Experimental Fighter

General Dynamic F-16XL.

- Colin 'Flying' Pickett

Kit No: 48026

Scale: 1/48

Type: Injection Moulded Plastic

Manufacturer: Skunk Models Workshop www.luckymodel.com

Whilst considered by many aeroplane aficionados tobe a boring grey aircraft due to over familiarity with the type, there once was a time when the F-16 was very much cutting edge and high tech, and none more so than the delta winged F16XL.

When modelling the F-16XL there have only really been two previous options, either hunt down the increasingly rare Monogram 1/72 kit from the 1980s or set to with some plastic card, a tub of filler and a huge amount of patience and convert a kit of the conventional F-16. Luckily for the lazy or less skilled amongst us Skunk Models have released a 1/48 kit of the type, which allows everything from the original prototype to the current NASA test aircraft to be built, with a few what if versions to be produced if you like to think even further left of field.

The box itself is jammed full of plastic, and it soon becomes apparent that the spares box is going to bulge with unused parts, including some rather handy weapons, as many of the sprues utilised are common with the standard F-16 A/B. However it’s not a direct alteration of the Kinetic F16 kit.

References came from the usual Google search, resulting in images from NASA as well as other sites, while the title F-16 Fighting Falcon Viper Under the Skin by Eagle Aviation provides a great insight into the workings of the F-16s operated by the Hellenic Air Force and is most useful for such projects.