This kit is now out! Long awaited and definitely worth the wait. A lot more details than the Hasegawa offering, in a slightly larger box.

I haven't had the chance to inspect the parts in detail yet but the instructions point to future versions, like small mouth intake, PW exhausts, and chances are high for a 2-seater too!

As with the 1/32 offering, this one also allows one to remove and put back the tailfin, through the ingenious use of polycaps, screwed onto the fuselage. The weapons and horizontal stabilisers are also removable in the same manner. Tamiya even provides a mini screwdriver for that!

The parts breakdown shows a much more detailed kit than the Hasegawa offering but of course, the Hasegawa kit being 20 odd years old, is in need of a new mould. Another comparison I cannot afford not to make is how Hasegawa tends to cram everything into one sealed bag, sometimes leaving the canopy unbagged and in the SAME sealed bag, which causes scuff marks and scratches. Tamiya have thoughtfully bagged both canopies SEPARATELY and on top of that, have also bagged no more than 2 sprue trees into 1 bag. Even the decals are bagged separately, something Hasegawa sometimes doesn't do.

Options including having the flaps up or down (through some basic removal of certain tabs) and open or closed canopies, again, using some basic removal of parts for a closed canopy. A full intake trunking is also supplied, which is a huge improvement over Hasegawa's though they're not seamless.

Here're the pics of the kit. Superb box art, superb sprue layout and best part, TWO canopies are given, tinted and clear!!!!

The lovely boxart!

The upper fuselage which shows that at least, there's no need to worry about the wing to fuselage joint.

Part of the intake, landing gear and sadly, 2 part nosecone. Here is also where the 300 gallon centreline fueltank and ECM pod is.

The lower fuselage, where the subtle curves of the F-16CJ are beautifully captured. The way the upper fuselage is moulded hints at a high chance of a 2-seater! No need to pay ridiculous eBay prices for the Hasegawa DJ anymore!!!

The stores and weapons sprue, and what a load of stuff they give for you to hang off your Viper!!! AIM-9M, AIM-9X, AIM-120C and AGM-88 HARMs are given, besides the usual 370 gallon drop tanks. Note the mini screwdriver that's supplied by Tamiya!

The intake ducting, exhaust sprue as well as the two canopies. Note how the canopies are moulded in such a way they are well protected.

You are given markings for:
79th Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing Tiger Meet version
5th Air Force, Pacific Air Force, Misawa AB
52nd Fighter Wing, USAF Europe, Spangdahlem AB Germany.