Monogram 1/72 scale F-16C Fighting Falcon

Manufacturer: Monogram (Revell Germany), 8601 Waukegan Road, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2295, 847-966-3500, www.revell-monogram.com
Kit: No. 5309
Scale: 1/72
Price:$13.15
Comments: Injection-molded, 156 parts, decals
Pros: Great detail and loads of options; nearly any single-seat F-16 variant can be made from this kit; good decals
Cons:Lacks laser targeting pod and bulged main gear doors; intake construction presents problems when filling seams

Seventeen foreign air forces and all three components of the U.S. Air Force operate the Lockheed/Martin (formerly General Dynamics) F-16C Fighting Falcon. Originally designed as a lightweight fighter, the F-16 has evolved into a multimission, all-weather, day/ night fighter. Since production began in the late 1970s, more than 3,000 "Vipers" have been produced.

The various production block numbers represent modifications and capabilities. F-16Cs (and two-seat F-16Ds) presently rolling off the production line are Blocks 50/52 (depending on the brand of engine) and Block 60. Unofficially, the F-16C is categorized as either general-purpose/precision-strike F-16CG or suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) F-16CJ.

Monogram's new 1/72 scale F-16C Fighting Falcon is a repackage of the Revell Germany kit. The quality of the moldings is top notch, including recessed panel lines, raised instrument panel detail, and several tiny parts usually omitted in this scale. The model includes a nice pilot figure, but you might want to leave it out to show off the excellent interior. Monogram provides a separate throttle quadrant and console-mounted control stick, and a good representation of the ACES II ejection seat.

Monogram's Falcon is loaded with options, and you can model almost any single-seat F-16 from the parts provided. You get both F-16A and C vertical stabilizers, small and large horizontal stabilizers, small and large main wheels (large ones go on F-16C/D Block 50 aircraft, but curiously, the bulged main gear doors that should go with them are not included), Pratt & Whitney and General Electric engine nozzles, standard and wide-mouth intakes, and loads of underwing stores.

The options are not the only highlight; there are advantages in the way the parts are broken down. I was happy to see the wings molded to the upper fuselage, precluding the glue seams at the wing/fuselage joints seen on most other F-16 kits. The top of the forward fuselage is separate (making two-seat variants possible in the future), so you do have a joint to clean there. A separate panel in front of the canopy allows the optional "chicken slicer" antennas to be mounted if they were fitted on the version you choose.

The horizontal stabilizers are mounted with pins, allowing you to glue them in any position. The landing gear bays are well-detailed and look great after the application of a dark wash. Items such as the separate radar homing and warning probes for the leading edges of the wings and different blade antennas allow you to attach what you need.

Building the Falcon went well, with no major fit problems; however, the multipart intake has several seams that need to be filled and sanded. Some of the locating holes for the small parts are too big. The air-data sensor (part No. 105) is the smallest injection-molded part I've ever seen, and the hole for it in the bottom of the forward fuselage nearly swallows the part whole. The untinted two-part canopy can be posed opened or closed.

Monogram supplies plenty of underwing stores: three fuel tanks, two Sidewinders, two AMRAAMs, two HARMs, an ECM pod, and two laser-guided bombs. If you choose to mount the bombs, you should have a laser targeting pod mounted to the underside of the intake, but the only one provided in the kit is the HARM targeting pod. All of the underwing and the centerline pylons are separate, so you can mix and match any stores from the kit or aftermarket.

Make sure you use the proper intake and engine exhaust combination; it's not as easy a decision as it first appears. The small intake goes on all of the A and two-seat B models, and all of the Cs and Ds with the P&W engine. The "big mouth" intake goes with all of the GE-engined C and D models, except for early Block 30 aircraft, such as those used by the U.S. Navy as F-16Ns.

The color guide in the instructions has a couple of errors. The tone for the FS 36118 Gunship Gray upper camouflage is missing on the top illustration, but the outline for it is there. Monogram recommends FS 36375 Light Ghost Gray as the underside color, but current F-16s use FS 36270 for the undersides, fin, and radome.

The decal sheet is beautiful, but my sample was off register a skosh. Markings are provided for a "Tiger Meet of the Americas" Viper from the 79th Fighter Squadron, and USAF 50th anniversary birds from the D.C. and Illinois Air National Guard squadrons. The decals went on smoothly with a little Solvaset.

The finished Fighting Falcon looks good and measures to scale. I spent only 15 hours on mine. If you're shopping for a 1/72 scale F-16, this is the kit to buy!