Muzz

Hi Mr Song After compairing the shots of the engine and interiour of the radome etc with photo's it all looks amazingly accurate. Another link for the help with information on the CBLS pod is shown below with the details of Cobhams media relations who may be able to help you further. http://www.cobham.com/media/96157/313%20-%...bomb%20rack.pdf Other common stores carried by RAF aircraft include; AIM-9 (L or G) Sidewinder (one carried) ALQ-101 ECM pod (one carried) AVQ-23E Pave Spike (one carried) SNEB rocket pod Sea Eagle anti-shipping missile AS37 anti-radar Martel missile AJ138 TV Martel missile Paveway II 1000lb LGB 1000lb GP Bomb Hope this helps. Muzz

Fantastic looking finish on one of my favourite US Navy machines, great build. Muzz

Gary A great positive post about this kit, showing how to fix the problems that are there with it. I got my kit last week and like you had to wait til Xmas Day for it. I'm building the Italeri kit just now and the detail on the HB kit looks way better. Think I'll hold off on building it though to see if anyone brings out any resin correction/improvement sets.

Some more done. I've added some more of the small PE parts from the Flightpath set and I've also added some detail missing from the kit. The cockpit windscreen has 3 raised areas in front of the frame and the two sensors are missing from either side of the forward fuselage, these have been made out of scrap resin. I've also had to add some filler to the base of the fin where the join wasn't too great. After this is done I'll start tidying up in prep for the paint.

The dummy one's have the thin blue band painted around the front I think.

Finally an update after not much being done for over a week............ Had to build the front cockpit coaming from scratch using plastic sheet as the kit one wouldn't fit the Flightpath instrument panel properly, the Flightpath etched HUD etc were then added. The front windscreens now attached as is the radome and afterburners. I was going to leave these off and paint them first but decided against it.

I ordered mine today and after reading all the posts and then seeing the pictures posted I'm still happy with that decision, I think there's a lot to like (the auxiliary intake doors and the detail on the fin), yes some of the detail looks a little heavy (the ribs on the radome)and the tailplanes need squaring off etc but I'm building the Italeri kit at the moment and it looks like a step up from that.

The F-111D/E boxing is up now on the Hobby Boss website, keep em coming!! http://www.hobbyboss.com/80350.htm

The build sequence etc looks very similar to the Hasegawa kit almost as if...............

Hi Neil I've PM'd you regarding the above. Murray

The parts for the FLIR fairing are next to the cockpit tub in the 3rd picture from the left. It's really the only visible differance between the GR1 and the GR4.

All the parts appear to be there for a GR4 (all the parts being a FLIR!), in a dilema now, do I wait for the GR4 boxing in the hope of some extra goodies or do I buy now and regret later???

The big fins now on after adding some plastic strips to the base to fill some gaps. I also used a pin vice to detail the metal plate at the exhaust outlet. The IFR probe's attached after filling the rather large panel lines and the FLIR and LRMTS housings are also on and have been blended into the fuselage using MR Hobby putty. I've stuck the nose on with some blu-tac to see how it looks. I bought the latest copy of Combat Aircraft today which has some great close up air to air shots, it's come in handy already!

I've got it too, it's a good book.

Cheers for the pics Zipper, a very shiny looking example!! I'll add that one to the possibles. Was wondering if you or anyone else can tell me if the undercarriage bays are the same colour as the undercarriage itself, thought there might be the possibility of light grey legs and white bays?

Starting to look like the real thing now! The wing gloves are now on, some big gaps that were filled with plastic sheet and Mr Hobby Putty and I'm happy with the result. I've also added the ailerons and cut the fin to add the Paragon replacement section, LRMTS and FLIR are both on and have required some filling. Ready to add the IFR probe but have to fill the way too large panel lines on it first, the real one appears pretty smooth.

Another update, made a bit of progress for a change, the front and rear fuselage are now joined together, took a bit of sanding and a wee bit filler but I'm qhite happy with the join now. Got the intakes on also, thought this was going to be a right pain but went together quite well and I don't think any filler will be required. I really like the vents on top of the intakes look really good with the Flightpath bits. I'm currently in the process of tackling the wing gloves which again is going better than I thought it would............so far! Update shortly.

Some more work done...................... Added the blank to the cannon port and the detail surround to the starboard cannon port. Could have went better, tried using Gator Glue which didn't really work so had to try again with CA, will need tidying up before painting. The panel lines on the bottom of the fuselage have been rescribed as a small amount filler was required at the join down the centre. I also had to put a small strip of plastic along the join in front of the undercarriage bay to widen the fuselage slightly otherwise it wasn't going to fit the radome properly. Added the detailed panels to the tops of the intakes which look pretty good, I haven't bothered with the interior of the intakes as I'm adding covers to these. And finally the Paragon burner cans, really pleased with how these went together, had to widen the holes for the nozzles and cut away some plastic for the reverse thrust mechanism then drilled out the small holes.

The story so far.................. Opened up the APU outlet on the rear fuselage and getting ready to open up the holes for the Paragon burner cans. The back ends been joined together with the wings fixed in place.

Was the problem with the guns not something to do with the first shell spinning and slowing down as soon as it left the barrel and then being struck by the next one and so on and so on....................... Seem to recall that as an explanation!

Yes, thats what I have, the box is for the S2,C,D & Mk50 variant but has an extra full kit (instructions and decals) for the S2B too. When I origanally heard about this double boxing it was the story about it being a mistake but I have since heard the other story and have to agree with that. If it was a mistake surely it would be two of the same kit and not produced in such numbers, if not no wonder Airfix went down the tubes!

Pigsty I may be able to help you out as I have the double boxing, one RN and one RAF, I stuck a post on the Trade section a few weeks ago looking to trade a flat bomb bay for a bulged one! I'm looking to eventually build two RAF aircraft so we should be able to swap pieces if you want. My kit is still at my parents so I don't have immediate access to check but could get my hands on it in the next few days. Let me know by PM or otherwise. Muzz

As I say I started it a few months ago so here's the story so far..... Cockpit and seats completed but still need to do the tops of the consoles and HUD. The cockpit tub itself is straight out the box just painted and given a light wash, the kit detail was removed from the front and rear cockpit displays and the flightpath PE added. The seats are Paragon I then moved onto the Paragon flaps and slats which took a bit of research to get done, it's the first time I've really cut up major panels other than cockpit stuff so it was a bit of a risk but I'm happy with the results so far. Used Mr Hobby Dissolved Putty for the first time for the smill gaps and its worked really well but doesn't seam to like the scriber! Thanks to everyone who helped out with these.

I started this build some months ago but had a break while moving house etc, starting to get into it now though! It's the Italeri kit converted with the Flightpath set and Paragon extras. I was planning to finish the build as the 14 Sqn Anniversary aircraft and may still do that although I'm starting to sway towards one of the current jets with lots of MSG panels, not sure yet.

Thanks for all the comments guys, think I'm going to have to get the Dremel out and thin the top surface of the wing, it's about 1.5mm thick! Not looking forward to that one but if it works it should be worth it, if it doesn't does anybody have any spare Tornado wings!