The Instagram photo that started it all - Pakistan Air Force F-16, Konya AFB, June 2022.

Kyle's completed 1/48 Hasegawa F-16 - Pakistan Air Force markings.

FS36622 grey marbled over the panel lines and into the inner portions of the flat panels over the black primer. This creates tonal variation that reads through the main colour coats, breaking up the uniformity of the grey scheme and giving convincing scale fading.

Pre-shade marbling complete - grey over the panel lines and panel interiors.

The classic two-tone USAF grey scheme: FS36118 and FS36270 airbrushed over the pre-shaded base in thin, translucent coats. The pre-shading shows through at the right level, breaking up the uniformity of the flat grey and giving the aircraft convincing scale fading.

Main colour going on - walk lines WIP visible over the base coat

Two-tone, walk lines, roundels and checker complete

All walk lines, the checker pattern, and the roundels were hand painted via masking and cutting. Tape cut to size on the AK easy-cutting mat. Roundels cut using a circle-cutter jig. Other markings sourced from various decal sheets to match the reference photo.

FS36231 overall for the cockpit tub and seat. Gauges and consoles in black, dials and switches picked out in white and red. The ejection handle is Deep Yellow - matching the real aircraft's distinctive yellow T-handle. The whole cockpit and seat received a diluted Dark Tone wash. Seatbelts made from 1mm Tamiya masking tape, painted Goblin Green and washed with Dark Tone alongside the rest of the cockpit.

Cockpit WIP - before detail painting

Completed cockpit - custom masking tape seatbelts

Right side - ejection handle and console detail.

The HUD glass was painted with Mr. Crystal Color XC07 Turquoise Green applied over the clear canopy part. This gives the characteristic green tint of a real F-16 HUD combiner glass - the crystal colour range produces an iridescent, semi-transparent effect that reads as actual glass rather than flat paint.

Availability note: XC07 falls in the same Mr. Hobby product range as the non-importable H series aqueous paints - however we still have stock in store. Ask at the counter.

Panel lines worked with Abteilung Starship Filth. Topside and underside weathering uses Starship Filth and Sepia oil paints thinned into washes with white spirit - both applied and selectively wiped back to leave accumulation in the panel lines and high-traffic areas.

Topside high-traffic weathering close-up

Underside WIP - before weathering

Fuel tanks in FS36270 (C/H306), belly tank in FS36118 (C/H305) per reference photos. Missile bodies in FS36375 (C/H308). Missile tips in FS36622 (C/H311). Sidewinder tips in Kaleido Zirconium Black with kit decal stripes.

The engine nozzle uses a four-stage Kaleido metallic progression to replicate the different heat zones of a real afterburner: Stainless Steel base, a Stainless/Titanium mix on the feathers, Tungsten Steel over the front rings, and thinned Zirconium Black for shading between sections.

The Kaleido metallic progression on the engine nozzle.

Gear legs in Pro Acryl White, tyres in Tamiya Rubber Black. Hydraulic struts finished in Green Stuff World Brush-On or Airbrush Chrome - applying the chrome technique to a functional modelling task.

The IFF antennas (commonly called bird slicers) are visible in the reference photos but not included in the Hasegawa kit, which pre-dates their implementation on the aircraft. Kyle scratch-built them from Evergreen 102 styrene strip using DSPIAE carving guide tape to ensure consistent sizing and clean angles.

Scratch-built IFF antennas - Evergreen strip and carving guide tape.

Kaleido Gloss applied before decals and weathering to create a smooth, non-porous surface. Final Kaleido Matt coat to finish the model and seal the weathering.

All paints and supplies used in this build are in stock at Wheels & Wings Hobbies in Toronto, available online with Canada-wide shipping.