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KINETIC-48100
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KINETIC: F-16A MLU Block 20 -Gold S

€ 59,99

It was back in 2008 that Kinetic released the first of its then new-tool 1/48 F-16s and many boxings followed. They were impressive in many ways… but not perfect. Obviously determined to rule the F-16 roost in this scale, Kinetic has now produced an entirely new  tooling of what used to be known as the Fighting Falcon back in the day.

The real aircraft’s more common moniker is reflected in the kit’s title, F-16A MLU NATO Viper (K48100). This Kinetic Gold boxing is packed with ten busy styrene runners (including one clear) and the product represents the F-16A Mid-Life Update, which brought European ‘A’ airframes up to ‘C’ standard. The styrene is accompanied by stunning decals, designed by FCM and printed by Cartograf.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above and below: Panel line, rivet and fastener engraving is much finer than on Kinetic’s earlier 1/48 F-16 tooling. The forward fuselage and wings are moulded together, but the upper rear fuselage section is separate, to cater for different sub-types. Note that some features, such as chaff/flare dispensers on the generic lower fuselage half, must be filled for accuracy.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The alternative upper-rear fuselage pieces, with varying panel line engraving, ensure Kinetic can represent different Viper variants.

Thanks to more modern design/engineering, it's apparent immediately that the panel line engraving is much finer than on the company’s previous F-16s; an impressive overall sharpness is noticeable throughout, especially in the undercarriage bays and cockpit, and on the wheel hubs, for example. But let’s start with the ‘office’…

Pilot's area

Unsurprisingly, this is formed from a main tub (which has moulded features on the floor and side console walls) and a separate rear bulkhead, moulded-detail instrument panel, rudder pedals, sidestick controller and throttle handle – and a six-part ACES II ejection seat. This last item is good but does not feature any harness detail, so you’ll need to fashion your own, add aftermarket photo-etched metal belts, or employ a full resin replacement. The clear head-up display unit is fair, but does match exactly the substantial frame shape of the real item. However, the instrument panel coaming is detailed superbly. Note, though, that the pilot’s forearm rest is not provided. Ultimately, it’s no more than most 1/48 F-16s offer cockpit-wise, but it is mostly well executed. The undercarriage bay is the next sub-assembly to be tackled on the instructions, and this is a highly detailed area, with many delicate features moulded integrally on the main bay insert, but complemented by other separate components. An engine fan attaches to one end of the bay parts. Kinetic has done well with the mainwheels, accurately reproducing the early hubs with squared and rounded openings.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The cockpit tub has plenty of switch detail on the side consoles.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Kinetic’s rendition of the ACES II ejection seat is rather good, although no harness detail is provided.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The instrument panel looks accurate and Kinetic has even attempted to mould dial detail.

On that note, there’s a pleasing amount of refinement regarding the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine. While a complete powerplant isn’t provided, the exhaust comprises ribbed halves, a fan, flame holder and exhaust nozzle mount, and separate sections of exhaust petals, these being detailed on inner and outer faces, although the insides of the petals are not truly accurate. The front air intake, like other brands’ F-16s, has a two-part, laterally split inner lining that’s sandwiched between outer surface panels, connected at the front by the air intake lip.

Multi-variant approach

Kinetic takes a modular approach to the airframe, to ensure correct detail for different sub-types (another Kinetic Viper has been released – look out for a review soon – and more will follow). This means an exquisitely rendered upper forward fuselage/wing piece, a separate rear fuselage and long, one-piece lower fuselage. The radome is split vertically in a bid to ensure the most accurate shape. Unusually though, Kinetic has made the effort to provide an APG-66 planar radar scanner and its mounting bulkhead, with a starboard hinge point for the radome. The bulkhead is reasonable, but rather than provide the characteristic ‘egg tray’ surrounds, there are merely raised ‘pimples’. Ejector-pin marks are evident on the inside of the radome halves, so they will need treating if you wish to display it open. A separate rudder and flaperons are supplied, and Kinetic has moulded static wicks on the rudder, outer wing trailing edges and horizontal stabilisers, although the wicks on those last items are slightly too short. Flaperons can be posed up or down.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above and below: Moulding of the main undercarriage bay is superb and there’s plenty more to add… such as these legs with a high degree of fidelity.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above and below: Four parts go into the exhaust nozzle assembly and include an afterburner flame holder. Exhaust petals are moulded in sections and are busy items, but the rendering of the petals' inner faces is somewhat spurious. Note the quality of the main undercarriage bay doors below; the two items on the left are appropriate for this kit, with the others being spare.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Other obvious MLU-relevant details provided are the advanced identification friend or foe (IFF) ‘bird slicer’ antenna fairings ahead of the canopy, and the choice of three different vertical tail root rear fairings. These emulate Netherlands, Danish and Belgian formats with the requisite length, navigation light and ECM fairing features (including Carapace ECM fitted to Belgian and Netherlands airframes, and the parabrake of Norwegian examples). The Carapace ECM forward fairing is also supplied for attachment under the air intake.


Read out review of Revell's 1/72 F-16D NATO Tiger Meet 2014 kit


A note here about the clear parts… these are many and besides the canopy and rear glazing section, you receive landing leg lights, a head-up-display, wingtip lights, glazing for targeting pods among other items. The canopy does have a very faint mould line along its length, but this could almost certainly be removed with abrasive and polishing work. As Kinetic has taken a generic approach in places, several features such as chaff/flare ports and fairings must be filled/removed to ensure an accurate replica, and the instructions show what and where. Both standard and the heavier LAU-29 wingtip missile launchers are supplied, the latter designed to accommodate the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) as well as the AIM-9 Sidewinder.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: For extra variety, Kinetic provides a full radar fit. The bulkhead on the right is the correct part for this NATO MLU Viper, but the 'pimpled' areas here actually look like egg trays on the real unit.

There is a substantial armoury and selection of pods here, but it is advisable to check reference photos to ensure load accuracy for your chosen subject. Air-to-air weaponry comprises AIM-120B and -C (the latter with the correct ‘clipped’ control fins) AMRAAM and AIM-9M/X Sidewinder. You also get a full LANTIRN pod system, so that’s the AAQ-13 navigation and AAQ-14 targeting pods (with airframe adapters), as well as an AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod with adapter, and an ALQ-184 (long) ECM pod. Standard underwing and centreline fuel tanks are present and, for ‘mud moving’, you receive GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-24 Paveway III and optional GBU-12/GBU-49 Paveway bombs. It's pleasing to have the two 500lb GBU-12/49 laser-guided bomb choices, although note that the GPS blisters of the latter store are halved due to the vertical split of the bomb bodies. It may be easier to simply remove the blisters and fashion your own from a punch-and-die set, rather than trying to judiciously sand/file these features in seam clean-up. The ‘49s lack the recognisable longitudinal conduits though.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: To cater for different users’ airframes, different vertical tail root fairings are provided, including the longer parabrake version.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The radome is moulded in halves split vertically, in a bid to ensure accuracy of shape. Note the integral lightning conductor strips.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The Viper’s design shunned a traditional windscreen and the coaming is highly visible when the canopy is posed open. It’s a good thing Kinetic’s coaming is so well appointed.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Excellent brake detail adorns the inner wheel hubs. The outer wheel piece shown at bottom-right depicts the outer hub necessary for this MLU Viper.

Assembly of the Sidewinders is modular via three separate body segments, which is over-egging the pudding somewhat. Well-detailed multi-part triple ejector racks are provided, and the wing pylons, while also well moulded, do not represent current TERMA units with integral countermeasures dispensers or Hensoldt missile warning sensors. The Mk.84 GBU-31s represent (v)1 variants and have all the right features, with two of the guidance set vanes being moulded on separate upper sections, but the front halves of the bodies appear ‘pinched’ slightly. It’s pleasing to have the GBU-24s, which have BLU-109 bodies with separate hardback assemblies and tailfins. There are also 500lb GBU-38 JDAM bombs in the box, but while they are shown on the instructions’ stores load diagram, there is no actual construction stage shown for these weapons. Also note that GBU-38s are usually carried on BRU-57 twin-store carriers, but that latter item is not provided. It is a shame Kinetic has failed to provide any kind of reconnaissance pod.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Static wicks are incorporated on the rudder, flaperons and, as shown here, the horizontal stabilisers. The wicks look a little short on the ‘stabs’ though.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: ‘Bird slicer’ IFF antenna fairings are provided, but they are arguably a little thick along the top… easily thinned with a file.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: At top here are triple ejector rack parts, and below to the right underwing pylons. Both are well detailed, but the pylons are not the most modern carried by the MLU Viper.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The underwing fuel tanks look great and have separate front pieces.

Modellers with ample spares boxes could supplement the weaponry provided, as Belgian and Portuguese F-16s have carried AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-131 ECM pods. Also, Norwegian F-16s sported the Kongsberg Penguin anti-ship missile if you want something a little more exotic, for example. Research is key here, for stores selection.

The decals are splendid, easily of aftermarket quality and cater for five NATO-member F-16A Block 20 MLU machines, in slightly different low-visibility grey schemes. The options are:

•    FA-86, Belgian Air Force, Air Policing Baltic States, Ämari Air Base, Estonia, 2016
•    J-515, Royal Netherlands Air Force, European Participating Air Forces Expeditionary Air Wing, Kabul Airport, Afghanistan, circa 2006
•    680, 338 skv, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Kabul Airport, Afghanistan, 2006
•    E-603, Esk 730, Royal Danish Air Force, Aalborg Air Base, Denmark, 2016
•    15115, Esquadra 201 ‘Falcões’, Monte Real Air Force Base (Ba 5), Portugual, 2017

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Kinetic’s instructions are all in grayscale and tie individual code letters to Federal Standard paint shades. Besides the main decal sheet you also receive a generous selection of stencils for the airframe and weaponry/pods.

I’ve seen many F-16s over the years from the likes of Hasegawa, Tamiya, Italeri and Academy… and Kinetic’s older toolings. While they all have their plus points, Kinetic’s ‘Gold’ NATO MLU boxing sets new standards for 1/48 Vipers. The amount of weaponry means you have plenty of load options, and the detail is first rate. It may not be perfect… but it is hugely impressive. It costs £33.79 via the Lucky Model website, but it’s also expected at Hannants mail order in the near future.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Plenty of glazed parts are supplied. The canopy has a fine mould seam but this can be sanded and polished to non-existence.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Laser-guided GBU-24 bombs, with BLU-109 bodies, are accurate in shape and have separate hardbacks.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Kinetic provides AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles with fins for A and B variants.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: Parts for GBU-12 and GBU-49 laser-guided bombs feature here, but the ’49 bodies lack the necessary conduits. Below is one half of a GBU-31 JDAM and despite being well detailed, they have a on odd ‘pinch’ in the front body curve.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: While not shown in the construction stages (but they are on the load diagram), these 500lb GBU-38 JDAMS are a welcome addition.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

Above: The large parts here are for the ALQ-184 (long) electronic countermeasures pod. Also shown are a body piece and front halves of the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod.

NEW TOOL: F-16A MLU NATO VIPER FROM KINETIC

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