rafharrier Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Hello, As the title show, this time I'm going to make a version of the TSR.2 for the electronic warfare and SEAD missions, used by the Israeli Air Force from mid '80. The building of my EF-112I started last long weekend and here we are a first lot of pictures. New nose cone was my first deal, trying to catch a “look†like the Mirage/Kfir families. The main plastic part is from the Heller Mirage IV nose cone, plus some spare air intakes/scoops. A long pitot tube is from the Airfix Jaguar GR.1. Some panel lines were scribed too. The cockpit tube and instrument panels were painted medium grey base, with some detail parts repackaged from a F-4’s cockpit and Vigilante photo etched parts. MFDs were added to the pilot panel. After that, main engine intakes were fitted and the fuselage can be glued. Bye for now. CIAO! Piero Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 What a cool project!!! Wonderful detailing as well! Lookingforward to see some nice desert cammo on it later :D Cheers! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rom Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 waouh! the iaf scheme will be awesome on this plane!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spilloneforever Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Great! As a common friend already told, if we weren't sure about the quality of your "serious" jobs, I'll say that "what if" are your best expression so far :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Robyjet Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Hello, great work as usual, but it seems that you absolutely don't like the TSR2 nose And another stunning cockpit !!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 If it turns out anything like your other TSR.2, it's going to be a show-stopper! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotaliscia Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 You're crazy, man.... The common friend Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jack-Swiss Posted May 4, 2009 Share Posted May 4, 2009 Wonderful.-...that's really creative project! Can't wait to see more of it already! Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cr7driver Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 This should be good! Keep posting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rafharrier Posted May 5, 2009 Author Share Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) Hello my frined, many thanks for your kindly words on this new project. Today I'm gonna tell you "the truth behind the secret history", based on the novel created by my friend Fulvio and Roberto. "... In the mid-70s, with an operation at the limit of legality, the United States acquired 4 TSR.2 (GR.1) aircraft to be employed as "Special Operations Aircraft". These aircraft were officially registered in the USAF inventory as F-111M in order to favour counterespionage and intelligence activities but, using an already experienced trick, mainly to hide the costs of this acquisition behind a fake new version of the Aardvark. With a strange coincidence, the transfer to the United States territory was made by 4 American crews coming back from a Squadron Exchange in Boscombe Down, England. After a very short service, mainly during the night in order to complete the training of 4/5 others aircrews, the traces of the aircraft got lost. The unique existing official document attests the demolition, just 4 years after the official acquisition of the F-111M, of "4 aircraft (type EF-112) due to reached structural limits and airframe’s hours limit". The EF-112 designation has been commonly accepted as the acronym code for the F-111M program but the sole proof of existence of those airplanes is, essentially, a bunch of pressed bits and pieces still visible today inside the cemetery of Davis Monthan. Experts from everywhere still came today to see the leftovers but, due to the poor condition of the wreckage, are not able to confirm that the scraps actually belong to a TSR.2 (or F-111M or, yet, a EF-112) aircraft. Beside the official story, eyewitnesses assert that 4 aircraft (reported as being very similar in shape to the English TSR.2) took off from Andrews AFB one evening during the August of 1980. They told also that "nobody saw the crews boarding" and observed that “the security around the aircraft was unusually strengthened and the airplanes seemed to be very heavy during the taxiing and takeoff, probably because they were loaded with a set of 4 tanks but carried no weapons at all.†No confirmation is available about the markings carried by the aircraft or about the final destination of the mission, but as reported again by the witnesses “… it was like the takeoff of the very long ferry-flight similar to those flown by the actual F-111s departing for Europe…â€. Until now, no photographic documentation of the EF-112I exists, as was for the of A-6s used by the Israelis during the 80' or for the camouflaged B-58s used in Vietnam by USAF during the second half of the 60'. This doesn’t mean that all these aircraft didn’t exist in the reality; it does mean that, sometimes, the secrets behind some military operation is really hard to dissolve even after some decades. From a technical point of view, the majority of the specific avionic and electronic packages made by UK and US were disembarked and replaced with Israelis-built equipment, specifically designed to cope the strict requirements of the IAF...". CIAO! Piero Edited May 5, 2009 by rafharrier Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spooky 01 Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Interresting story, which I almost forgot about... As I recall: weren't these bird's "upgraded" with small canard-wing's for better slow-speed handeling, as seen on the Kfir ? (Hint, hint, hint...!!!) "Check Six....." Spooky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spilloneforever Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 (edited) Interresting story, which I almost forgot about...As I recall: weren't these bird's "upgraded" with small canard-wing's for better slow-speed handeling, as seen on the Kfir ? (Hint, hint, hint...!!!) "Check Six....." Spooky. Yeah! I think Spooky is right. The photograph of EF-112 I have at home shows without any doubts a couple of small canard near the nose... ;-) Edited May 6, 2009 by Spilloneforever Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spooky 01 Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 Yeah! I think Spooky is right. The photograph of EF-112 I have at home shows without any doubts a couple of small canard near the nose... ;-) "Check Six....." Spooky. P.S.: I thought I was the only one having that photo... Guess You've got some high-placed friends as well. ;) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pirata Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Interesting project. Of course, by the time he pulls the landing gear up, he'll be in Damascus! Looking forward to watching your work. Patrick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
starflyer Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 I'm impressed from your creative capability, not only to transform the kit, but also because the "secret" story. Very actractive and beautiful "what if", I stay tuned for progress of this incredibile work. Ciao Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rafharrier Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 (edited) Hello, here we go again with the EF-112I. Construction and "customization" is done. You'll find out some detail on the adds. Next step will be to add the clear parts than starting to paint. Actually, just after the pics were taken, I removed the ECM/RWR fins over the wings because looks like the old "Bat-Mobile"! CIAO! Piero Edited May 14, 2009 by rafharrier Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Absolutely awesome!! :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Damian Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Wow, wow and more wow!!! This is certainly going to be one whiff to watch!! Hats off to you sir!! D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MiG31 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Awesome conversion. I don't know why you want to limit its on-the-deck speed performance with the nose job, but it still looks pretty neat. Where are you getting the greeblies for the various scoops and other bits, by the way? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vultures1 Posted May 14, 2009 Share Posted May 14, 2009 Really cool concept and excellent execution. I look forward to watching your progress Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rafharrier Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Hello, painting is started. The scheme is generally based on the one used on the F-4E Phantoms/Kurnass in the mid '80s with IAF 3-tone colours. The sand and green colours are already on with some weathering. Next will be the Tan. CIAO! Piero Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotaliscia Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 (edited) How did you obtained such a sharp edges? Paper masks or your usual blu-tac sausages? I'm ever bewitched by Israeli camo and this one looks better than the real ones. A really effective effort Jedi. Paolo Edited May 19, 2009 by rotaliscia Quote Link to post Share on other sites
giles Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Ciao! Piero! ;) I was wondering where you have been...I didn't know you do whatifs. Stunning conversion, sharp camou scheme (as usual), very enjoyable to watch you build. Giles Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aigore Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 *drool* Oh so cool! and that paint scheme is coming along nicely ;) Keep it up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rafharrier Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 How did you obtained such a sharp edges?Paper masks or your usual blu-tac sausages? I'm ever bewitched by Israeli camo and this one looks better than the real ones. A really effective effort Jedi. Paolo Ciao Paolo, thanks my friend! The sand camouflage colour was airbrished first free-hand, than the green camouflage colour pattern was airbrushed using only blu-tac rolls for masking the separation between sand and green. See you soon! CIAO! Piero Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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