| Date of Review |
November 2004 |
| Manufacturer |
Twobobs Aviation Graphics |
| Subject |
F-16A/B/C CAS Vipers |
| Scale |
1/48 |
| Set Number |
48084 |
| Pros |
Replicates a number of distinctive F-16s during
the A-16 CAS period. |
| Cons |
|
| Skill Level |
Novice |
| MSRP (USD) |
$9.50 |
And now for something different. If we turn the dial on the
'Wayback Machine' (if you don't know what this is, ask your
parents) to the transitional period between the F-16A/B and
F-16C/D, you will see once again the attempts within the higher
echelons of the Air Force and industry to rid itself of the
A-10 in favor of an A-16. This dedicated Close Air Support
(CAS) aircraft would be new and improved and even feature a
30mm canon mounted on the centerline (the less-than-successful
GEPOD). Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on your point
of view), Congress saw through the marketing hype and asked
the Air Force why they needed an A-16 when they had already
sold the F-16 as an air-to-ground aircraft in order to justify
its existence against the air-to-air F-15. Politics aside,
the spirit of the A-16 concept would eventually be evolved
into the F-16CG, the Block 40/42 Vipers.
During that period of concept development for a CAS F-16/A-16,
a number of aircraft received the Europe I wrap-around paint
scheme. These included seven aircraft from the 57 FWW at Nellis,
one example from the 388 TFW at Hill AFB, and one General Dynamics
company test/demonstrator aircraft.
- F-16B-1-CF, 78-096, 388 TFW, HL
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-128, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-129, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-130, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-131, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-132, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 83-144, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16C-25-CF, 84-267, 57 FWW, WA
- F-16B-FSD, 75-752, General Dynamics aircraft w/F100-220 engine installed
TwoBobs has released a complete set of markings for these 'A-16' concept aircraft
with markings to replicate any of the 'Lizard' Vipers and enough stencils and national
markings to do 2-3 different F-16s from this one sheet.
The printing is perfectly in register. The instructions are printed
double-sided in color, providing excellent color scheme as well
as decal placement information. You'll need to use some bright light
to distinguish the camo patterns as the color differences are as subtle in
the instructions as they are in real life. This set is definitely a keeper!
For more information about this set and the other releases from
Twobobs Aviation Graphics, visit their website at
http://www.twobobs.net.
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