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COMPARISON 1/32 F-16 kits of Tamiya <> Academy

Tamiya 1/32  F-16CJ Fighting falcon Kit number # 60315	Academy 1/32  F-16CG /CJ Fighting Falcon  Kit number # 12101
PRICE:
About EURO 135,-  in the Netherlands; issued as kit  December 2004	about 80 EURO !! ( 40% lower than Tamiya kit)
SUBTYPE:
the  model is a F-16CJ (Block 50 D) and has the big mouth intake for the later F110 engine. These were used on later F-16 types such as the later made C's. tamiya was first with issuing a Big Mouth kit, but Academy also has it now as option in their kit.  Other correctly included parts are the thinker wheels and bulged main doors. Other details are the thick base vertical tail. It still is a single seater F-16 however. I discovered that the IFF panel as found on the MLU upgraded Falcons is included as part # 17.	Several block versions can be made of this kit: Block 40 or 42 F-16CG or Block 50/52 F-16CJ. Small or Big Mouth intake!;  2 types of  engine fans (F100 and PW 100) and 2 types of exhausts.  Several smaller parts can be found in this kit for the different blocks and countries that used the F-16: parachute tail fairing, IFF antennas (as found on MLU upgraded F-16's), 2 types of HUDs .  [ Note: you get a "thick" base vertical tail and also one set of main tires and gear so if you want to make earlier F-16's blocks, you will need some cross kitting with some parts from the Hasegawa 1/32 kit #S27 ].
INSTRUCTIONS:
Nice booklet but as usual bit crowded Tamiya style. 65 steps with only Tamiya Paint color number and paint names.	Fine, with 35 steps. Comparable to the F-18 style instructions, with FS number but no paint numbers.
PARTS:
The box is really full with about 350 parts,  most of them in light grey/white plastic: 185 parts for the F-16,  25 for the separate F110 engine, engine dolly 25, 100 for the stores and tanks, 15 parts transparent parts. All is very nicely packed in separate bags and boxes. Parts have very fine engraved paneling and some raised details as required.  Also a number of metal parts are supplied for the undercarriage legs and some etched metal for chaff dispensers. Two canopies are supplied, plain glass and gold tinted glass. There is also a painting mask for the canopy, a set of rubber tires (no plastic ones being supplied). The kit is also supplied with small screws and a screwdriver to get some more strength in areas. A small sheet of remove-before-flight tags and a metal insert for the nose weight. A nice colour poster with paint schemes and photos completes this kit.  [note: parts have already been re-organized/handled in pics below]	Box full with about  370 parts in dark grey plastic: 200 for the F-16, 150 for the stores, 20 others. No metal parts are supplied as Academy thinks this is not needed for the relatively small 1/32 kit. To save costs they also did not supply you with etched metal or any other gimmicks, but the plastic parts are just as detailed. And you indeed get two canopies with plain glass or gold tinted glass. Tyres are of plastic which I think is better.  All plastic has finely engraved details which is quite comparable to the Tamiya kit. However, strangely enough you will need to remove very subtle flash with a modelling knife in areas and need to polish the surface in areas. But nothing that can not be done with a little effort.
PARTICULARS:
You don't only get a F-16 model, you also get a separate F110 engine with an engine dolly. The engine can be installed and removed from the rear fuselage for which a detailed bay is provided with this kit. A good number of external stores are supplied, such as: AMRAAM 120B/C , AIM-9M , a ASQ-213 HARM target pod, AGM-88 HARM missile, ALQ-184 ECM pod, GBU-31J, and two tanks of 300 and one of 370 gallons.  For the parts rubber/nylon parts are supplied that enable you to keep them removable and changeable. The same is done for the vertical tail and instrument cover. The idea is that you can remove these parts for transporting the model in its own box after finishing it. For that purpose you get a carton insert box with the kit.	- you get an excellent F-16 model, not more not less. But 2 pilots and 1 crew member is an extra bonus. And you get much more, read this:  - Stores are superior! Very good quality and includes more than with the Tamiya kit: AIM-9L/M, AIM-9X, AIM-120B/C, AGM-88 HARM, GBU-31 JDAM, GBU-12 Also Paveways and TERs on the GBU-12;  2x 370 gallon tanks and 1x300 centerline fuel tank; ALQ-184 ECM and 2x HTS pod;  LANTIRN pod; ALE-50 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy. ASPJ antenna fairings on the intake. For the ROKAF a specific IFF type antenna panel is supplied. It seems a bit strange on the box picture but is correct. Parts do not seem so complicated as with the Tamiya kit but the end result is just as good.
FIT:
Very good	OK.
DETAILS:
Superior! - Surface detailing very good  - Cockpit: fine but small obviously. Raised instrument details, detailed sidewalls. Glass CRT screens and separate instrument cover with HUD. ACES II ejection seat is removable and quite good. Separate belts supplied.  Good pilot figure and a ladder is also supplied. Very good cockpit edge locking details. The rear cover behind the seat (in front of the canopy actuator) is I feel is a bit too wide (about 2 mm); - Wing: separate leading edge slat and trailing edge flaps. One single part of upper fuselage and wing, which guarantees correct dihedral and no seams. Later style F-16 RWR receivers on leading edge and metal static dischargers. - Radar nose and radar is also supplied with very fine etched metal antenna.  - Canon: also added but no ammo drum. Removable panels.  - Air brakes can be set in open position.	Very good! - Engraved paneling is a little less "busy" as compared to the Tamiya kit but the end result is just as good. - Cockpit is fine with no gimmicks such as removable seat rails. Looks fine. ACES II seat is OK but straps are moulded on (Remove these and make separate straps).  2 types of HUDs for the F-16CG/CJ and  ROKAF. Ladder supplied with 2 pilot figures. Cockpit edge locking details are missing (add these from some stretched sprue and rod). The sidepanels' recesses should be a bit deeper.  The rear cover behind the seat (in front of the canopy actuator) is I feel not wide enough (about 2 mm); - Wing: has only separate trailing edge flaps and 2 wing halves should be aligned and glued to the center wing section.  Later style F-16 RWR receivers on leading edge and plastic static dischargers which are separate parts. - Radar nose and radar is also supplied but with plastic parts. Requires some added details.  - Canon: also added and including the ammo drum. Removable panels.  - Air brakes can be set in open position.
DECALS:
TAMIYA kit has 4 versions; decals are a bit thick but have good coloring and markings. Only USAF versions:  (1) 20 FW, SW Shaw AFB, USAF SerNo 91-0379, Block 50D, Tiger Meet of the Americas 2001 / (2) 77 FS, 20 FW, SW Shaw AFB, USAF SerNo 91-0348, Block 50D /  (3) 13 FS, 35 FW, MJ Misawa Japan, USAF SerNo 91-0399, Block 50D /  (4) 14 FS, 35 FW, MJ Misawa Japan, USAF SerNo 92-3886, Block 50P ;	ACADEMY KIT has 6 versions: 5 for USAF and 1 ROKAF of Korea;  (1) F-16CG Block 40, 89-2013, 8 FW, Kunsan AB, South Korea, Sep 2004 ; (2) F-16CG Block 40, 89-2003, 35 FS/8 FW Kunsan AB, South Korea, Aug 2004; (3) F-16CG Block 40, 89-2020, 51 FW, Osan AB, South Korea, Sep 2004 ; (4)  F-16CJ Block 50, 92-3895, 5 AF (35 FW), Misawa AB, Japan, Feb 2005 ; (5) F-16CJ Block 50, 92-3901, 35 FW, Misawa AB, Japan, Sep 2004 ; (6) KF-16C Block 52, 93-4067, Han-guk Kong Goon, RoKAF ; this has a "F-15" type scheme with Dark Ghost Gray and Light Ghost Gray. Very good set decals for the stores!
REMARKS:
- The vertical tail can be kept detachable, when fixed the very small seam needs minimal filling. - The engine can be set separate on its nice engine dolly, but you will need another exhaust pipe section which I took from another F-16 kit such as the one of Revell or Hasegawa. (note: the loose engine is a bit thin, otherwise it would not fit into the rear fuselage. But this can hardly be seen I think). - the aft lower rear fuselage cross section shape at the engine bay is not entirely correct; it seems some compromise was needed here as the engine and sub-parts are removable  - the engine dolly is a model on its won and needs carefully aligning of the parts. - carefully assemble the big mouth intake, fill the seam. - stores are fine, missile fins are thin enough for me. - wheel bays need some extra piping and details. - some very small ejection pin marks can be found on the inner air brakes. Remove these.  - overall fit is excellent! Main bay with some added tubing from scratch , sprue etc	- this kit builds into a fine F-16. You get a choice here with several blocks and big or small intakes and the corresponding 2 types of engine exhausts.  With some cross kitting with for example the (now obsolete) Hasegawa kit, older blocks can be made. Many older block aircraft have thin wheels and no bulged but straight main gear doors and these are found in the older F-16 kits on 1/32 scale.  - Wheel bays cry for some added piping and lines. - Carefully align the wing halves to correct dihedral - Stabilizers alignment is also important, check their dihedral. - Vertical tail base is a bit squared in shape. It can be sanded smooth though for a better look. - Stores are very good; carefully select which ones you need, this will save a lot of time.  "C" tail  2 types of HUD ; their shape is a bit odd but can be corrected. 2 Engine exhausts  "para tail choice"
CONCLUSION:
A very nice state of the art Tamiya model of unseen quality. But this comes at a high price. I liked the engine and its dolly, but the aft lower fuselage cross-section is not entirely correct. Some extras were not really needed such as the nylon parts for removable parts or the transport facility. The kit would than have been cheaper.  Recommended if you want to afford it.  NOTE: August 2005 Tamiya issued an older style F-16C Block 32 in the Thunderbirds scheme. It has the smaller intake and a "thick base" vertical tail of the "C". The model does not have the internal engine and engine bay.  See also tips for converting the Tamiya Thunderbird into a F-16A	This Academy kit looks a bit "simpler" than the Tamiya kit but the end result is just as impressive. You can make more choices and the stores are very impressive. This kit is about 40% cheaper and immediately makes the Hasegawa kits obsolete as these are not much cheaper.  Highly recommended! Issue found later: on the small intake: on the Academy kit the distance between the intake and the lower fuselage is too small. The RAM intake and duct are barely visible. Some modification may be needed here.
ON TO MODELLING REPORT OF THE  TAMIYA F-16C KIT....	ON TO MODELLING REPORT OF THE  ACADEMY F-16C KIT....
. ON TO MODELLING REPORT OF THE  ACADEMY conversion to F-16B	. ON TO MODELLING REPORT OF THE  ACADEMY F-16I SUFA KIT....

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