Lockheed CF-166 'Freedom Falcon'

Lockheed CF-166 'Freedom Falcon'

Revell, 1/48

Lockheed CF-166 'Freedom Falcon'
166363 421 Sqn.
CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1983

Although the McDD CF-188 Hornet proved to be the perfect fit for Canada's NORAD commitment, the Air Force was looking for a cheaper alternative for it's overseas needs. With most of our NATO allies trading in their old 104's for new F-16's, Canada was quick to join the club. The first CF-166 joined 421 'Red Indian' Squadron in early 1983, flying from CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany. The latest in a long line of single engined fighters flown from Germany by the RCAF/CAF ( Sabre, Super Sabre, CF-104 ) the CF-166 'Freedom Falcon' provides the Air Division in Europe with a true multi-mission, all weather fighter.

The Model :

Revell 'Air Show Combo'
48th scale F-16 and F-18

My Dad bought us ( my brother and I ) this kit....up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, for seven CDN dollars ! Now, you're probably asking yourself the same question...why didn't he buy more ! 7 bucks for two 48th scale kits ! That's. like, 3 American !! Anyway, typical Rev-Mo 48th scale....great fit, easy, sensible parts break down and assembly, and, of course, raised panel lines ! It also came with two HARM missiles, two real nice new style Sidewinders, as well as a Sidewinder training round!

I painted the whole thing with a brush...as it was just a 'for fun' project. Besides, I like to sit in front of the tube and paint ! As you can see, I have a mix of matt and gloss....oops. But, it still looks pretty good to me. With the big intake trunk under the cockpit, I thought that the semi-wrap around scheme would lend itself perfectly to this bird, so that's why I did it. And, being lazy. the landing gear and wheel wells were left in their naturally molded state...allot whiter than a bunch of brush coats !

I did the windscreen with Tamiyas smoke...which looked really good after one coat. But, being me ( thank you, John Molson! ) I chose to ignore the instructions and add the second coat before the first one dried.....hence the streaky look, I also super detailed the cockpit...by painting most of it black
and adding the words 'AC-DC ' and 'OI! ' on the port and starboard consoles!

The weapons fit is what I thought would be appropriate for a CDN bird....two Sidewinders ( from an F-4 kit, with shaved down noses ), two
Mavericks ( from an old 'where'd that kit go' A-10, and an ALQ-119 from another 'where'd that one go as well F-15 kit.

Decals are a mix of spares box, Leading Edge and Arrow Graphics. The arrows for the nose are from my F-100 kit ! I also cheaped out on the underside, as I couldn't find the right sized '3', hence the bogus hyphenated '36-3'. But hey, it's my air force, and I can do as I please!

Hope you guys like it, as I'll probably do the F-18 the same way ! Just don't tell my brother I'm building his kit !

Page created January 8, 2003