MarkyM607's XL-ent F-16! ***FINISHED***

[MarkyM607]

Hah, see what I did there.... I'll go quietly officer!.
I have no box for the kit so suffice it to say I will be attempting the F-16XL, probably in service markings. I know this kit has one or two faults so I may or may not address them depending on how easy this is. As the fuselage is a whole top, whole underside it may not be easy to address the U/C bay position issue but we'll see!.

[Stuart]

Ah, The old F-16XL

Good choice, and looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

Cheers

Stuart

[Clashcityrocker]

So is this bigger than a normal F-16?

Nigel

[MarkyM607]

So is this bigger than a normal F-16?

Nigel

Yes!
(actually it is, fuselage length, wing area, fuel etc!!!).

[K5083]

Great looking plane, one of the best the US built during the period. I used to have this kit, but I don't know if it has survived the cullings over the years. You'll probably motivate me to get another one.

August

[MarkyM607]

I hope you can, not always a big fan of the F-16 but the XL is much to my liking!. I did see Kinetic were bringing out a 1/48th version, hopefully 1/72nd might follow?.

[shangos70]

Rare as hens teeth these, I wouldn't worry about the accuracy. Build it as is, they only ended up as test aircraft anyway.

[MarkyM607]

True, although I have found a very old (well, early nineties!!), decal sheet for several types including the F-111 from Lakenheath. Might be able to transplant these onto the XL, although the F-111 had a wider tail front to back so might be a squeeze!. Still trying to get the decals on the Lublin R-XIII today. Once that's done the XL can move into the building spot!.

[MarkyM607]

Well, the XL moved into the building spot yesterday, not a complicated kit so things have shifted today!. Found the main undercarriage leg(s) were/was broken but luckily tried a conversion a few years ago involving several PM Model F-16's so a spare was found!. Here is the state of play as of now..

There was no ducting inside the intake and as the nose wheel bay could be seen I plunged into some basic lining work using very thin plastic sheet..

I forgot to put weight into the nose so I hope it's not a tail sitter!.

[TimJ]

Off to a good start.

[Stuart]

Good work Mark - could you get some weight in front of or around the nose wheel before you put the intake on?

[MarkyM607]

Thanks everyone. Sir T, I have fitted the intake although there was not much of a closed space to put weight. However with the nose leg/wheel and the main legs on she doesn't tip back even though she's at a slight backwards tilt so hopefully with the main wheels on all will be well!.

[Stuart]

Fingers crossed!

[MarkyM607]

Fingers crossed!

Wheels all on and... she stays where she's supposed to be, no tail sitting although I haven't put the vertical tail on (of course there isn't any other tail!!) yet. Or any weapons or the large fuel tanks supplied in the kit.

[Stuart]

you could always add some weight to the drop tank before you cement the halves together... (if it sits fwd of the main wheels of course)