F-16I Sufa

Desert Marlin
This is looking like it will be a blast to complete!

Desert Marlin
Any suggestions on which squadron would be most appealing?

Mr D
Nice model here... Enjoy 😁👍

Desert Marlin
Thanks!

Desert Marlin
The IsraDecal publication is absolutely pricesless for this project!

Guy Rump
Interesting, following.👍

Landlubber Mike
Cool project, following along as well. Not sure I can help you on the squadron selection - lots of good options.

Desert Marlin
Perhaps knowing which squadrons participated in "Swords of Iron" would help?

Cristian A
Following

Mike Goodman
I love the IAF, and Israel. Your model looks great so far. I'll be watching!

Mr D
This will be a nice little gem to the collection.... nice tidy work so far 👌👍👍

John
Just starting the F-16AM (ROCAF) version of this so I'll be following along. What color are you doing the cockpit tub? I've got a mix for dark gull grey that "looks close" but curious what you settled on.

Oh, also the kit comes with a bunch of 500lb resin Mk. 82s I don't plan to use, along with resin MERs for them. Let me know if you want them.

Desert Marlin
I have six aircraft in the collection:
S-199
P-51
F-16C
F-16I
F-4E
F-15E

When it's all done, I'll put together a single collection!

Desert Marlin
Okay... back to the Mirage 2000N...

Gary Victory
Nice work. Following.

Alberto
Great cockpit.! In some photos the paint job is really weather beaten, are you planning to replicate it?

Desert Marlin
Definitely needs more weathering!

Desert Marlin
Alberto, could you provide a link to the photos you are seeing?

Jennifer Franklin
Following, the cockpit looks amazing!

Desert Marlin
Thank you!

Alberto
Yes, I mean the photos in this same album. Mainly photo number 24

Desert Marlin
Okay. Well, the "Swords of Iron" operations have been very hard on all these aircraft in Gaza. Should be pretty torn up when I get done.

Neil
Following too! Looking great 👍

Desert Marlin
Starting again after a couple of distractions got in the way…

Desert Marlin
And now… Back to the Sufa!!!

Desert Marlin
Sadly, the update parts for the F-16I from IsraDecals is not all that great. The antenna fairings for the sides of the intake are okay, but the ones for the sides of the nose are kinda poo...

Desert Marlin
I think I can add the detail from the kit part to the resin part...

Живко Джаков
I follow. And I see one big mistake I made when designing my workshop. A Big drawback is the Big desk. Arranging it takes a lot of time!

Rui S
I'm in 😎

Desert Marlin
Looks like the resin parts will work. Just takes quite a bit of time. Panel scribing will take some time too. It seems to be worth it!

Desert Marlin
BTW, I tend not to arrange too much on the table unless I am doing a Tamiya kit...

CaptGPF
Taking a seat on this flight!

Mark Sherwood
Re: If R2D2 etc. He'd be a bog eyed minion then😅

Desert Marlin
Levity... we need more!!!

bughunter
That big scale seems to need a big amount of plastic - so I join the big show! The Minion looks cool 🙂
Was only a bit confused about the order of the pics in the album (yeah I know, can be afford to move a bigger amount of pics in "Manage" ...)

Desert Marlin
I'm a fan of Merlin... living life in reverse...
The pics are newest first and tell the history of the build.

Desert Marlin
I sanded the wing roots quite a bit. Looks like they went on okay. Should be minimal sanding with a little Surfacer to close any gaps.

Mr D
Hi Desert 👋 looking good....see your getting good use of the scotch tape, Do you use super glue for wings on larger models? Or stick to stand cement?
Nice subject by the way 😁👍

Desert Marlin
Thanks. I'm using standard Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. The quick Setting cement is not good for those joints. The regular cement, when given plenty of time to cure is pretty good. The fuselage joints have come out really strong. The wings are good when plenty of milling is done to make the joint very clean. Then the cement has a large surface area to cling to. So far, its all gone very well.

Mr D
Thanks Desert👍 l get concerned sometimes on larger parts if the extra than is enough. Sounds like if you have good surface it will be ok.
Good luck with the build 😃👍

John
I'm with DM. I love the quick-setting but it's just not as strong. I also reinforced mine with some sprue "spars" but they had to be thinned down a little because the wings are quite skinny and would bulge otherwise.

Mr D
Good point John... Easy to forget that spars can be added if needed 👍

Jennifer Franklin
It is starting to look like a plane 😃

Desert Marlin
Finished the tailpipe...

Desert Marlin
There are a ton of antennas on this bird. Sadly, the flaps fit very poorly so much cleanup is needed. All the other mods are roughed in and will clean up with primer and dressing...