1/18 F-16 OK for Early Israeli?

longrifle · Post by **longrifle** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:18 am

I dont know my f-16's to well, and I know that the IAF always in some way modify the F-16's they receive from the US. however on the early batches, did the Israelis leave them as is for a short period until they stared modifying them?
If I am not mistaken, the F-16's seen during the lebanon war in 81/2 and the Iraqi Nuclear reactor were also F-16A's?
could you use a BBI F-16 to customize into an early batch IAF F-16?
Knowing of course that the decals and paint scheme need changing?

Is the BBI F-16 an A model or what?

Light.Inf.Scout · Post by **Light.Inf.Scout** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 10:43 am

That would be an awesome model. I wish the toy manufacturers would make more Middle East stuff. I believe you could use one of hte F 16's from BBI and it would be fairly accurate.

Killerf6 · Post by **Killerf6** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:59 pm

I believe that the bbi F-16 is a "C", but I'm not positive. You can use it for an "A" as most people can't tell the differance, and truthfuly I can't even tell you what the differances are. I think it is mostly an avionics, and weapon radar differance.

I say go for it. An IAF F-16 would be a cool custom to have. If someone can tell you that it is the wrong variant of the F-16 you can buy him a drink and tell him good eye.

Grilledcheese · Post by **Grilledcheese** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 1:26 pm

Found this on Patrick's Aviation:
Externally, the F-16C is almost identical to the F-16A. The only significant external difference is the introduction on the F-16C of an enlarged triangular base or "island" on the rear fuselage leading up to the vertical fin, with a small blade antenna protruding upward from it. This extra space was originally intended for the Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) that is used on Navy aircraft. The USAFs ASPJ program became mired in controversy in 1989-90, and has now been abandoned. The UHF radio blade antenna protudes at an angle of 35 degree sweepback on the forward base of the vertical fin. The same antenna was internal on the F-16A/B and was hidden underneath a dielectric panel.

Original article:
http://www.patricksaviation.com/wiki/F-16C/D_Block_25

Jeffrey

longrifle · Post by **longrifle** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:27 pm

It looks as if the BBi is a C model F-16. However the Israelis use those as well, but as far as I know the contraption under the vertical stabilizer at the tail needs some modifying. there is some sort of thing that potrudes on the tail almost past the engine on all the Israeli versions I have seen so far in pictures. On BBI's C model, it only goes as far as where the engine exhaust starts. Dont know my aircraft terminology to well so bear with me.
Now the question is did the Israelis use the "unmodified" version of the "C" as well before installing this feature as I pointed out.

Grilledcheese · Post by **Grilledcheese** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:57 pm

Maybe this pic will help:

http://www.internationalbridgebuilders. ... F-16_y.jpg

It looks like a C model.

Here's a A model for comparison:

http://www.uncorrelated.com/images/isra ... masada.jpg

Not the greatest pics, I know...

Jeffrey

Folkwulfe · Post by **Folkwulfe** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 3:21 pm

The F-16A and C models are easily identifiable between each other by the "tub" faring around the base of the vertical stab. If the tub ends near even with the front and rear sections of the vertical stab...it's an A model. The larger tub that extends in front of and to the rear of the vertical stab....it's a C model. The larger tub on the C model IAF F-16 that extends almost even with the aft end of the afterburner can is a housing for a braking parachute used during landing. The IAF cuts down on maintenance on the landing gear using short fields this way. As for the BBI F-16...she's an F-16C block 52. Other than what is listed above, the changes built into the C model are internal and not visible to the casual observer.

Example...F-16A tail faring...

And F-16C tail faring....