Tim's Airfix F-111A - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

 

Joining you with this, early F-111A kit.  A rare find at Jet Age,  the tool was later modified to an F-111E.

This a 1973 box, which was about when I received one for Christmas.

Instructions, and what Airfix made of the F-111.   Mention of a UK version, and the US Navy's F-111B.

Parts, in one of Airfix's yucky plastic colours.  A novel feature of the F-111, is the crew escape capsule which you can see.

And decals - onto my window for bleaching.

[81-er]

Nice to have you joining us again, Tim  Airfix have certainly had some "interesting" colour choices for their plastic over the years. I'm pretty sure I built a Bf 109 in that colour plastic as a kid, I suspect an older kit passed on to me from a modeller friend of my grandparents as the "new" boxing kits I remember from the 80's were either grey, black, or white plastic.

 

James

[stevej60]

Wow as soon as I saw that box art and blue plastic I was taken right back to a happier time and place.Thanks Tim and good luck.

[modelling minion]

Another great choice Tim and a real blast from the past, I imagine this boxing is very hard to find nowadays. Very interested to see how you get on. 

[theplasticsurgeon]

Some preparation.  The escape capsule is nearly complete.

White gloss airbrushing of wing lower sides, and control surfaces.

[modelling minion]

Looks just as good as your other F-111 Tim. 👍

[81-er]

Nice work with this one too, Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Completion of my preparation, by airbrushing Humbrol 40 gloss grey on the upper surfaces.

[modelling minion]

Looks just as good as your other build Tim, nice work.

[81-er]

Nice paintwork, Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Emerging from  the variable geometry phase of the paint-shop to assemble the aircraft hull.

I've lubricated the wing pivots with vaseline, heatsmashed the linkage pins - then assembled the upper and lower fuselage parts.  

Tailplane links were damaged, so have been fixed.

Then from the underside.  F-111A, B, C, FB and EF versions had Triple Plow translating cowl air intakes, 

identified by those huge splitter plates.  Later variants had blow in intakes. 

These omitted the splitter plates, and seeing the F-111F at Cosford, I couldn't quite believe how far out the intake actually is..  

And finally with the escape capsule fitted.  There's loads of space in the nose for ballast,

and it can be fitted last of all.

[modelling minion]

Thats very neat work Tim and very nearly a complete airframe. 

[81-er]

That's all progressing very nicely, Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Canopy and tail fitted,  painting is completed.  Nosecone is dryfitted - until ballast is determined.

[modelling minion]

Also looking good Tim, there's plenty of room in that nose for ballast.

[81-er]

This one's also looking the part, Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Decals.

About at the end of their utility, and needed a bit more bleaching.

[modelling minion]

You also did well to get these to work as well Tim, and they also look good. 

[81-er]

As with your other build, I'm stuggling to spot the issues in the photos. I think both builds look good

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Both of my F-111 models have three ejection triangle decals.   On each I've installed one just behind the canopy on  each side.

Does anyone know where the third goes?  I can't spot it.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Undercarriage fitted.

And onto those wheels.  Surprisingly, this model isn't a tailsitter - even with the wings back.

Minimal ballast in that nosecone, which is dryfitted so far.

Completion of assembly for this kit.

I'm just going to give it a coat of matt - then completion. 

[modelling minion]

Brilliant that she isn't a tail sitter Tim, one of the benefits of having a massive nose! She looks really good and I hope that the matt coat goes smoothly. 

[81-er]

Nice to see her up on her legs, Tim

 

James

[Jabba]

I have just looked throug hthe old Ian Allan book on the F-111 that shows many a photo of the Grey "A"s and "B"s and I can only see 2 triangles. They may vary slightly in their positioning, but there  only appear to be 2.

[theplasticsurgeon]

Completed as the first F-111A prototype.