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

[I'm posting these questions for a modeller friend of mine, for you Viper experts' advices.]

Just some questions on the F16D (Block 50+) series, hope you can help me on these. Currently building a 1/72 ChengDu Models F16D (really cheap--but so is the detailing...

I am hoping to enter this June's Victoria Model Expo) Questions are numbered:

1.) Triple Ejector Rack (TER or TEJ?) - Is there a difference between the USAF TEJ and the JASDF TEJ, or do they use the same one? (I currently only have a JASDF TEJ)

2.) Still on the TEJ: Can it eject only one bomb at a time, or is it strictly all-at-once (i.e. can an F16 carry 3 different types of bombs, say a CBU27 Cluster Bomb, a Mk82A Rockeye, and a Mk82D Snake-eye on a TEJ and drop each individually by pilot choice)?

3.) Related question: Is there a Triple MISSILE launch rack available for the F16? Apparently, someone in the US modeled an F16D Block 56+ Falcon of the Hellenic Air Force (Greece) with a triple launcher mounting a Maverick and another AGM.

I can't ID (3rd launch rail was left empty). Not sure if this is strictly imaginative, only available to the Greek AF Falcons, or if there's a special launch rack that nobody's made a model of yet.

4.) How much extra range does the conformal fuel tank system (seen on UAE/Greek/South Korean Falcons) give the F-16? Is it enough that the two underwing Drop Tanks aren't as necessary (i.e. are the conformal 'tanks' load enough for a mid-range Israel-to-Iraq sortie)?

5.) Related to question 4: Has the USAF ever used the Penguin Mk3 AGM/ASM on the F16 outside of testing? I can't get a hold of any 1/72 scale Maverick missiles.

6.) This is odd--I've never seen an F16 armed with SLAM/Harpoon missiles, but the F/A18 mounts the Harpoon easily. Doesn't that mean the F16 should (theoretically) be able to mount the SLAM as well, or is the SLAM too heavy?

7.) To your knowledge, have any of the USAF Far East F16s mounted JASDF weapons (i.e. such as the JASDF version of the Mk82 bomb, or the Mitsubishi ASM-2 Anti-ship missile)?

8.) Other than Aggressor squadrons, aren't there any USAF squadrons that apply a woodland or desert camo pattern on the F16D?

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Hello Gamera,

I hope I can help You and Your friend a bit??!!

1) For the various US F-16 units across the globe they all rely on the BRU-42 aerodynamic/supersonic TER. I believe that the ones used by the JASDF are more like the older TER - the TER-9.

The BRU-42 is found in the Hasegawa kits - all scales.

2) The TER/BRU-42 can single-launch its bombs as well as "ripple"/all at once. When a BRU-rack carry laser /GPS guided bombs it is common to "launch" one at a time.

3) In the beginning of US F-16 operations and until the late 1980s/early 1990s the LAU-88 Triple Maverick Launcher was used and mostly/exclusively among the Block-10 (F-16 with the small stabilizers) units. Due to drag this massive launcher was retired from service.

Now the USAF rely on the LAU-117 Single Rail Maverick Launcher.

4) ??????

5) The AGM-119B Penguin ASM has only been used for testing on F-16s in the US.

6) The AGM-84 SLAM/Harpoon can work on the F-16. Foreign users like Egypt and South Korea use the AGM-84 series on their F-16s. The USAF does not use that weapon on its F-16s as operational requirements do not call for such a weapon on F-16s - the USN/USMC and the F/A-18 is a different story.

7) No matter what USAF F-16 unit any where in the world - they all fly with their USAF specific weapons/equipment. That, however, may vary as to what F-16 Block they fly.

8 ) Only the aggressor F-16 unit(s) fly with these alternate camo-patterns.

Hope it helps.

Greetings,

Henrik.

I concur with Henrik's answers to all the questions, but I do have some addendums and some corrections:
4) The specific range is classified and will remain so, for the very reaosn you stated, can it reach Iraq, a la Operation Opera? Well if you wanted to pull off a mission like that, would you want the specific range known?

5)He's right, the US has never used it in service, but the Norwegians have, And you can't get a hold of 1/72 Mavs? They're everywhere! Including Hasegawa weapons sets.

6) Taiwan also mounts the Harpoon on its Vipers, as well as AIM-7 Sparrows.

7)The only users of JASDF weapons is the JASDF. Only they would want their weapons looking like Gundam :-p

8 ) Oh yes! The former Pakistani F-16A/Bs at NSAWC currently wear blue/blue, tan/brown and grey/grey Adversary schemes. Operationally, a desert scheme was adopted for about a week during ODS. The scheme worked so well, in fact that wingmen were losing their flight leads because it blended in too much with the ground. The actual pattern can only be educatedly guessed at, because very few pics exist of it, and the only published ones I've ever seen are in b&w, and don't show the whole aircraft.

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

Questions on Far East F-16D