started removing the paint on my y f 16 a today. the guy i got it from used geverment issue camo paint. super thick, soft and extremely hard to sand. so i tried some other method. i used a heat gun on low and carefully heated the paint. guess what, i can allmost peel it off in big chunks right down to the primer. got most of the nose done back to the right wing le. wing has some yellow bondo looking stuff over the balsa. i think it will take a few days to finish scraping the paint off. i am using a sharp putty knife and the heat gun and having much success in removing the nastiest paint job i have ever seen! as soon as i get it finished i will have a friend take a few snaps and try to post here. as soon as i get it into primer i am going to test fly, before i do final paint. want to make sure it will fly good before i spend all that time finishing it and detailing. one quick question. do i need brakes? i will be flying of a concrete naval runway. i kinda want to but do i really need them? they are expensive! i will keep all posted an the process! thanks, doug. new jet owner! gonna hack up the sky!

Im guessing youll be at whidbey? There is plenty of runway there that you dont need to worry about it, but brakes sure are handy, you can get some for a reasonable cost now..

yah, whidbey would be the place! you fly jets there! as soon as i join i'll look for ya!