Balloo Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Good evening fellows, I have a nearly 20 year long relation to these Hasegawa model kits. One of them accompanied me from the last days of school, through my military career and over commercial pilots training to every base I served at. I never dared to build the kit, just opened up the box, glared at the exquisite detail and perfect craftmanship. When I found the announcement for the STGB I thought: Time to finally build it. In the last few weeks, I just needed to decide, which one to tackle. The F-111.net provided interesting information for all of my kits. So it will be this one: As previously said, the detail is excellent. I will be using some aftermarket pieces to build a specific vessel. I chose to do aircraft AF67 081 with tail code LN from Nellis, Las Vegas. The aircraft was transferred to Takhli and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, where the tail code changed to HG and it received a yellow stripe. The vessel flew regular missions for the 429th TFS / 347th TFW, until it ended up at AMARC on June, 21st 1991. So my plane will be a survivor. F-111.net states, it flew with four Mk. 84 bombs on the pylons. I obtained two very nice sets from Eduard and plan on using them. Wishing all of us a good hand in this job. Balloo 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Great choice of project, kit and aftermarket additions, Balloo. Like you, I've had at least one kit in the stash for a long time (when the series was released my first purchase was the F-111C boxing; more versions have followed) and I'm almost embarrassed that I haven't finished one. I look forward to watching your progress. Andrew. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 Welcome aboard Balloo, what a great selection of F-111's to choose from and it sounds like you've been just waiting for a chance to build one for years! So now there is no excuse!!! That's a nice mountain of AM stuff to go with it as well. Good luck with the build, hopefully it will be worth the long wait and be a trouble free build for you, look forward to seeing her in the gallery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Those Hasegawa kits look lovely. I know what you mean about not wanting to start them for worrying about messing them up. What are you doing for decals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balloo Posted April 7, 2017 Author Share Posted April 7, 2017 I am going to use a few kit supplied decals and the rest will come from different sources. The tail code will be provided by Verlinden. Hopefully the 30 year old dry transfers still work. This is the plane, I want to depict: United States Air Force Historical Research Agency - Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by Wikipedia I have started two days ago, but have trouble accessing my photo bucket account. I will enclose pictures, as soon as I can. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balloo Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) A proof of life from my side. Had a few problems accessing my photobucket account. Can't tell, what the problem was, but now it works again. As I am working full time, only a slight progress: I was able to clean up the Verlinden Resin stuff and give it a base coat. I found the cockpit detail o.k., but decided to go a bit further and produce the thrust levers, gear lever, flap lever and so on. Edited April 20, 2017 by Balloo typography Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balloo Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 While drying, a worked on the gear bays. Yesterday all the things were dry and ready for first assembly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 A good start and nice to one of the original type of F-111s being built. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balloo Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 In this respect I am proud of the cockpit, as it turned out: Please note the emergency escape handles, the co-pilots additional joystick and the rest of the stuff, I added. I will leave it that way. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balloo Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 The front section and the larger aft portion went together perfectly. A big thank you to the Japanese engineers from Hasegawa - great job. It took just a few moments to clean up the wing parts - it's only two pieces per side anyhow. Minor sanding is necessary on all the parts. Looking forward to a coming off day to continue. Feel free to point out any inaccuracy you notice. There is still room for improvement. Cheers Balloo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Thats a real nice start balloo, good stuff Glynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 Great start indeed!! That cockpit certainly looks the part, well done on the detailing and painting. You are making quick progress on here, it's nice when a model just fits together nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SallysDad Posted May 20, 2017 Share Posted May 20, 2017 That is a good looking cockpit you did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Looking good so far! Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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