Search the Community

Hello this will be my entry for the STGB Now not sure whether to go for the 25th or 30th anniversary jet, I am heading towards the 30th one. The only problem might be using the decals for it. They are from Hawkeye Models. On the instructions it says there is no clear varnish on them, which they appear to be, so therefore do I coat them with Microscale liquid decal film before I remove them from the sheet ? Any help appreciated. Robert

Well through the magic of the internet and some preplanning I can start this thread away form home……….and then wait 8 weeks before I can actually start. As a former “Pig Fixer” you’d have thought I’d have built one by now but I haven’t, so as to have no excuse not to I preposed this GB. I’ll be building Hobby Boss’s 1/48th F-111C into hopefully time permitting, into a RF-111C I worked on operated by 6 Sqn at RAAF Base Amberley in the late 80’s. The Hobby Boss model is a nice model with heaps of detail and masses of weapons are provided even though most were never used by the RAAF. All the weapons have been removed, as the Recon bird does not require them, even though they could carry them. She’s a big beasty! I’ll be using Eduard’s BigSin set for the F-111C, lots of good stuff here, but there are issues! The decals don’t look too bad but I may replace those or some of those as well! I’ve managed to get some good reference material as well, as I don’t trust my memory! The main difference between the F-111C and the RF-111C was mainly the Recon pack. The Weapon bay doors were replaced (these door were made up of 4 panels) with the main ¾ door with faired camera openings and a smaller ¼ door. The M61 Vulcan 20mm was removed and replaced with 2 panoramic cameras (high & low altitude), 2 stills, and Infra-Red Line Scanner, and a couple of video cameras. No one currently makes the recon doors in 1/48th, but I managed to find a set of 1/72nd ones, so I’ll use these as sort of masters to get the shape right. OK now for the issues with the model, and there are a few I’ve found already, basically you can’t build a Non Avionics upgrade version or a Pre-Pave Tack version either as the 20mm cannon isn’t provided. Plus the instrument panel is wrong for the non-Pave tack and Recon birds, I’ve had to an F-111A one which is correct for these. Plus the F-111C didn’t have formation lights, these are moulded and have to be removed as well. Finally I’m probably going to get the Scaledown Wheel Wells and Undercarriage set, for the detail and accuracy, plus it give me proper intakes wells! There are some other items I’m interested in but I’ll wait and see. Again a lot depends on time, if I run short I’ll just go for the Non-Recon version, otherwise I plan to produce a resin conversion set in 1/48th for the Hobby Boss model. Now I have just to wait 8 weeks and plan!

G'day people, Unfortunately, I was unable to finish my F-16 STGB entries due to work commitments dragging me away. Hopefully I will have better luck with this GB. My subject fort this STGB will be an RAAF F-111C, specifically A8-132. This airframe was used as a test bed aircraft for F-111C related stores and issues. It was also used to trial new weapons on occasion during the time she was attached to the Australian Research and Development Unit (ARDU). Following the attachmentent to ARDU, this airframe then when on to become the first RAAF F-111C to undergo the Avionics Update Programme (AUP). A8-132 wore a special test scheme while atatched to ARDI consisting of the standard SEA camouflage upper surfaces with the lower black surfaces replaced with white. In addition, several reference markings were added along the aircraft waterline and under wing area to indicate wing sweep angle. As A8-132 was a test aircraft, she was fitted with additional electrical equipment and instrumentation. Any non-standard equipment was painted bright orange to identify it as such. The aircraft had several external painted orange. Finally, to record weapons separation and other data, the jet could be fitted with external cameras. Onto the plastic, I will be using this kit as the basis of the build, it is old and has a few small issues, but I only paid $15 for it! I will also be chucking in some aftermarket as the mood takes me. I plan on building this one in flight, as this overcomes most of the kit shortfalls as well as making for a speedier build.Academy re-tooled their venerable F-111kit old kit a few years ago (probably in anticipation of the HB monstrosity) which corrected some of the shortcomings like the incorrect and too shallow nose gear bay and their very simplified and pre-AUP instrument panel. They also managed to include some very nice Cartograph decals. If you want to build an accurate 1/48 F-111, this is the kit to use. I have made a small start by adding some missing details such as the AoA indicators and LCOSS detail to the instrument coaming I have also painted up a couple of Hasegawa figures to represent the crew I wanted to make a good job of these as once installed, little of the cockpit will be visible (a good thing as the cockpit detail is a little sparse OOB), but the drivers will be very prominent, cheers Pappy