IsraCast Israeli Air Force F-16D B.40 “Barak” Conversion Set – build review

1:32 scale
Designed for: Tamiya 1:32nd F-16CJ Fighting Falcon (Block 50)
Reviewed by James Vaitkevicius

Our thanks to Isradecal for supplying the review sample. Get it here at: www.isradecal.com

Background info…

I think the F-16 Fighting Falcon needs no introduction to anyone in the world of aviation. Originally produced by General Dynamics and now by Lockheed Martin, some 4,400 variants have been sold worldwide to over 25 countries. It was designed and excelled as a lightweight fighter and in later year developed as a multi role fighter aircraft and is likely to be in service with the USAF until 2025.

One of the countries Lockheed Martin exported this fighter plane is Israel, who gained the first air to air combat success with any F-16 against a Syrian Mi-8 Helicopter in 1981. From 1981 to the present day, some 362 F-16’s have been delivered to Israel in a programme called “Peace Marbel” and the F-16D Block 40 “Barak” is the subject of this review.
The F-16D “Barak” entered service with the Israeli Air Force 1993 and included the following:

• Modified cockpit with a new rear HUD repeater screen.
• Black coloured cockpit tub and seats with new lights for night operations.
• New big undercarriage wheels, legs and bay doors.
• Two chaff & flares box instead of three on each side of dorsal spine.
• New big intercooler intake on the port side.

It is therefore recommended by Isracast that the Tamiya F-16 CJ (Block 50) is used as a donor kit to accommodate this amazing resin conversion kit. Please see our Here Now (early inspection review) for this resin kit where you can see what our Editor’s initial thoughts were of the kit. There have been many reviews for the Tamiya F-16 CJ online or in other magazines, so this review will concentrate around the resin conversion and how it integrates with the donor kit. I am intending to finish the model in “The Scorpion” Squadron from 105 from the Hatzor Air Force base, Israel.

Let’s get started…