1:48 scale F-16 kits by Hasegawa
The Hasegawa series of kits is easily the best of the bunch. In production now for over twenty years, there have been no less than 40 different releases of this kit. While many releases were simply reboxes of the original molds with different markings, there have been many changes and additions to the kit over the years. To address those differences, the kit descriptions identify which parts trees are included in each release by their alphabetical tree name. Each of these parts trees is identified and described on a separate page on this website.

The original Hasegawa kit represents a Block 15 F-16A. All the Hasegawa kits include the larger horizontal stabilizers and antenna locations introduced on the Block 15, so modifications will be necessary to model any earlier production block. Later production blocks are covered with additional or different parts in the later releases. Panel lines are all engraved and fairly accurate. Speed brakes can be modeled open or closed.

Pilot figures are included with all releases. The canopy can be built open or closed. Most of the kits include two canopy sets, one clear and the other tinted a smoky brown color. A boarding ladder is included with all releases of the kit. An ACES II seat is in all releases, and the only real problem with the cockpit is the undersized instrument coaming. When the F-16C/D versions were released an updated main instrument panel was included, but the rear cockpit instrument panel in all two-seat versions of the kit represents a Block 01/05/10 airplane, not a Block 15 F-16B or any F-16D. Detailed differences in the F-16 production cockpits can be viewed on a separate page on this website.

Hasegawa is (currently) the only 1:48 scale manufacturer to offer the MCID "big mouth" intake on some of their kits. Those kits with the MCID parts are grouped together on their own page. All kits include the NSI "small mouth" intake, even the kits with the MCID, so either version can be built. Which F-16s had which intake is covered in the Production Blocks section of this website.

One criticism of the Hasegawa kits is the lack of external stores included with the kit. All kits include two AIM-9s, two AIM-120s, a travel pod and two 370 gal external fuel tanks. Some kits included LANTIRN pods, HTS pods, AGM-88 HARMs, and an ACMI pod. Those cases are noted in the kit releases that include them. Hasegawa expects you to buy their separate weapons kits if you want other options.

You can step through all the Hasegawa pages using the Next/Back icons at the bottom of each page, or jump directly to a page using the links below.

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