Academy 1/72 F-16C Multirole Fighter Build Review

By Michael Benolkin

Build Review

If you'd like to take a look at the kit as it comes out of the box, check out the in-box review

previously published here on Cybermodeler Online. Academy continues to engineer new-tool kits aimed at the entry-level modeler which might disappoint some, but given that virtually the remainder of the plastic kit market is currently ignoring young/inexperienced modelers (not counting the periodic reissue of older 'snap-together' kits), it is nice to see some reasonable new subjects being developed for that younger demographic.

As I mentioned in my first-look at this kit, this Viper represents an F-16CM Block 42 with the retrofitted IFF interrogator (bird cutter) antenna added after CCIP upgrade. To keep the kit simple, the Academy engineers kept the gear up, the cockpit simple, and still provided an eye-catching external load-out. Using their Multi-Color Plastic (MCP) approach, they provide enough color detail differentiation to satisfy younger modelers.

Ignoring the instructions, I started with the cockpit and built-up the model with no problems. The kit is intuitive in its design, nice job Academy! In a normal quick-build, I don't use glue or filler, nor do I paint or add decals. With the exception of the gun port which doesn't snap into place where I used a drop of Tamiya Extra-Thin Cement, the model is all pressed together. There is no filler, paint, or decals. Yep, those are stickers. After my introduction to stickers with Academy's 1/72 T-50 kit, I changed tactics and used tweezers to apply these stickers and then burnished them into position. They actually worked very well.

This is a nice kit for the younger modeler or just for fun when nobody's looking.

Thanks to MRC for this review sample.