Takamota Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Been a hell of a journey to get here but, at long last, she's done! Paints are pretty much Vallejo Model Air throughout with Phil's wash and Xtracrylix Matt varnish to finish. Hope you like. Thanks for looking. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwentsider Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thats an absolute gem.The dropped slats and flaps look fantastic. I like it a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest snipersmudge Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 lovely looking vark there, nice colour scheme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Hope you like. Tom I can safely say yes, rather nice piece of work as always from Bex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 (edited) G'day Tom, Firstly an excellent result from a base kit that has plenty of intrinsic faults. The paint and weathering is spot on, however, there are a couple of little niggles that I would like to point out in case anyone is using your build as a reference.This is in no way intended to diminish the quality of your build, which is excellent. The niggles: F-111C's don't have the low voltage formation lights (the yellow slime lights) on the tail, upper and forward fuselage. Some aircraft have the lo-Viz lights that are located on the fuselage side panels. These are engine access doors and these panels have been 'cannibalised' from RAAF F-111G aircraft. The F-111G's were until recently (2007 operated in tandem with RF/F-111C's, and these did have the low viz lights fitted. There is no PAVETACK (an infrared and laser designation pod) on Tom's model. Apart from the four dedicated recce (RF-111C) jets, all, the remaining F-111C aircraft are permanently fitted with the pod. The pod is always extended prior to shutdown for inspection and pre-flight by ground crews. The pod is located on a rotating 'cradle' in what used to be the internal weapons bay, since modified. The pod can be fully retracted, but in that case the cradle will still stick out due to the bulged shape. The antennas are actually black, not white, and usually feature grey tape on their leading edges. The rear main gear door is incorrectly positioned. The Academy instructions erroneously depict the prototype version of the main gear door which was larger and was located behind the main gear unit in a horizontal position. The design was later revised, the door was decreased in size (which Tom has modified) and the door was mounted behind the main gear in a near vertical position. The bottom of the main gear assembly should also be painted white. The red panels at the wing trailing edge are spring loaded and spring up as the flaps extend. The spring loaded sections of the wing are also painted grey (not red) as these are visible when the flaps are retracted. Tom has cemented the stabs in a level position as this makes for a stronger bond and thus the model is less likely to suffer a breakage in transport, however, in real life, these stabs 'droop' to a trailing edge down attitude within seconds of hydraulic power being removed, ie engine shut-down. Again, this is not meant as a critique of Tom's build, which is excellent. I am using these examples to illustrate the pitfalls for the unwary should anyone be contemplating the kit, Well done Tom, cheers, Pappy Edited June 29, 2008 by Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Well done Tom, she looks great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Creditable build Tom - nicely finished off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 nice one Tom! silk purse from a pig's ear Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Tango Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Nice one Tom, lovely build mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smuts Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 fantastic build Tom,great paint & weathering job as well. heard that the academy vark is a real pig to build as well. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango India Mike Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 In my day F 111s were green, brown and black with full-colour roundels (more visually appealing to my eye), but this one certainly looks the business. Everything hanging out adds a lot of credibility to the sit of these aircraft on the ground, and an above-average paint-job completes the illusion perfectly. Personally, I'm more partial to Mirages, but F 111s were pretty awe inspiring to this young 1970s airman too, so thanks Tom for the memory jog. Cheers, Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darius at Home Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Great work on the flaps and slats and the paint scheme!!! Excellent stuff!!! Darius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J35 Draken Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 That looks the biz Tom, the finish on it is spot on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Wow, nicest build of an F-111 I have ever seen. Interesting info added by Pappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thats one bad bottom looking Vark! Also like the A-7 in the back ground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectroSoldier Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Sweet lookin One Eleven there. Nice to see she isnt forgotten, everybody needs a One Eleven. There is no PAVETACK (an infrared and laser designation pod) on Tom's model. Apart from the four dedicated recce (RF-111C) jets, all, the remaining F-111C aircraft are permanently fitted with the pod. The pod is always extended prior to shutdown for inspection and pre-flight by ground crews. The pod is located on a rotating 'cradle' in what used to be the internal weapons bay, since modified. The pod can be fully retracted, but in that case the cradle will still stick out due to the bulged shape. The AN/AVQ-26 PaveTack pod is a perminant fitting, but that doesnt mean it cant be removed. When the pod is rotated out of the bay, the head of the pod is usually left in the rotated position to protect the lens. The F-111C is not unlike the F-111F in its use of PaveTack, but the F-111F used it in different ways, and by different squadrons, so depending on what One Eleven [by serial] and squadron will dictate what it should look like. The rear main gear door is incorrectly positioned. The Academy instructions erroneously depict the prototype version of the main gear door which was larger and was located behind the main gear unit in a horizontal position. The design was later revised, the door was decreased in size (which Tom has modified) and the door was mounted behind the main gear in a near vertical position. The bottom of the main gear assembly should also be painted white. The main undercarrage rear door is attached to the main undercarrage itself, as the main gear moves so does the door. The gear door and PaveTack pod head can be seen here Tom has cemented the stabs in a level position as this makes for a stronger bond and thus the model is less likely to suffer a breakage in transport, however, in real life, these stabs 'droop' to a trailing edge down attitude within seconds of hydraulic power being removed, ie engine shut-down. Unpowered, stabs level There are many other points over looked by modellers, best advice is to model a jet from a picture, and try to capture the details, for instance a jet on the ground with its engines running will have its blow in doors open, but may have the stabs drooping... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darson Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 That's a stunning looking model Tom, congratulations Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
periklis_sale Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Very nice and clean work my friend!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanrgb Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Great build Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 To open the canopy did you need two canopies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takamota Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 No mate just light scribes with a craft knife Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElectroSoldier Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Are they the Scaledown/OzMods wings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary C Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Nice work Tom, love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takamota Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 Are they the Scaledown/OzMods wings? Yes they're the OzMods wing set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatchet Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 That's a spiffing looking Pig Tom, great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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