1/ 48 BAC F-111K

[Colin W]

Hi Guys

Here is my rendition of the F-111k. I started this on Weds night and got into the cockpit.

I have used the kit parts and the multitude of pics to get the detail about right. All mods to the tub are plastic rod and strip. I have cut up an old Italeri Tornado rear instrument panel to get a representation of what the F-111 might have looked like in the same role.

Next steps are the intakes and the painting of this.

Good to be started!

Colin W

Edited May 18, 2008 by Colin W

[Colin W]

hi

I have repaired the link above as well as fitted the cockpit into the front fuselage. Pilot instrument panel is made up according to the std one and printed on a laser printer. The WSO panel is made up from parts of an Italeri Tornado which should represent the plane doing the same job in service.

Hope the links stay live!

The seat belts are my first use of the pre-painted ones from Aires. They look great but don't fit in with the rest of the look. I painted over them with a light wash to make them fit in better.

Intakes next..

Colin W

[nimrod77]

Looking forward to seeing this finished Always thought that it would be an interesting model to have on the shelf.

[Colin W]

Post May holiday update

I am amazed to find so many versions of the RAF F-111K on the web. I almost think I'm the last modeler to think of this idea. Most of the others are a simple swap of the markings so I thought I'd go a bit furthur. The biggest issue with the F-111 was the delay into service and I believe a lot of this was due to the complex design of the intakes. I figured that with the defense of the realm depending on getting the plane into service then the British would have taken matters into their own hands and designed new intakes to be fitted to their planes.

I therefore present the F-111k revised intake configuration. Looking very similar to later Tornado intakes only larger, the intake features an upper ramp which lowers at high speed and a curving structure to allow direct air induction at high angles of attack. The inner lip of the intake is separated from the fuselage by a gap to allow boundary air to separate.

This should allow a bit more variation to the normal theme.

Has anyone tried to animate the 3 sets of pylons that come with the kit. The mechanism is for 3 but the instructions only describe using 2. Is the wing too thin to fit the 3rd set? Has anyone tried it???

Cheers

Colin

Edited May 5, 2008 by Colin W

[CraigSargent]

I think you'll find that the third set never swept with the wing but were fixed in one direction straight ahead (perpindicular to the wing leading edge) and pretty much only used for ferry flights.

[Colin W]

Thanks Craig

I knew there would be a reason. Interesting that when Zhungfu coppied the kit they coppied the same 6 pylon mechanism as well.

Cheers

Colin

[Aggressor Supporter]

Nice looking cockpit!

[ChristopherC]

I thought the outer pylons would point forward when the wings were swept, but were fixed so that when the wings were forward they toed inward.

I like the way your F-111's coming along Colin. Over what time frame would you see this thing operating, would it still be in service today? Also, what do you plan to hang under it? Brimstones perhaps?

Chris

Edited May 10, 2008 by ChristopherC

[Colin W]

Well a busy weekend and a Sunday update.

Friday I got the mechanism for the wings assembled on the inner 2 pylons. Thanks for the advice above but with all my moving around I like the idea of the moving pylons and swinging wings. I know its a bit toy like but we are big kids aint we!

Once everything was swinging I quickly glued the top wings on and the get some strength in to it I put the upper fuselage on as well. The seems a bit thin and might have benefited from a bit of strengthening underneath. If you've not done yours yet, glue a few laminations of card or some sprue to stiffen this part.

I couldn't wait to put the nose on so this got done today. I got a big gap behind the CEM. Not sure if this is because my new intakes prevent the parts flexing or quite what happened but Im sure I can fix it with a few applications of super glue and filler.

It quite a big thing this F-111!

Time line and weapons I've not really thought about. Late 90's I suppose as I plan to use Tornado decals. I dont generally fit weapons as they get knocked off too easily but I have to or whats the point of the moving pylons? I'll have a look in the spares bin and see what I can find.

More later....

Colin W

[SteveV22FE]

Looking good. I am really interested how the intakes look on the bottom of the fuselage.

[theplasticsurgeon]

I thought the outer pylons would point forward when the wings were swept, but were fixed so that when the wings were forward they toed inward.

I like the way your F-111's coming along Colin. Over what time frame would you see this thing operating, would it still be in service today? Also, what do you plan to hang under it? Brimstones perhaps?

Chris

I saw a profile book on the F-111 today - which confirmed this. Inner 2 pylons on each wing stay parallel, outer 2 are fixed - and seldom used in service. The picture I saw had all 4 pylons parallel with wings forward, BUT I've also seen outer pylons toed in for take-off. Optimised for ferrying is my thought.

[ElectroSoldier]

All One Elevens have provision for 4 pylons per wing, making 8 parent pylons in total.

Of those 8 the inner 2 on each wing are the only ones that can move with the wing, the outer 2 on each wing are fixed, and only point forward when the wings are at 26 degrees of sweep.

26 degrees of sweep still allows the moving surfaces to move even with the wings swept back slightly.

[Colin W]

Well.

Another busy day. I cut down the center of the CEM and reshaped it with a bit of filler to eliminate the step. Put the fin on and got into some applications of filler.

I built the fin by sandwiching some PE fret between the halves and then used this as a tongue to form a joint with the 2 pieces of plasticard making the tail RWR.

Underneath has come out quite nicely with the intakes fairing in well to the fuselage.

Next step will be some preparation for paint, undercarriage and canopy.

Colin W

[Colin W]

Big apparent progress here with the canopy now on and the fill/sand process coming to an end. I gave her a cost of white Mr surfacer 1000 to get the white scheme and then a few layers of Dark Sea Grey. I looked at the F-111 on Hyperscale and realised I had forgotten the walk way lines so I have painted the appropriate areas black ready for masking. I'll cover these in fine pin striping tape and then spray the camouflage over the top.

I used Craig Sargent's excellent F-111 in the Gallery for reference on where these should be.

I quite like the grey and Black scheme.

Colin W

[Jack-Swiss]

Nice work so far!!!

keep up the great work!!!!

Cheers

[Aggressor Supporter]

I quite like the grey and Black scheme.

I agree those colors on the Aardvark looks good.

[CraigSargent]

Looking good Col. I would have thought you'd be doing a wrap around grey/green scheme a la Tornado?

[jochemp]

Nice touch with the detailing of the seats, they're superb, Cheers.

[Colin W]

Scheme will be Tonado Craig. The black lines are just for the walkway lines. I'm looking for pics of the F-111 scheme to see if there was one worked out, otherwise I'll follow the Tornado Pattern.

Cheers

Colin

[Colin W]

Hi

Well some real progress now.

Black lines were masked and covered as planned and the base coat of dark sea grey. This I varied with light and dark panels to try and get a worn appearance. Its good to practice some times!. I Masked the gray and added the green with the same types of variation to the hues. Masking was quickly stripped and undercarriage legs added to let it stand up without keep scuffing the paint on the lower nose.

Next task is a few aerials and a base of future for decaling. Not really tackled the jet pipes yet but wheels and stores are coming along.

Cheers

Colin

[domvickery]

beautiful is all i got to say brill work.

just a quick question i too have the huge step when adding the forward fuselage how did you get it to fit?

[Colin W]

I thought I had caused this by distorting the fuselarge while changing the intakes but maybe not.

The cure is to saw down the joint at the back of the cockpit and make a V shape. the parts can then be pushed down to meet the top section of the rear fuselage. Once the v is right fold and glue with CA super glue. Then find some way to get a piece of plastic under the front part so as to make a strong overlapping joint with the rear. If you dont do this and just glue the parts together the butt joint will keep poping open. once you have some form of joint then strengthen it and add filler. I actually used only a little filler in the end as the above worker well.

Hope this helps

Colin

[Mark T]

I thought I had caused this by distorting the fuselarge while changing the intakes but maybe not.

The cure is to saw down the joint at the back of the cockpit and make a V shape. the parts can then be pushed down to meet the top section of the rear fuselage. Once the v is right fold and glue with CA super glue. Then find some way to get a piece of plastic under the front part so as to make a strong overlapping joint with the rear. If you dont do this and just glue the parts together the butt joint will keep poping open. once you have some form of joint then strengthen it and add filler. I actually used only a little filler in the end as the above worker well.

Hope this helps

Colin

I've found the best way to join the Academy fuselage halfs is to glue a strip of sheet styrene to the rear of the front fuselage half to use as a tongue. In the following photo's I've just put a strip of tape to indicate the position and size of the styrene I would use for this.

Hope this helps.

This is the quality of join you expect from this.

[martin_sam_2000]

great looking F-111. All aircraft look better in that wraparound camo!! I love the redesigned engine intakes. I cant wait to see this one dcalled and loaded out.

Sean

[Colin W]

Good solution mark but one that required prior knowledge of the issue which is where we slipped up. We'll know for next time, but if you are reading this before joining the fuselage halves then follow Mark T's proposal. Having got the finished article I reckon an internal support at the front of the rear section would be a worthwhile use for a piece of old sprue as well. The upper fuselage decking has too much flex for my liking.

Colin W