other) ripping off legitimate ones. It’s also sad they can’t even do that right to some extent. Maybe after some more delays for trial and error, they might get the D model fuselage and canopy right, but they have a long way to go.

Instead if some more pics from Jake, what they really need are some no sh*t dimensions. Nothing can compare to actual measurements of the real airframe, just ask Tamiya. Or, they can resort back to the tried and true way of “Copying”, ala-Hasegawa. Besides, it’s not like they didn’t have enough F-16D photos from the web and books to work with from the get go.

Mike V

There are plenty of companies in the modeling industry that has relied on photos, and still got it terribly wrong.

I am not suppriced that Kinetic doesn`t have access to the same sources as Tamiya. After all, Tamiya list their Viper as "an official licenced product by Lockheed Martin", and I assume they had full access to measure a Viper in real life.
Do you think a Chinees company has the same access Wink

I can confirm Tamiya had full access to the F-16, since I was the escort and technical advisor when they came out to measure and photograph the Block 40/42/50 F-16C/Ds here at Edwards.

No, I don't think the many, if any Chinese model manufactures had access to the aircraft subjects that they've produced, and rightly so. I'm fairly confident that the subjects they've have access to were actual models of the ones they were copying. It's no wonder why they copy other manufactures, but that no more makes it right or justifies that kind of practice!

Mike V

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

New 1/48 F-16C (Block 32/52) "Thunderbirds" 61102