Pappy Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) Pack shot Contents cheers, Pappy Glossary AOA Angle Of Attack CARA Combined Altitude Radar Altimeter CATM Captive Air Training Missile DWSP Detent Wrench Safety Pin ECM Electronic Counter Measures EW Electronic Warfare EWO Electronic Warfare Officer FLSC Flexible Linear Shaped Charge HARA High Altitude Radar Altimeter HUD Head Up Display RBF Remove Before Flight U/C Undercarriage LE Leading Edge LAU-7A/A LAuncher Unit LARA Low Altitude Radar Altimeter LCSS Lead Computed Sight System LPY Life Preserver, Yoke MWW Main Wheel Well NWW Nose Wheel well RBF Remove Before Flight SBCL Speed Brake Collar Lock STC STrike Camera TE Trailing Edge TFR Terrain Following Radar TP1/TP II Triple Plow 1 / Triple Plow II U/C Undercarriage VID Video Indicator Display Edited May 15, 2023 by Pappy 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted February 18, 2023 Share Posted February 18, 2023 Who would have thought Pappy would build an F-111? I have a kit and pallet and did not even think of doing one! Good luck with it mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted February 18, 2023 Author Share Posted February 18, 2023 16 hours ago, Romeo Alpha Yankee said: Who would have thought Pappy would build an F-111? I have a kit and pallet and did not even think of doing one! Good luck with it mate I just wanted to get in before Tricky Rich! I don't need an excuse to build an F-111, like F-16s, I will usually have one on the go (or planning one) most of the time cheers, Pappy 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted February 25, 2023 Author Share Posted February 25, 2023 Now with pictures! cheers, Pappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 26, 2023 Share Posted February 26, 2023 Now we're in for a treat Although I'm still waiting for you to finish your F-15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 24, 2023 Author Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) G'day people, After a too long hiatus away from the bench I decided to crack on with this one. The instructions start naturally enough with the office, who am I to disagree? Some PE rudder pedals and sundry items like the MRK were added to the tub before being given its coat of grey paint. The NWW was now assembled and the cockpit tub added to the roof of the NWW before the entire assembly was trapped between the vertically split fwd fuselage halves. That done the pre-painted PE console overlays could now be added Finally, the main fuselage bulkhead (which includes the compressor face details) was attached the the lower rear fuselage part and the left and right intake ducts were added at this point cheers, Pappy Edited March 24, 2023 by Pappy 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 25, 2023 Author Share Posted March 25, 2023 G'day people, Legs day today Mains Nose I have also added the recce pallet which turns this into one of only four RF-111Cs built This is a fairly painless conversion as conversions go. I added a few small spots of filler to help blend all the parts together. It looks a bit drastic before sanding but only a small amount was required. I also added a strip of styrene along the fuselage seam as my parts had a tendency to bow inwards cheers, Pappy 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Nice! Question about your pallet, did it come with the camera windows cut out? Or did yo do the cutting to fill them later with some clear material? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 25, 2023 Author Share Posted March 25, 2023 (edited) On 3/25/2023 at 6:29 PM, Romeo Alpha Yankee said: Nice! Question about your pallet, did it come with the camera windows cut out? Or did yo do the cutting to fill them later with some clear material? G'day Ray! It was me, the pallet came moulded solid. I think you said you had the same part in an earlier post? I bought mine at a swap and smell ages ago,. It was without the instructions so I only paide a couple of of bucks. Would you happen to have a scan of the instructions (if it came with any) as I need to scratch the AAD-5 door? cheers, Pappy Edited May 15, 2023 by Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 14 hours ago, Pappy said: G'day Ray! It was me, the pallet came moulded solid. I think you said you had the same part in an earlier post? I bought at a swap and smell ages ago, as ir without instructions for a cojuple of bucks. Would you happen to have a scan of the instructions (if it came with any) as I need to scratch the AAD-5 door, cheers, Pappy Here are the instructions for my pallet, I have a Plane Bits original and a knockoff a mate gave me some years ago. Looking at the instructions and from memory, the original release from Plane Bits was cast in a clear resin which the instructions imply as you are told to mask the camera ports. The PLane Bits set includes a bit of plastic for the door. Plane Bits parts on the left (1cm grid on my cutting mat), the door is about 8.5mm x 4mm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 26, 2023 Author Share Posted March 26, 2023 Thanks very much Ray. I have a clear resin part for the Recce nose of a Mirage IIIE/O by the same company, but the 'clear' is now very orange! I think the solid resin casting is an original but as I said, I got mine cheap as it was sans instructions. cheers, Pappy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 27, 2023 Author Share Posted March 27, 2023 (edited) G'day people, The crew seats have been painted up and installed now The sticks are a little fragile so I will install these just before the IP goes down as they are too easy to snap while handling the jet. Also, a milestone has been reached as I have attached the front bit to the back bit This is not my first 'gawa F-111 build, or even my second so I am reasonably familiar with the kit's foibles. One area I always seem to have fit issues with is the join between the upper fwd and aft fuselage parts right around where the FLSC panels are. I added a section of plastic sheet to act as a filler. Once set I trimmed this down and now I have several bouts of FSR to remediate the join It fits but will need a touch of filler here and there. The lower seam OTOH is the complete opposite Almost perfect with no drama at all, cheers. Pappy Edited May 15, 2023 by Pappy 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lloyd Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 Looks good mate. I am hoping Hobby 2000 will release a -C model.... preferably with the Pave Tack included in the -F they are about to release. I paid through the nose for an original Hasegawa -C a few months ago, so that should get them going with a new release at half the price. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hook Posted March 29, 2023 Share Posted March 29, 2023 Lovely work! I wish there was a recce palet readily available, all options appear OOP. Cheers, Andre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) On 3/30/2023 at 1:00 AM, Peter Lloyd said: Looks good mate. I am hoping Hobby 2000 will release a -C model.... preferably with the Pave Tack included in the -F they are about to release. I paid through the nose for an original Hasegawa -C a few months ago, so that should get them going with a new release at half the price. G'day Peter, I bought a stack of the Hasegawa RAAF F-111C?G boxings a while back when they were first released. Being closer to Asia means for once Oz modellers get a break pricewise as UK prices for Has kits are diabolical. This boxing includes all the sprues to do an early C (with the gun fairing), late C (with the PT pod) or the bi-fold weapons bay doors of the G (FB-111A) plus both types of intake designs (TP 1/TP II) and the two different dump masts. If you can find that boxing it will allow you to build an F-111C/G/FB-111A. The Has F-111 kits seem to go for very high prices, no doubt due to the long periods between availability. I have built the old Esci kiit (re-popped by Italeri) and it is okay, the Has kit beats it overall but it is not a bad option On 3/30/2023 at 4:29 AM, Hook said: Lovely work! I wish there was a recce palet readily available, all options appear OOP. Cheers, Andre G'day Andre, This item was rare before the company went OOB after the owner passed. It is a relatively simple conversion and by modern AM standards a little crude but okay for 1/72. I would love to see a 3D printed alternative but sadly, since only 4 examples were built and were flown by a relatively obscure operator (RAAF) compared to the usualy operators, sadly I do not think there will be much commercial incentive for the main AM producers to release one. Another problem is the relative scarcity and high price of the base kit. With the arrival of H2K on the modelling scene, hopefully that may change. Personally I would love a 1/48 option. TR did the conversion using the (really bad) HB kit and even threatened to cast copies but this also did not happen. G'day people, Today the back end was tidied up I also improved the dump mast as this item is provided as a solid item. I drilled out the housing and added a scratch built dump valve to the centre. I also had a bit of fun painting up the 'zorsts and I couldn't help having a cheeky dry-fit cheers, Pappy Edited May 15, 2023 by Pappy 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 31, 2023 Share Posted March 31, 2023 Nice work within the 'pit Pappy and that quality of craftsmanship is now extending to the exterior surfaces in fine style as always. I can almost forgive you for side-lining the F-15 and A-6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 1, 2023 Author Share Posted April 1, 2023 (edited) On 3/31/2023 at 10:03 PM, Col. said: Nice work within the 'pit Pappy and that quality of craftsmanship is now extending to the exterior surfaces in fine style as always. I can almost forgive you for side-lining the F-15 and A-6 Ahh well I have already forgiven myself so I have moved on! G'day people, I spent today painting up the things under wings Unfortunately, Hasegawa rarely include any weapons in their kits, a tactic designed to tempt you to buy their weapons sets no doubt. Luckily I have a well stocked armory just for this purpose Although the RF-111Cs were dedicated recce platforms (with an internal recce pallet) they remained fully combat capable and they were cleared to carry all the weapons that the F-111Cs could. Typically RAAF F-111s were rarely seen without the ubiquitous SUU-20A/A practice bomb dispenser which could carry six BDU-33 high or low drag practice bombs. Two dispensers was also not uncommon but I decided to go with one as I think asymmetric loads are more interesting I found what I needed and set about drilling holes to correspond with the pylon mounting pins. Satisfied I drilled out the rocket tubes and painted it up. A final touch was the RBF streamers and dispenser pylon safing pin and flag inserted into the rack through the opened pylon access door. It still needs the electrical safing switch ('ice tongs'), pin bag and intervalometers to be added but you get the idea Although carrying the "F" designation (usually applied to 'Fighter' platforms) the F-111 was very much a bomber and not designed to turn and burn in a dogfight. The F-111's main weapon in a dogfight was to get down really low and run - FAST! using its TFR, something it did really well and the kinematics involved in an intercept were typically usually enough to avoid an successful intercept,. This tactic proved lethal for an Iraqi Mirage F-1 that attempted to intercept a USAF F-111F at night during Desert Storm that flew into the ground. however, RAAF F-111s would on occasion practice employing the AIM-9L. This would entail using CATM-9Ls which were loaded to a LAU-7 slung beneath the pylon. The kit provides a launcher (but no missiles ) but would have you mount the launcher on the side of the pylon USAF style. The launcher provided in the kit did not look like a LAU-7 so I needed to source a replacement. I shaved the mounts off the pylon and added a launcher I sourced from the spares box directly below the pylon. I also wanted to add the dome cover which was always fitted when the jet was shut down and not removed until after engine start. I scratched up a dome cover from some scrap sprue and plastic strip. If you look closely you can see it also has the bungee cord wrapped around the fins on the RHS that retains the dome cover. The final touch was the DWSP installed into the LAU-7. Even though this missile is a CATM and hence cannot be launched the practice of installing the DWSP was still followed In between waiting for bits t dry I have been painting up the main gear door which also doubles as the speed brake. The actuator has a SBCL added just prior to shut down to prevent the door from drooping with hyd power removed. If it droops too fat the only way to reset the door is to cycle the door which would require jacking the entire jet for an u/c retraction. The SBCL was removed after start up with hyd power applied which required the airman to walk into the u/c bay to install/remove it! The door interior was painted gloss red and usually had drips of hyd fluid and water on it making it very slippery so sections of it were painted in black anti-slip paint which is what I wanted to depict. Again a REF streamer was added for good measure. Being in the u/c bay they were typically dirty and quite manky in general. in fact most RBF are typically worn, faded and typically cop a lot of abuse. Most models I have seen depict these as perfectly flat and pristine which is usually not the case, cheers, Pappy Edited April 1, 2023 by Pappy 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f111guru Posted April 1, 2023 Share Posted April 1, 2023 On 2/17/2023 at 7:10 PM, Pappy said: Pack shot Contents cheers, Pappy Glossary RBF Remove Before Flight U/C Undercarriage LAU-7A/A LAuncher Unit DWSP Detent Wrench Safety Pin SBCL Speed Brake Collar Lock CATM Captive Air Training Missile Well Pappy, I'm kicking myself in the south end for not seeing this from the beginning. What a great subject. I too have a few F-111C models in the planning stage. I can say that the conversion kit is unknown to me. I would have bought a number of them to go along with the 1/48th scale conversion kits in storage. I like the Hasegawa kits and have built quite a few. Have not made a C model for myself though. I have the Hobby 2000 F-111D/F kit and will build it as a D model. I like the D because this model F-111 is the most time of my 22 years I spent on a single aircraft. I tip my hat to you and will continue to watch your progress. All The Best, Ron VanDerwarker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 2, 2023 Author Share Posted April 2, 2023 (edited) On 4/2/2023 at 2:18 AM, f111guru said: Well Pappy, I'm kicking myself in the south end for not seeing this from the beginning. What a great subject. I too have a few F-111C models in the planning stage. I can say that the conversion kit is unknown to me. I would have bought a number of them to go along with the 1/48th scale conversion kits in storage. I like the Hasegawa kits and have built quite a few. Have not made a C model for myself though. I have the Hobby 2000 F-111D/F kit and will build it as a D model. I like the D because this model F-111 is the most time of my 22 years I spent on a single aircraft. I tip my hat to you and will continue to watch your progress. All The Best, Ron VanDerwarker Thank very much Ron, The F-111D/E I know very little about. I have the Has boxings of these just to complete the set and will eventually build them as well but the F-111F is the USAF variant that seems to get the limelight, as well as the Raven which I think had the nicest scheme of all the F-111s G'day people, I am happy with the upper fuselage join I only needed to use a few touches of filler ( and a strip of styrene) here and there but it did take some judicious sanding to try and preserve the multitude of panel lines.Things are starting to look distinctly 'Pig' (the moniker by which it was referred to in RAAF service) shaped now The MWW was painted up earlier before it was installed into the fuselage The real thing was dirtier and also very busy with a multitude of pipes and wiring but thankfully with the main gear assembly and speed-brake/MWW door in place very little can be seen. The forward wall looks a little bare however and there is that dirty great seam running down the centre which is bothering me and will need to be remedied, cheers, Pappy Edited April 2, 2023 by Pappy 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 3, 2023 Share Posted April 3, 2023 Tidy work again Even in the bits and bays hidden underneath the pig's belly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 3, 2023 Author Share Posted April 3, 2023 2 hours ago, Col. said: Tidy work again Even in the bits and bays hidden underneath the pig's belly. Thanks Col, Just three more days to go and I can get some more work done over the Easter break, cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 7, 2023 Author Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) G'day people, I have nearly completed the cockpit. The PE details provided a nice IP but the nav's side lacks the prominent VID scope. I scratchbuilt a representation and then this was painted and added to the right side of the IP A PE LCSS sight (most F-111s did not have a HUD) was cut from some clear acetate. With the exception of the EF-111A (the EWO had a dedicated EW station) , F-111s retained dual controls with dual throttles, sticks and rudders. I added the two seats of throttles to the consoles as well as the ejection handles located on either side of the centre console. I also added a representation of the LPY stowage as these were not worn by the crew in ffight. In the event of an overwater ejection the crew capsule was designed to ffoat and the control colums had a secondary function of being bilge pumps! The visible seam at the front of the MWW was also dealt with. I added a forward bulkhead part to cover the seam and added some very basic details. I was not really shooting for accuracy (it isn't) instead I was hoping to add some bulkhead detail that adds a level of 'busyness' The fin has now been attached and faired in so now a few other airframe tasks could be completed The side fuselage engraving of Hasegawa's F-111 kits tends to become very faint and almost disappears. I scribed in the details representing the various engine access doors, formation lights, fire inspection panels etc. cheers Pappy Edited April 7, 2023 by Pappy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Nice update Pappy. While it's easy to single out the cockpit for praise your quality workmanship is evident throughout the entire airframe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianfuxia Posted April 7, 2023 Share Posted April 7, 2023 Great work on the cockpit! If I was in that thing staring into that black tube you scratch built, I'm pretty sure I'd puke into it, too! I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would be trying to concentrate on that screen head-down while bouncing around at low level. Great modelling so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted April 7, 2023 Author Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) 21 hours ago, Col. said: Nice update Pappy. While it's easy to single out the cockpit for praise your quality workmanship is evident throughout the entire airframe. Hi Col, thanks very much. The next goal is to get the fuselage completed as the way Has breaks down their F-111 kits, it is about 80% of the kit and all the other bits are separate assemblies which can be added afterwards 18 hours ago, bianfuxia said: Great work on the cockpit! If I was in that thing staring into that black tube you scratch built, I'm pretty sure I'd puke into it, too! I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would be trying to concentrate on that screen head-down while bouncing around at low level. Great modelling so far! Thanks, I am sure that some did! I get dizzy just reading in a car so I can't imagine how it would be at night while booming and zooming around in the dark while having to concentrate with your head in a bucket 😢, but I guess that is what training is for, cheers, Pappy Edited April 8, 2023 by Pappy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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