The Academy F-16 Model Kit in 1/144 Scale is a Bit WEIRD . . . Build & Review
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- The F-16 is a multirole, air superiority fighter jet which first started series production in 1976. Since then it has been used in various air forces around the world, thanks to it's good flight characteristics, respectable payloads and excellent agility.
Continually upgraded to remain current in the modern age, some Air Forces have yet to replace their fleets with more modern, next generation aircraft, which has led to this being one of, if not the most numerous fixed-wing fighter aircraft currently in military service.
Join me in this video as I build and review the F-16 fighter jet model kit in 1/144 scale from Academy.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:11 What's in the box
01:26 Products used
01:40 Build begins
03:45 Painting begins
07:00 Transfers
07:48 Small details
08:35 Weathering
09:10 Finishing touches
09:59 Display base build
11:31 Finished model
11:43 Kit History/stats
12:46 Final Review
Academy F-16 Unboxing video here:
• Academy F-16 Unboxing ...
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This video is intended for adult scale model enthusiasts.
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#Academy #F16 #Modelkit #scalemodel #modelplane 
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Some of the Academy 1/144 kits are really quite shocking (as demonstrated here - not the build mind). But if you think this is bad, you should see some of the earlier 1/144 Dragon/DML kits. The best F-16 in 1/144 is the Revell one, amazing kit that. I predominantly model in 1/144 myself.
Thanks for the info!
Could I please pick your brain about some other fighters? Looking to build in 1/144.
F-14
F-15
F-22
F-35
Researching the web has not provided much for this scale. I would appreciate your knowledge and insights!
@@definitely-a-b0t
I've built the Revell 1/144 F-14 A/D models and they are very good quality. Even better if you add the Retrowings cockpits. The Trumpeter Tomcats are supposed to be good, but I haven't seen them - I think there is an old mold so watch out.
F-15 has to be the Revell F-15E, nothing else comes close I don't think. I built one a while ago and backdated it to the NASA F-15B ACTIVE 2D - still my favourite build to date. I'm not aware of any F-15A/C apart from the old LS kit which everyone has repoped at one point. It's a good kit, just needs a cockpit upgrade and engines - once again Retrowings is a good start. Domi makes some good stuff.
F-22 - Trumpeter all the way. Revell have one but it's actually an YF-22A.
The only F-35 I can recall the Revell one and that's actually the JSF F-35 prototype not the current production model. I did start it a while ago but it's resting on the shelf of doom. It's quite a rare kit now also.
Hope that helps? Other good kits of not are the Revell Rafale M, Harrier II+, Tornado GR1, Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-16 is just an amazing kit. The Apache/Chinooks are good too. :)
You really need to do some research before making a choice on a kit even if it's a company you generally trust. There's a lot of incest with the molds. The 1/144 A10 from revell is a reprint of a matchbox kit so yeah... it's not great.
Oh nice! I just picked up a few 1/144 dragon models from my local antique store!
Met you in War Thunder today :) , I was the buccaneer and you were the lightning! Great build as usual.
Oh hey! Fun times :D Thanks for watching
The model kit looks a bit unusual weird indeed nice aircraft
:D
Looks great Matt! Keep up the good work and cant wait for the Premier!
Thanks!
My nephews have just started into the hobby and are having a blast building these little 1/144 kits. For them fun is definitely trumping accuracy.
Sounds great!
Good video 👍. Eduard model company started making some kits in 1/144, so I'm guessing that they would be one of the best available. The only 1/144 kit, that I built, was the Revell B-52. Its actually a very nice kit that I would recommend to anyone interested in 1/144 kits.
Thanks for the info!
It looks so good! I love your vids
Thank you so much!!
Looks like weird F-16 to me . But hey, you are one of the few brave modelers that pick old kits like that , paintjob is nice but decals are quiet thick lol.
yeah, academy decals are horrible
@@ModelMinutes Well the academy old decals are surely bad , but the new ones from cartograf are probably one of the best, you should pick a new kit up if you would like to, a bit more expensive but top quality, cheers!
Picked up great tips and advice from videos. So looking forward to watching this one.
Hope you enjoy it!
@@ModelMinutes I will
Great review Matt! Your right, it certainly has shape issues on the canopy and nose. The national insignia looks yellow too. I would buy the Revell off Germany 1/144 kit as it is better detailed and has more stores in the kit. I will remember the hot water in the flat coat trick. Thanks for sharing this.
Totally agree!
Love your videos. Ordered my first ever model a few days ago and can't wait to try it! :)
Actually bought the BF 109 you did the Starter Kit Challenge on. :)
Welcome aboard. Have years of enjoyment.
Hope you enjoy it!
@@ModelMinutes Thanks! Hope it arrives tomorrow :)
@@ModelMinutes Finished it today. I think i am hooked. But i definitely need some tools to make my life easier. Especially for painting and those very small parts.
@@MrKusoyaro yes, tweezers and some fine brushes work wonders
Your narration was the best part of this build.
lol
You're a brave man, building an F16 this small! And it is 'weird' in how it goes together.
:P
I don't know why, but I like the Cockpit area of this kit.
:)
THAT IS MY FAVORITE PLANE YAAAS
i did a 1/72 scale one. that one was chaotic
i bet!
I´m not into 1/144 scale models, but I agree that they can be very helpful to practice/improve modelling skills.
True!
That's... A funny looking F-16 :D
It's like it came from an old Air Combat game :D
lol true
It indeed looks like it's one of the Ace Combat 3 planes, with the COFFIN cockpits that make the aircraft look like the cockpit is missing, but in reality, it's a fully enclosed cockpit with cameras looking to the outside.
The odd and accidental 50's-esque design makes it look really cool I think.
:)
Very nice
Thanks
I'm laughing my ass off at that canopy haha, great build considering the weird kit!
haha yeah it is a bit odd
I did a Revell F-16 25 years ago. It is long gone but at the first glimpse at this model i thought “the nose is terribly wrong!” Not my scale anyway but good paintjob! 👍
thanks :D
I bought this kit, along with the Academy F-15 and built them at the same time to compliment my Revell 1/144 C-17A for scale. I had high hopes when opening the box as the mold in general looked good. But I was also disappointed in the accuracy of the canopy and nose, but then even more so when comparing it to the F-15 which is fairly decent of a kit. I also wasn't impressed the with decals as the Air Force roundel and other decals are too yellow from what they should be (and that's not from aging). But for the price, you get what you paid for. I enjoyed the build and review! Thanks!
thanks for sharing!
I may pick up the F-16 in 1/72 from Tamiya which will be... Way better than this one for sure it terms of fit, accuracy and better decals but costs 23€ for me so... The canopy looks weird in this kit, keep up the great work Matt!
Good choice!
Hmmm, 2016 tooling versus a 1980's tooling.....
It's been a over a year since I last saw this, but I randomly woke up from my sleep thinking about this model and started laughing. I need help lol
lol :P
lol :P
Hey Matt, nicecvideo. But I have one question. So, why you don't fix the gaps between the two half's of the underwing fuel tanks?
sometimes it's because i consider it a bit of an awareness of the issues of the model - which gives the viewer, such as yourself, the chance to spot areas that may require additional work when (or if) they come to build one of these for themselves.
Othertimes it's simply because I don't really want to and would much rather move on to more interesting kits. Especially on a model like this which from the start isn't exactly the most accurate of models
Academy has corrected their issue with the decals by making Cartograf print them on their later kits (1:48 Ta 183, Phantoms and Bf 109G-6/G-2 JG 27).
interesting - any way of spotting which ones - or is it just those?
@@ModelMinutes the boxes of the models have Cartograf's logo on the top.
@@argentinianspotter makes sense
Thanks for the review - no I'd not touch this kit now, even if offered for free. The nose cone on the kit is a pure cone shape, not an ogive which is why it looks weird. Good effort though, getting a decent result from a tricky kit deserves recognition.
Thanks!
Great to see the airbrush cracked out again ! Nice work as well ! You did a great job on a questionable kit !
Thank you!
The overall fuselage looks decent. They just messed up that nose and canopy.
true
I made a few of these since they were so cheap, made new nose cones from the Hobbyboss kit and canopies to make them look ok. Made my own decals too since so many were of the wrong colour. Nevertheless still a good model for a beginner.
Sounds like you addressed most of the issues
@@ModelMinutes Scratch building a cockpit was on the books but... It's a $2 kit😂😂
@@hozongxi yeah, not really worth it
That actually looks cool
lol thanks
You hace the same icon
@@Elmm497 oh yeah lol
Good build matt, very weird because that canopy(clear parts) and decal was yellow, i think because this is old kit
Some decals react weird with some applicants. I think that's how the yellowing happened
The decals are printed in yellow ink
The decals are printed in yellow ink
@@ModelMinutes That is weird
@@thejonathan130 Take a look at the unboxing video for a closeup of the transfer sheet ruclips.net/video/M6p3h1_gfpE/видео.html
The easy way to unclog the Contacta Professional needle is to just hold it inside a flame of a candle or a lighter for a bit (after detaching the needle from the plastic bottle itself of course) any glue residue inside should just burn off, often with a little fireshow.
yeah, i've heard of this method, something I'd have to do outside though
I have a mini drill bit set. I just put a small drill down the tube if it gets clogged.
in my opinion i think it looks good
thanks!
How do you unblock the glue tube?
Also you did well for a small and cursed model like that
Thanks! Apparently if you remove the needle from the bottle of glue and then run a flame from a lighter over it ( holding it with some pliers and doing it in a safe and ventilated space) the excess glue will burn off and clear the blockage
I did one and it was alright
nice
It was a former "Crown" kit of 1970s. THERE was a brand known as "Crown", made in Japan in mid 1970s. After it bankruptcy the molding was bought by Academy. Actually "Academy" was producing models of former Japanese manufacturer. I have a 1:350 Tirpitz produced by Academy, the exact kit if Tamiya!
Thanks for the info 😊
Dang missed the premier :(
always next time :D
I might be seeing things, here. But the mis-shapen nose and canopy (among others) remind me of an old Revell catalogue from '82 (yes, I'm *that* old). I think it looks similar to their F-16 in their 'Squadron 144' line. Is it possible that this kit (or the mold) is actually from that era?
That would make it even more weird. I’m pretty sure it’s a 1988 tooling though
@@ModelMinutes I managed to find that old, disintegrating catalog. I don't know how to include pictures in a RUclips comment, so I can't show the model to you. However, looking at the picture, I think that they are definitely not the same. The canopy of the old Revell kit, while probably isn't accurate, is somewhat better (it captured the 'bubble' characteristics of the real plane better). The same goes for the nose, which to me seems to be less conical than the one you built. Of course, the picture in the catalog can't really show much details since it's only some 2x4 inches. But I think you are correct that those are not the same tooling.
You review and build these types of models so we don't have ....I thank you for that...
My pleasure!
I need to start making dioramas
they're quite nice to do :D
The original tooling is from 1988. Look at scalemates online. It's a great place to find the history of the kit and the original tooling.
11:42
@@ModelMinutes didn't see that, oops.
Nice build, but that F-16 is weird looking...😅 Back in late 90's i build some academy 1/144 scale, a B-52, F-4 Phantom, F-104 Starfighter, B-24, B-29, and a B-17G that has a weird looking cockpit windscreen...😂 any ways missin the fun of building this kind of kits... And lately i build a 1/144 Trimpeter Sukhoi Strike Flanker.
Interesting! Yes, this is a weird looking f16 lol
canopy and nose ?? with that canopy you could build it as a drone ?( eg.all grey.)
interesting idea
To me it's important that the model is accurate to the full scale aircraft.One thing that's wrong is the shape of the two. Horizontal stabilizers.There not wide enough.
yeah, sadly not all model kits are particularly accurate
Turned out great for such a small model! I always use scalemates.com when I want to know more about a kit.
You and me both!
Very very weird indeed. But a good build nonetheless. And rightly said...its not entirely about accuracy. I mean not worth killing oneself over its inaccuracy at all.
:D
Might pick up the F16 from Airfix!
is it any good?
@@ModelMinutes no idea to be honest, not any videos up on, got quite a few kits to crack on with at the minute
I think this is what you would get if you asked someone in the 50s their vision of the future
lol yeah
Should take a look at Revell 1/144 fighters like the F-15E, much better than those wonky academy kits.
im sure they are :)
Thinking to buy one of academy models kits? Is it worth to buy one for beginner?, If yes, which one your recommend?
Hmm, I've not built loads of academy kits but they do seem to have the same consistent issues - their decals tend to be quite thick and don't really stick to the model too well. Also, the images/artwork on the box dont always match the paint scheme included in the kit.
That being said, if you're looking at building one I'd probably pick something with a simple paint scheme (like the Mirage) because it would be easier to complete
@@ModelMinutes the Mirage III R?
@@ModelMinutes and what about the academy F14 Tomcat 1/144 scale?
@@abyanab876 I don’t have experience of that kit, but I presume it will be of a similar quality to this and the tornado in 1:144 that I’ve also built
@@abyanab876 I think I made the iiic, there is a review on my channel
Can we sand the cockpit into a normal pos?
probably
It looks cool tho
:)
Looks like one of those "C.O.F.F.I.N." fighter jets in Ace Combat 3
interesting
The Dragon 1:144 F-16s are nicer, but they have been OOP for a while. Not too difficult to find, though.
hmmm might have to investigate
@@ModelMinutes They made quite a few variants and markings schemes from the F-16A to the D. Even one in Thunderbirds markings and foreign users, besides USAF. Check out the product timeline on Scalemates - www.scalemates.com/kits/dragon-4504-f-16a-fighting-falcon-thunderbirds--163523
Agree, remember building a few 'dogfight doubles'from dragon in the 90s, the mig29/f15 stands out. Off to have a root around on eBay...
The canopy and air intake
yep, bit weird
And the nose cone. They literally just machined a cone to put on the nose
I remember building this many years ago.
How could they get the nose and cockpit so wrong?! They are not even intricate pieces and are so crucial to the look of the F16!
Nice effort on this janky kit
Thanks!
This would have been a fantastic opportunity to show how you would alter what is clearly an incorrect representation of the aircraft.
Yes, thinning the landing gear covers and a little putty on the nosecone would have gone a long way.
yeah, i dont tend to do that often though, instead building it as is for the review
I think that if the canopee glass was a bit bigger or taller it would look better
yeah, i think you are right
@@ModelMinutes OHHHHHHHH NOW I REALIZED THE PROBLEM
@@ModelMinutes the nose is facing upwards. The cockpit should be bigger, and the part behind the cockpit is too low
@@carter_1175 I originally put the nose on the other way and it didn’t fit 😂
@@ModelMinutes ಠ_ಠ
Too small for me but nice job. Have an old Kitech 1/72 to do. Chinese I think.
nice!
I have two of these and the canopy and the nose are not well done lol
Yeah, is a bit weird
Nice practice.... The kit is, obviously, a toy hahaha. I couldn't recommend a better kit in 1/144 scale, but if you wanna build a goog 1:72 F-16C you have, rather expensive, Tamiya, and for an early A, you can go with Revell. Again, I must say, some interesting facts about an actual aircraft: F-16 has thesame engine as F-15 and Tomcat (General electric F110) . Those 3 planes are built around thesame propulsion, even though those 2 are much big2and heavier than F-16.
The highest ranking officer of the USAF and commander in Pentagon, David Goldfine was shot by Serbian AA over Bosnia, whilst flying in F-16C, in 1995. After a day, he was evacuated....
thanks for the info!
The glass is very small what happened to it
nothing, that's how it comes in the kit
I have one of these and the canopy is just weird...
yeah, it is strange
Best F-16 kit in 144 is the Revell of Germany kit.
Thanks for letting me know 😊
@@ModelMinutes Really though, F-toys actually makes the best, but most like to paint their own, however if you repaint it, and buy aftermarket decals, who's to say it's not the same? Lol
But yes, as a traditional kit, Revell of Germany is definitely the best, but for overall detail, F-toys.
Why so many gaps like on the air intake and drop tanks
the fit is not great - dont forget that it's 1/144 scale and the close-ups are rather unflattering too
I saw the title and the thumbnail and I was like what? That nose is so wrong!
it really is
Bro got the Ace Combat 3 F-16
lol :P
Looks a bit weird for a 1:144 scale especially the canopy
yeah, it does
Looks great despite the kit. Revell also makes a 1:144 f16. It seems to be quite good.
Might have to look into it
When you say weird...............fuuuuuuuu, you weren't kidding!
lol it did get weird
Why are decals yellow?
because they were printed that way
@@ModelMinutesthats interesting i have never seen decals printed yellow on purpose but i have seen decals yellow due to age
if it was yellowing from age, the transfer film would be yellow as well. In this case, the flim is still clear but the printing is yellow@@sammorgan7153
Se parece a un F16 poligino de la PSX
Hmm
makes my smer 1/48 fokker dr1 look like an edward kit (see my review)
lol probably
"Accurately reproduced 1/144 scale aircraft" word on the box 🤣🤣🤣
lol not so much
Great job on a terrible kit. Revell and Trumpeter both make nice 1/144 F-16 kits. The base looks really nice too!
Thanks!
The canopy looks wrong
it is wrong
Oooof
indeed
@@ModelMinutes Have you found any good 1/144 kits you'd recommend? I'm getting kind of interested in the scale considering I live in an apartment and don't have room for anything bigger.
@@funghazi trumpeter f86 is quite good
1988, unreal, how could they get it so wrong?!
i suppose they didnt have access to actual drawings but still wanted to "get in" on the popularity
2:52 i hate this thing in models
:(
I hate compannys that say a kit is 14+ im 13 and i make a LOt of kits that are 14+ and nothing bad hapend
it's just health and safety laws
I was less then four minutes in, before concluding that is a terrible model from Academy. Not sure I would have bothered to finish it, if that was my build. Full marks for persevering.
thanks :D
They managed to turn the F-16 into an ugly dog... did someone from Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds design it?
lol!
Great for practicing technique... If the technique you wish to perfect is throwing your model like a paper plane across the room to the bin. 😂 A valiant effort on an awful kit.
haha thanks
Thanks to my 3d printer,I can print a fucking cockpit
Nice!
Sorry but I'm not feeling this kit as it would bug the hell out of me when looking at it on my model shelves.
yeah, it's definitely an odd one
The canopy shape is totally wrong.
yup
Front end looks wrong, radome seems the wrong shape and the canopy looks far too small.
yup
Yeah, I think small fighter jets in 1/144 scale is a bit of a waste of time. The scale is far too small. Especially as I am 59 years young with bad close vision eyesight lol.
i know how you feel, i might have to start going bigger
The f16 cockpit is too low and not rounded off
I thought it didn’t look right
Bad canopy
it is a bad canopy
the roundel decal color is annoying
Yup
@@ModelMinutes i hope they make an update on a decal color
@@fujii_natsuooooo they probably wont. You could try contacting them but seeing as the kits have already been produced (and sell) there is no real incentive for them to change them
@@ModelMinutes but actually still better than Shanghai dragon decals
@@fujii_natsuooooo can’t say I’ve experienced those
Bad of detail ..this is scale1/144trumpeter best of detail...
yes, trumpeter is very good
Looks like a whale landed on the nose... lol!
that might improve it :P
Those seams whyyy man. This is just lazy😕
I'm probably the laziest modeller on youtube
Fixing seams on a bad kit is boring anyway
@@ModelMinutes boring like your attitude
Mashallah brother pino
@@pinomacks8719 yawn
Poor skills with hype not needed
I dont understand your comment, can you expand?