The other Tim's Italeri 1/48 F111F Aardvark - 48TFW, RAF Lakenheath, Operation El Dorado Canyon, Libya, April 1986

[Tim Moff]

Getting there!

 

 

 

 

[trickyrich]

wow she is really looking awesome!! So glad you're continuing to update the threads or threads.  

[Tim Moff]

Immmmmm back too......just getting the decals on.....

 

 

[Tim Moff]

Decals on - just need to sand the underside join so the Pave Tac pod fits flush.....then need to gloss seal, weather and sort the bombs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trickyrich]

Nice, the F-111 always looks so good in SEA colour schemes!

[Tim Moff]

OK nearly 2 1/2 years later IO have had a tidy up and am determined to get these 2 done before the Battle Of Britain GB.... found the 4th GBU 10E, painted it, just need to find some yellow decals to get on, have them...somewhere.... Dusted off both aircraft and bits, put a dab of Mr Softer on all the decals, next its the gloss seal cote. Need to glue the swing wings in place to simulate the 54 degrees used on the strike.

 

 

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Go for it Tim 

[Tim Moff]

 

So I had a scheme of work with both builds, get the last bits painted or built up, gloss sealing cote, then onto some wash's. there will be only be a light bit of weathering, the jest always seemed clean, but after 6 hours of flight, in air refuelling etc I expect a bit of muck....

 

Then a final cote - I am not sure  as to actually dulcote, which is really flat, or use Mr Paints flat clear, that is more satin....my recollection was that the jets seemed to be more stain than matt....

 

 

 

 

Decals on the Mk 10's

 

 

 

Mr paint Gloss sealing cote 

 

 

Floreys Dark Dirt on the lower bits....

 

 

 

Had to do some sanding to get the Pave Tac pod flush, have primed the pitot, thought I had 2...

 

 

Floreys on the top....

 

 

 

 

 

Now on the left is Mr Paint Matt and the right, Mr Color Flat...still some silvering from the no step decals...its hard to see but Mr Color is pretty flat, but not quite Dulcote....

 

 

 

I think I may go Mr Paint Flat Matt and I can always tone down...?

 

 

 

Post Floreys wash

 

 

 

 

 

Getting there!

 

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

They look great after the wash, nice!

[Tim Moff]

Tried the Mr paint matt...initially...

 

 

Still seemed v shiny, so i went with the testors Dulcote...

 

Final assembly has started...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just need to get the GBU10's on now....then up on the garage rafters...just 2 1/2 years in production!

 

[Tim Moff]

OK we're done after 3 years! Not perfect, issues with joins and seams, but I think it looks ok.

 

 

As one of 18 F-111s involved, 74-0177 flew with Jewell cell as JEWEL 63. Using its ‘Pave Tack’ Thermal Imaging/laser target acquisition, designation and tracking system, dropped its four laser-guided GBU-10C/B 907kg/2,000lb bombs on the Murat Sidi Balal terrorist training camp west of Tripoli that hit the Frogman Training Pool used for training terrorists in underwater sabotage.

The intended target was missed by 100ft (30m) as it was obscured by the smoke of bombs dropped by another aircraft.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Tim Moff