F-16A MLU NATO Viper

Kinetic Gold Series, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. More than 4,600 F-16s have been built since production was approved in 1976. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.

Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export customers.

The Fighting Falcon's key features include a frameless bubble canopy for good visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while manoeuvring, an ejection seat reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system.

The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other mission equipment.

The F-16A (single seat) and F-16B (two seat) were initial production variants. These variants include the Block 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 versions. Block 15 was the first major change to the F-16 with larger horizontal stabilizers. It is the most numerous of all F-16 variants with 475 produced.

Many F-16A and B aircraft have been upgraded to the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) Block 20 standard, becoming functionally equivalent to mid-production C/D models.

Background text courtesy of Wikipedia

Kinetic released a family of 1:48 scale F-16 kits in September 2008, debuting with their F-16A MLU Block 15 and a F-16DG/DJ Block 50 USAF Viper 2-in-1.

In mid-2019, Kinetic released their F-16I Sufa kit, which addressed a couple of the issues noted with the initial release including the angle of nose droop.

Now, in 2022, Kinetic has launched two all-new 1:48 scale F-16C and F-16A kits in its Gold series. These kits have no common parts with the earlier Kinetic F-16 kits at all and have addressed all of the issues noted from the original family.

Tonight I will examine the Kinetic Gold Series Item No. K48100 - F-16A MLU NATO Viper.

Please note that the plastic parts are identical to the F-16C Block 25/42 that I reviewed on HyperScale a couple of days ago, so if you have read that, you can skip ahead to the Markings section.

This all-new kit comprises more than 500 parts in grey plastic, 26 parts in clear and markings for three aircraft.

Although the parts count looks high, many of these are spares and options - around 250 parts are dedicated to ordnance alone - so you will only be using a relatively modest number of parts. Your spares box will thank you though!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Surface textures are world-class - very fine and crisp panel lines supplemented with appropriate recessed rivets.

The cockpit is nicely fitted out with a detailed tub, integral side consoles and an instrument panel with raised screens, bezels and switches.

Optional overlay decals are offered for the panels and consoles.

The pilot's ACES II ejection seat looks great, although you'll have to BYO harness straps.

The nose may be posed swung to the side to display the radar bay.

Undercarriage bay detail is also well done with separate forward and aft bulkheads plus raised hydraulic lines and cables.

The rear engine pipe includes separate fan and flame holder parts as well as a crisp five-piece nozzle, detailed inside and out.

Undercarriage legs are well done. The wheels are not bulged or flattened, so you can choose whether to take to the bottom of the tyres with a sanding stick. Undercarriage parts are different for the Block 25 and Block 42, so take care to make sure you use the correct parts for your option. Both styles of main undercarriage doors have nicely rendered interior detail. There are a couple of faint ejector pin marks on the inside of the Block 42 undercarriage doors.

Alternative tabs are provided for dropped or raised flaps. You'll need to cut two tabs from each flap. The instructions are quite clear about this.

The elevators may be posed to taste and the rudder is a separate part.

Trailing surfaces are moulded with anti-static wicks. You might prefer to cut these off and replace them with fine wire or stretched sprue after the model is mostly complete (I can see myself knocking some of these off during assembly and painting).

Clear parts are thin and free from distortion. The canopy may be posed open or closed.

A vast selection of new underwing ordnance is on the sprues. These include:

• TER

• Middle Pylon

• Centreline Pylon

• Wing Tank Pylons

• LAU 129

• AAQ-13

• AAQ-14

• AAQ-28

• AIM-9M

• AIM-9X

• AIM-120

• AGM-88

• ALQ-184

• GBU-12-49

• GBU-24

• GBU-31

• 300 Gallon Wing Tanks

• 300 Gallon Centreline Tank

• Sniper XR

and more!

Markings

Five multinational marking options are offered:

• F-16A Block 20 MLU, Air Policing Baltic States, Amari Air Base, Estonia, 2016, finished in three-tone grey.

• F-16A Block 20 MLU, EEAW-EPAF, Expeditionary Air Wing, Kabul Airport, 2006, finished in three-tone grey.

• F-16A Block 20 MLU, Norway Air Force338 skv "Tiger", Kabul Airport, Afghanistan, 2006, finished in overall Haze Grey.

• F-16A Block 20 MLU, RDAF Esk 730, Aalborg Air Base, Denmark, 2016, finished in three-tone grey.

• F-16A Block 20 MLU, Esquadra 201 "Falcones", Monte Real AFB (Ba 5), Portugal, 2017, finished in three-tone grey.

The decals are designed by FCM Decals and printed perfectly by Cartograf.

A separate decal sheet for ordnance data is also included.

Instructions are supplied in a 24 page booklet across 26 steps plus weapons assembly and placement guides. Four-view illustrations of each marking scheme is included.

This is a lovely kit. Think Kinetic's excellent F-104 kits and in my opinion this one has raised the bar even further.

The model scores big in every category - its restrained surface textures, high level of detail, useful options, full ordnance fitout and gorgeous Cartograf-printed decal sheets.

At just USD$39.99 it represents outstanding value for money too.

Kudos to Kinetic for comprehensively revisting this important modern fighter.

Thanks to Lucky Model for the samples

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 2 December, 2022
Last updated 2 December, 2022

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page