Twobobs 1/48
F-16C Arctic Bandits

TwoBobs has tackled a timely subject with the recent addition of a new aggressor scheme for the USAF - this is the Arctic Flanker scheme that is currently exclusive to the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson AFB in Alaska. At least four of these F-16C Block 30 Vipers received the Arctic Flanker scheme as well as one F-16D Block 30.

The aircraft covered in this set are:

• F-16C Block 30, 86-0314, Red 14, 354 FW Wing Commander's aircraft, 2008
• F-16C Block 30, 86-0290, Red 90, 18 AGRS Squadron Commander's aircraft, 2008 (Arctic)
• F-16C Block 30, 86-0268, Red 68, 18 AGRS/354 FW, Eielson AFB, AK, 2008 (Arctic)
• F-16C Block 30, 86-0305, Red 05, 18 AGRS/354 FW, Eielson AFB, AK, 2008 (Arctic)

Where the printing on the 1/32 version of this release is great (look here), this 1/48 scale version has the 354 FW and 18 AGRS tail markings and their white drop shadows printed as separate decals. Ditto on the red bort numbers and their yellow outlines. Ditto on several of the unit markings as well. It is unfortunate that the modeler is expected to layer these decals one atop another to render a marking that others do as one single-layer decal.

The other bad news is that if you won't be able to render 86-0305 with this set unless you care to fidge on the tailcode. 305 was the first to receive this new scheme and was actually painted at Kunsan AB in South Korea before the aircraft was transferred to Eielson. The paint shop there painted the starboard side of the vertical stab just a little different than the later aircraft and that resulted in the AK on the starboard side to be black and white. Unfortunately, there are no black AK markings to adapt on this sheet. Here's what Kunsan painted on 305 in the image above. This photo (click here) shows 305 with a the Ops Group CC at Kunsan along with a Blue Flanker Viper also destined for Eielson. This shot (click here) shows three Arctic Vipers slightly out of focus through the heat plume of 378's idling engine, but you can still see that the Arctic paint profiles on the port side tails varied as well with at least one aircraft also requiring the black/white AK. Just check your references if you want to get the particular tail number right as the profiles may not be quite right in the instructions.

So which kit to build? This is a GE-powered Block 30 with the MCIP (widemouth) intake. Tamiya's kits are beautiful, but you'll need both the F-16CJ for the intake and nozzle, and the Block 25/32 kit for the rest of the airframe. The good news is you have contemporary options to render one of these beauties!

This set is recommended to experienced modelers.

For more information about this set and the other releases from TwoBobs Aviation Graphics, visit their website at http://www.twobobs.net.