Popular Post Navy Bird Posted November 15, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2017 Hi mates, Finally, I have an F-111B in my collection! This is a conversion of the 1:72 Hasegawa F-111C/G kit, with quite a few modifications necessary to represent F-111B BuNo 151972 as she appeared during Phoenix missile testing at Hughes Aircraft. As I'm sure you're aware, the F-111B was an attempt to develop a version of the USAF F-111 "TFX" to meet the US Navy's fleet defense requirement. If you don't know the story, I suggest you start here on the Tailhook Topics blog, maintained by @Tailspin Turtle. Tommy also literally wrote the book on the F-111B, which I've been keeping under my pillow each night, and who also was a tremendous help to me during this project. Thanks Tommy! Only seven F-111Bs were built, and they differed from each other in many ways. The subject of my model also differed significantly from the Australian F-111C on which I based the conversion. Nevertheless, it was probably the easiest way to do it. Here is my usual executive summary (skip to the pictures if you don't want to read all this clag!) Project: Grumman/General Dynamics F-111B Kits: Hasegawa F-111C/G R.A.A.F. (kit number 00952) & Revell F-111 TFX (kit number H-208) Scale: 1:72 (really, is there any other?) Decals: Representing 151972 during Phoenix missile testing at Hughes. Phoenix Missile Testing logo and BuNo on vertical tail created in CorelDraw and printed on Canon ink jet printer. Stencils from Microscale 72-452 F-111 Stencil Data. National insignia, canopy seals, all red stripes, and other miscellaneous markings from the Island of Misfit Stickers Photoetch: Eduard set 88175, and an occasional bit from the Drawer of Fiddly Stuff Resin: Pavla S 72086 Escapac 1C-6 Ejection Seats; Pete's Hangar PHD 72001 F-111B Conversion Set Paint: Gunze H315 FS36440 Light Gull Gray, H11 Flat White, H90 Clear Red, H94 Clear Green, H12 Flat Black, H13 Flat Red, H77 Tire Black; Alclad 101 Aluminum, 111 Magnesium, 112 Steel, 314 Klear Kote Flat Improvements/Corrections Modified cockpit to include Escapac ejection seats (151972 did not have an ejection capsule) Replaced kit nose with resin replacement from Pete's Hangar set (which needed to be extensively reshaped) Modified kit intakes to represent the early translating cowl type in the open position; replaced kit "kinked" intake ramps with straight ones made from sheet styrene Detailed cockpit with Eduard photoetched instrument panel and seat harnesses Filled in triangular vents on fuselage spine and used decals to represent the smaller vents on 151972 Added vent covers made from sheet styrene immediately below the wing glove Shortened wing slats due to absence of rotating glove on 151972 Modified main gear door and scratch built deployment mechanism to represent early type Added sculpted resin motion picture camera housing on top of vertical fin Replaced fuselage boat tail with knife edge version from old Revell kit Replaced blunt fuselage extension fairings with pointed ones from old Revell kit Modified resin tail hook fairing from Pete's Hangar conversion set and scratch built arresting hook Added numerous telemetry antennae used by Hughes Modified nose of Phoenix missile from Hasegawa Weapons Set; pylon from Hasegawa F-18 Build thread: Part 1 and Part 2 Pictures! First, here is what she really looked like (this is called "leading the witness"): Cheers, Bill 80 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Beautiful, Bill. As usual . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 What's to say beyond: Perfection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Very impressive comparison with the reference pic, Bill, you thought of everything. Fantastic build and project. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 16 minutes ago, Navy Bird said: "Only seven F-111Bs were built......" I don't know Bill............looks to me like eight! Absolutely stunning. Cheers Bruce 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Lovely build. It looks rather neat in Navy uniform. Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Absolutely and completely beautiful Bill, just superb! Really enjoyed watching it come together in the w.i.p. thread and seeing it finished & photographed so well is the icing on the cake! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Fantastic looking build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearmatt Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Magnificent! What a beauty and a proud addition to your Navy collection. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Followed this all the way, and with the amount of work you put into it, came out a real treat, one doesn't see F-111B's much in model form, and I doubt there will ever be a better model than this 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazey Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 That's a fantastic F-111. I really like the look of the shorter-nosed version (although I also have fond memories of very different looking RAAF F-111s going overhead). Regards, David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Another super build from you as usual Navy Bird CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
replicant Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 6 hours ago, Navy Bird said: skip to the pictures Hello Bill, it´s looking even better than at scalemates. The bigger the better!!! Wow again! Thomas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Another of your masterpieces Bill ! It's a fantastic model and the build thread will remain as one of the definitive guides on how to build this aircraft. Well done ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meatbox8 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Beautiful. Really nice to see a rendition of this particular development phase of the 111. Great conversion work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Super smooth, super clean, superb! Can you actually improve perfection? Looks like you can! Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntPhillips Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Brilliant, another masterclass in creating a miniature replica. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Now who needs 1:48 when you can build as well as this? Absolutely superb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Congratulations- great to see it accomplished! bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 A truly amazing build Bill. All subsequent F-111B models will be judged against this one. Are you planning to sand some flat spots on the tyres? The plane sits sorta tail high compared to photos. You did put the smaller F-111B wheels on right? Not trying to be critical here; just asking. -d- 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Great model 👍 Great build 👍 As much a fan of the ‘Vark as I am. Im happy the navy never took this route. I dont think it would have worked as well as the Tomcat did for the navies needs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Quite superb, masterclass modelling at its best. Well done bill. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Brilliant Bill. Having followed this build from the start I do know what you have gone through to get this model built, but the wait was definitely worth it. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Absolutely outstanding work - a real masterpiece 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric B. Posted November 15, 2017 Share Posted November 15, 2017 Very beautiful indeed, nice project. This is an inspirational build, really. Cheers Eric B. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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