BVM F-16 Maiden Photos
05-16-2015, 06:24 PM
#1
BVM F-16 Maiden Photos
Maidened my BVM F-16 today. 4 great flights! My first scale jet project ... one that I've been wanting to do for quite a while now.
I flew with tanks and wing tip AIM-120's. I'll add the AIM-9's and AGM-88's in the coming flights.
Thanks to the "Swamp Foxes" who serve our state and country proudly.
Mine is modeled after SCANG 93-0543 as it was in May 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom. I've been in touch with the former squadron commander who was flying this tail number during this time period. He was able to give me quite a bit of details and was hugely supportive of my efforts. Thanks, D-Dawg!
JS
I flew with tanks and wing tip AIM-120's. I'll add the AIM-9's and AGM-88's in the coming flights.
Thanks to the "Swamp Foxes" who serve our state and country proudly.
Mine is modeled after SCANG 93-0543 as it was in May 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom. I've been in touch with the former squadron commander who was flying this tail number during this time period. He was able to give me quite a bit of details and was hugely supportive of my efforts. Thanks, D-Dawg!
JS
05-17-2015, 04:09 PM
#6
My Feedback: (1)
Looks great
I plan to be pulling the trigger on one for next season. Like you, I'm leaning toward doing mine in the Montana ANG since I live in the 4th largest state. I do like the Thunderbird scheme but I really like the F-16 when you load it up for a mission. Tough choice as the current #5 pilot for the Thunderbirds is Jason Curtis and is from here in Kalispell. I have known him since he was about 12yrs old. Montana no longer has the F-16s as they switched over to F-15s but I think they may also be going away.
Congrats on the maiden.
I plan to be pulling the trigger on one for next season. Like you, I'm leaning toward doing mine in the Montana ANG since I live in the 4th largest state. I do like the Thunderbird scheme but I really like the F-16 when you load it up for a mission. Tough choice as the current #5 pilot for the Thunderbirds is Jason Curtis and is from here in Kalispell. I have known him since he was about 12yrs old. Montana no longer has the F-16s as they switched over to F-15s but I think they may also be going away.
Congrats on the maiden.
05-17-2015, 04:45 PM
#7
Thanks, Jeff! See you at FIF! Lots of Jet-A to be burned together over the next two weeks! You're still coming down to Lake City May 29-31, right??
Thanks, Kris! The Kingtech ran great yesterday! I appreciate your input along the way. Can't wait for the next scale addition to the F-16!
Thanks Sean ... I really appreciate your help and parts along the way!! I'm very glad that you've starting making scale parts! My wallet is not. Looking forward to adding more ordnance to the flights at FIF!
Andy, glad that you like it! Thanks!
Kelly ... after doing all the scale details it would have been MUCH easier to have done a Thunderbirds one. 98% of my time was on scale related items. I'm sure it will fly better clean as well, but my long time bucket list plane has been an F-16 done up in the SCANG scheme and loaded down to go blow something up! LOL! I spent tons of time on the missiles in particular. Can't wait to get the rest of them on there ... it will look killer in flight loaded down! Either way ... I don't think that you can go wrong with this airframe.
Jamie
Thanks, Kris! The Kingtech ran great yesterday! I appreciate your input along the way. Can't wait for the next scale addition to the F-16!
Thanks Sean ... I really appreciate your help and parts along the way!! I'm very glad that you've starting making scale parts! My wallet is not. Looking forward to adding more ordnance to the flights at FIF!
Andy, glad that you like it! Thanks!
Kelly ... after doing all the scale details it would have been MUCH easier to have done a Thunderbirds one. 98% of my time was on scale related items. I'm sure it will fly better clean as well, but my long time bucket list plane has been an F-16 done up in the SCANG scheme and loaded down to go blow something up! LOL! I spent tons of time on the missiles in particular. Can't wait to get the rest of them on there ... it will look killer in flight loaded down! Either way ... I don't think that you can go wrong with this airframe.
Jamie
05-18-2015, 03:30 PM
#10
My Feedback: (1)
Maidened my BVM F-16 today. 4 great flights! My first scale jet project ... one that I've been wanting to do for quite a while now.
I flew with tanks and wing tip AIM-120's. I'll add the AIM-9's and AGM-88's in the coming flights.
Thanks to the "Swamp Foxes" who serve our state and country proudly.
Mine is modeled after SCANG 93-0543 as it was in May 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom. I've been in touch with the former squadron commander who was flying this tail number during this time period. He was able to give me quite a bit of details and was hugely supportive of my efforts. Thanks, D-Dawg!
JS
I flew with tanks and wing tip AIM-120's. I'll add the AIM-9's and AGM-88's in the coming flights.
Thanks to the "Swamp Foxes" who serve our state and country proudly.
Mine is modeled after SCANG 93-0543 as it was in May 2003, Operation Iraqi Freedom. I've been in touch with the former squadron commander who was flying this tail number during this time period. He was able to give me quite a bit of details and was hugely supportive of my efforts. Thanks, D-Dawg!
JS
05-19-2015, 06:12 AM
#12
I also added a fair number of scale parts from Details4Scale and Strictly Scale (Sean McHale).
05-19-2015, 09:19 AM
#15
My Feedback: (1)
A combination of the two. It's basically the SW scheme with some customization added to it. Most of the markings were done at the factory by my guidance but I did add some markings and had to correct a few. I also added a lot of detailed markings from the Tailormade Graphics F-16 set. In particular the missiles which are not really shown in these pics...I will get some pics of them this week at FIF. I spent most of my time on the missiles ... what a pain but worth it. Here's a sneak peak while I was still working on them.
I also added a fair number of scale parts from Details4Scale and Strictly Scale (Sean McHale).
I also added a fair number of scale parts from Details4Scale and Strictly Scale (Sean McHale).
I normally do the full build and scale it out but as time always seems to run short this project with a little TLC and detailing will be a nice mini project and not the big build.
05-24-2015, 11:13 PM
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Hamilton, Scotland & La Roche Bernard, France
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I plan to fly mine (in the Alaska scheme) with the same package. Did you notice much difference in the flight characteristics with them all fitted?Thanks
Scott
05-25-2015, 06:07 AM
#21
Scott, I started with tanks and wing tip AIM-120's then added the AIM-9's in stations 2 and 8 then added the AGM-88 pylons to stations 3 and 7 then finally added the AGM-88's to the pylons. I would do 2 - 3 flights in each config. Be sure to re-CG the airframe each change as the CG shifts aft as you add ordnance. The new Xicoy CG machine has already paid for itself!
Since I was changing so much I honestly can't say that I noticed much difference but I was starting with the tanks and AIM-120's as my baseline. Those tanks are large and so they probably have a lot of the effect on the flight characteristics. I can tell you that it is of course quite draggy with all of that hanging down but it still flies very well for what I want it to do which is fly scale. It 4 point rolls, slow rolls, etc very nicely. Landing has been uneventful once I started using the suggested medium rate elevator ... on high rate I tended to balloon a little in the flair and after talking to several flying them I switched to medium rate and all good since. I was afraid of running out of elevator which is why I was using high rates but this is not the case. I am right on the recommended CG. I am using recommended flaps for takeoff and landing. Be sure to carry some power with nose high attitude all the way down to the flair due to the high drag.
Do not use the provided screws etc for attaching ordnance. Either put hardpoints in the wings or for now I have used GOOP type glue between the wing and the pylons in addition to larger screws. I hardened the holes in the wing with thin CA. Since I know that I will not ever be flying without them I also have GOOP between the AIM-120's and AIM-9's and their rails. They have not come off with this method but since its GOOP I think I could get them off if I need to. I had a tank come off on my 2nd flight with just screws holding it on. Also, do not trust the pre-set holes ... double check alignment of the ordnance.
Sorry for the long post ... hope it helps.
JS
Since I was changing so much I honestly can't say that I noticed much difference but I was starting with the tanks and AIM-120's as my baseline. Those tanks are large and so they probably have a lot of the effect on the flight characteristics. I can tell you that it is of course quite draggy with all of that hanging down but it still flies very well for what I want it to do which is fly scale. It 4 point rolls, slow rolls, etc very nicely. Landing has been uneventful once I started using the suggested medium rate elevator ... on high rate I tended to balloon a little in the flair and after talking to several flying them I switched to medium rate and all good since. I was afraid of running out of elevator which is why I was using high rates but this is not the case. I am right on the recommended CG. I am using recommended flaps for takeoff and landing. Be sure to carry some power with nose high attitude all the way down to the flair due to the high drag.
Do not use the provided screws etc for attaching ordnance. Either put hardpoints in the wings or for now I have used GOOP type glue between the wing and the pylons in addition to larger screws. I hardened the holes in the wing with thin CA. Since I know that I will not ever be flying without them I also have GOOP between the AIM-120's and AIM-9's and their rails. They have not come off with this method but since its GOOP I think I could get them off if I need to. I had a tank come off on my 2nd flight with just screws holding it on. Also, do not trust the pre-set holes ... double check alignment of the ordnance.
Sorry for the long post ... hope it helps.
JS
05-25-2015, 08:21 AM
#22
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Hamilton, Scotland & La Roche Bernard, France
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Jamie
Thanks for that, it helps a lot. In the UK mine came in a JetLegend box rather than BVM so I have more work to do. I also plan some scale additions & weathering.
Thanks again,
Scott
Thanks for that, it helps a lot. In the UK mine came in a JetLegend box rather than BVM so I have more work to do. I also plan some scale additions & weathering.
Thanks again,
Scott
05-25-2015, 07:23 PM
#24
My Feedback: (1)
The first picture with the pilot looking right at the camera is sweet, not to mention all of your extra detail and finish work you applied. I don't think the average person would argue that it was not a photo of the real thing. Nice bird and picture at the perfect angle.
