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Under Peace Marble IV, America delivered surplus F-16A and F-16B Block 10 models to Israel . These aircraft are unusual in that they initially retained their USAF style camouflage, but received a stylised falcon on the tail denoting their incorporation into the Phoenix Squadron.

The kit was built according to the kit instructions with a few necessary changes. The kit consoles were widened using sheet styrene and the over-simplified kit ACES ejection seat was replaced with a True Details resin one. The kit cockpit was painted and decalled as per kit instructions and the HUD glass sanded and polished smooth before attaching. The cockpit was installed in the fuselage halves and the rest of the kit assembled as per instructions.

Modifications were necessary to backdate the kit back to a Block 10 aircraft representative of a Peace Marble IV F-16A. The two secure IFF antennae were removed from under the nose (just behind the radome); the UHF antenna between the rear under fuselage strakes was reshaped and moved to the front underside of the intake, and the small avionics bump for the TACAN, just behind that antenna, was built from styrene; decreasing the size and shape of the A+ model tailplanes to the smaller ones of the Block 10 aircraft; and removing the probe on the leading edge of the tail fin.

All pylon mounting holes under the wings were filled and sanded smooth, as I wanted the aircraft clean as these aircraft are often seen in pictures. I added a new scratchbuilt nose probe and angle of attack sensors either side of the radome. A photo etched pitot was added from the spares box to replace the overly thick kit item. The chaff/flare openings under the rear of the aircraft were filled and sanded, as the IsraDecal F-16C/D sheet includes some very nice decals for these items.

The kit was painted according to the instructions using Gunze Sangyo acrylics. The only change I made was the colour of the radome; the kit instructions suggest H307, which comes out far too light, so I used H317 to make this darker. The radome colours vary considerably depending on the age of the aircraft. I used a combination of the kit decals, the Aeromaster Israeli F-16 sheet, IsraDecals’ F-16A/B sheet and stencilling from a DACO F-16A sheet as well (for the centreline drop tank and canopy framing).

The model was given a wash with Payne’s Grey oil paint before receiving a final matt varnish.