1:48 F-16C Block 52 Thunderbirds Show-Time 2024

F-16C Block 52 Thunderbirds decals, the 2024 season, 1:48 scale

This is a decal set, not a kit. It is meant for marking a model of the F-16C fighter in the Block 52 production batch in the colors of the American Thunderbirds display team, for their 2024 displays. Sets of this kind tend to be crucial for a builder, because display finishes differ from season to season in details that cannot be built from an ordinary kit. The number of schemes and the extent of the sheets is not stated here.

The real subject

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole combat aircraft with a striking teardrop canopy and a seat reclined to the rear. The C version is the single-seat form of the later batches, while the Block 52 designation gives the particular combination of powerplant and equipment. The Thunderbirds are the official display unit of the US Air Force, and their machines carry an unmistakable white, blue and red finish with a striking bird of prey motif on the underside. It is precisely because of that motif that a model can hardly be finished without a quality decal set.

Usage tips

• Polish and clear coat the surface under the decals to a smooth finish, otherwise silvered areas will appear.
• Lay the large motifs down with plenty of water, so that they can still be moved.
• Dose the softener in layers, above all at the transitions between the fuselage and the wing.
• Coat the finished paint with a gloss clear coat matching the character of a display machine.

Who the set is for

• modelers who build the machines of display teams
• builders of present-day aviation in 1:48 scale
• collectors who follow the individual display seasons