Mr T Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 This is my only attempt so far at what iffery. It is an F111K (Merlin GR1?) of 15 Squadron in early 1970. The model is basically the Italeri, ex Esci F111A oob apart from the in flight refuelling bay door scribed in front of the cockpit, which is where I understand the probe was going to go. I built it ‘clean’ as I remember as a teenager seeing the then new Harriers and Phantoms being shown this way at airshows etc. Camouflage and markings are based on illustrations of a model I found on the web as to the pattern and the colours are as specified for the period. The serial comes near the beginning of the allocation for production airframes and I have chosen 15 Squadron as from what I have read this was a likely contender at the time. It is finished using Xtracrylix paints with the Green being largely applied with a hairy stick. Stencil decals are from a Microscale sheet (72-452) I have kept for years and the roundeletc. Are from Modeldecal sheets and the spares box. The photos do not show the panel lines that well but they are there. Writing this has set me thinking and somebody may be able to help me. When I was at School in nottinghamshire one Monday afternoon in either 1969 or 1970 (I think it was the former) there were a number of Harriers buzzing around including some which appeared to be landing or taking off. The school was located between Gedling and Burton Joyce on the A612 Nottingham Southwell road. It was a damn sight more interesting than the English lit lesson I was having at the time. I assume they were on exercise, the nearest RAF stations being Newton and Syerston. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Martin, Congratulations on a supurb build. Of all the what-if F-111K's i've seen on the net' this must be one of the most accurate (if you can actually say that about a what-if aircraft). I'm sure many others will agree. Cheers .. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrvr6 Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 nicely done i threw 1 of these together in 1 of my insomnia episodes! used the tsr2 whif decals lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks for the comments,it does seem to look the part in a crowd with other RAF aircraft of the period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Lovely work! I wonder if we'd still have them................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Really looks the part, doesn't it?. I did my own F-111K in a wraparound scheme a few years back but I like the scheme you chose better now that I see it and your workmanship is terrific. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Very nice, really makes me think how different my RAF career might have been. Duncan B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 That's lovely, look fantastic , great job! I've worked on them and have to say I have very fond memories of the beast. Though can tell you in service they were so dirty, real buggers to keep clean! Probably would have been a great plane in RAF service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Very nice! I've wanted to do a whif RAF F-111K for a while now myself, but I don't think I could compete with this one. The brushwork on the green is incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Very cool...would have been nice if the RAF had them in their hay day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Ohhh, That's sexual in that scheme... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplasticsurgeon Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 This has piqued my interest. I built an Italeri F-111a in SEA camo in 2008, and have a VERY similar Airfix F-111E from about 1988. I can feel an RAF repaint coming along for the Airfix model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Very nice!!! I have an F-111 in my stash for this very reason, albeit in 1/48. Hope it turns out as good as yours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kolja Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Absolutely terrific - and I love the 'what-could-have-been' genre (all the fun of 'what if' but with a better back-story!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnylurve Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Solid build chap. Very Inspirational. You can just picture those RAF jocks zipping about the skies in their flashy new Aardvarks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Nice one! You have just reminded me that I have one of these on the shelf of doom. It only really needs painting, it too will be an F111K. I really need to gwt on with it. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 (edited) I Like it! For the benefit of all fanciers of this subject in RAF colours the serial batches allocated were to have been: XV884-XV887 for the TF-111K (4 airfames) and: XV902-XV947 for the F-111K (46 airframes) These details from the Ian Allan book British Military Aircraft Serials 1911 to 1971 by Bruce Robertson Edited February 17, 2013 by Paul J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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