Tim's US Navy TFX - COMPLETED

[theplasticsurgeon]

Joining you with this TFX kit,  to complete as the US Navy F-111B.  A very rare kit from Veteranius.

This a 1969 box, bought for the shorter nose.

Instructions, and a bit of the aircraft's politics.  

 

Parts, showing the crew escape capsule.  Refined, but raised surface detail.

The US Navy schemes - I have doubts about the Atlantic and Pacific codes.

[Jabba]

A nice find. VF-101 coded AD was the Atlantic training Sqn of the Tomcat, so it could have been the F-111B one. The Tomcat pacific training Sqn was VF-124, but was coded NJ.

[modelling minion]

Welcome to the GB Tim and with a great choice, I hadn't expected to see a prototype US Navy F-111 but I am very pleased to see one. Very interested to see how you get on with this one. 

[81-er]

Welcome, Tim  Like Craig, I wasn't expecting to see an F-111B in the GB, but it's most welcome

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Some preparation.  The escape capsule is nearly complete.

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

[Planebuilder62]

Hi @theplasticsurgeon

Have you seen @Navy Bird’s F-111B in the Aircraft WIP section?
 

Regards Toby

[modelling minion]

Nice progress Tim.

[81-er]

A nice bit of progress there, Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

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

[modelling minion]

Nice job on the grey Tim, looks to be a smooth coat.

[TheyJammedKenny!]

Do I recall correctly that this kit had functional retraction for the landing gear?  If so, that's a handful.  

[theplasticsurgeon]

3 hours ago, TheyJammedKenny! said:

Do I recall correctly that this kit had functional retraction for the landing gear?  If so, that's a handful.  

Yes, I believe you're correct.  I'll check what the box actually says - but the instructions are unclear and far more complex than Airfix.

BUT  -  it won't be retracting on my model.

[81-er]

Have you posted the right photo there, Tim? That looks like the wrong coloured plastic for this kit

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Some undercarriage parts are damaged, so I'm building this in flight mode.

I've added some plasticard tabs to secure the undercarriage doors.

Lubricated the wing pivots with pencil graphite, then assembled the airframe.  This shows the longer wings of the F-111B version.

and a view of the underside.

 

Edited the next day:  Canopy removed, to enable pilot figures to be added after completion of white painting. 

[modelling minion]

Very nice work Tim, it will be a good comparison to have this one in flight. 

[81-er]

It's looking good, Tim. The wings are very noticably longer

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Pilots, canopy and tail fitted,  painting is completed.  Nosecone is dryfitted.

[modelling minion]

Looking really good Tim, and showing the differences from a stock F-111 very nicely.

[81-er]

She's looking very sharp (or should I say blunt with that nose?) now Tim

 

James

[theplasticsurgeon]

Decals

Beyond their utility,  dried out, and needed more bleaching.

[modelling minion]

You did well to get them to work at all Tim, they look good. 

[81-er]

I wouldn't have spotted any issues with the decals if you hadn't mentioned it, Tim, and even then all I can see is (possibly) a vague hint of yellowing around the serial numbers

 

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]

Jet-pipes

Cockpit and radar parts.

Completion of assembly for this kit.

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

[modelling minion]

Just as good as your standard F-111 Tim, just with a much shorter nose!