RAF Merlin GR.1 from an Academy 1:48 F-IIIA

[Big Bird]

Been a while since my last whif build, so I'm going to build this for the GB and upcoming What If Group build on Britmodeller.com if that's allowable?

With the cancellation of the TSR.2 project in 1965, the British Government placed an order with General Dynamics for 100 F-111 aircraft. The specification of the British airframes differed from the initial F-111A and thus was given the designation F-111K.

General Dynamics experienced several problems with the F-111 that was delaying the start of production of the F-111K, Britain would have been prepared to wait if it had not been for the loss of two Vulcan bombers which after relinquishing their nuclear deterrent role had switched to the low level strike role. The thinking being that the large, strong delta wing would be ideally suited to the low level environment. However this was not the case, after the 2nd Vulcan crash whilst at low level the wreckage was taken to RAE Farnborough where it was reassembled and inspected. What was found was very disturbing and led to the grounding of every Vulcan. Just about every aircraft showed signs of severe fatigue of the airframe.

This left the RAF in desperate need of an aircraft for the low lever penetration and strike role. The British Government approached General Dynamics and was offered 50 F-111A aircraft as a stopgap until the F-111K was ready. This offer was accepted. These aircraft were delivered to 9, 12 35 and 617 Squadrons. At a delivery and naming ceremony at RAF Scampton The F-111s were given the Name Merlin and the designation GR.1

The GR.1s were to serve until 1973 by which time the British Government had got a little fed up with waiting and in order to keep costs lower and speed up delivery had opted to change it's order from the K variant to the Australian C variant.

Upon delivery of the F-111Cs They took on the name and designation Merlin GR.3. The GR.1 were returned to General Dynamics for conversion to EF-111A Ravens.

My build is X ? ?  of 617 Squadron at RAF Scampton in 1969


I pinched this picture from the internet, I don't know who owns it but I use it here for illustration purposes only and respect the intellectual property rights of the owner

Box and sprue photos

[Shasper]

Can't wait to see her done!

[buzzbomb]

should come up a treat

[GTX]

 

Regards,

Comrade Gregorski (Commissar of all F-111 GB things)

[Big Bird]

Sat/Sun 14/15

Right I actually got started!

Cockpit done





It's very basic so I'm not going to do a lot with it.

U/C assemblies



Taking shape



More next week...

Saturday 21st

First job today was to attack the seams with sanding sticks and Me Surfacer





Next I moved onto the wings and the wing swing/plylon assembly. Looks a bit Heath Robinson...





Guess what? It appears to work





Both wings done





It works well





Top surface of the wings on





Still working on them seams



More tomorrow...

[rickshaw]

I thought that the outermost pylons were fixed on the F-111 or am I mistaken?

[Big Bird]

I thought that the outermost pylons were fixed on the F-111 or am I mistaken?

I believe you are right... Oh well the RAF techies have been at mine

One thing though any ideas what I should hang on the outers? I'm hanging fuel tanks on the four inners. What bombs/missiles were in use in the early 70s?

Today's progress

Only a little done today, Fuselage top on



And the cockpit/nose section in place



How's this for a seam?







And the tailplane assembly ready



More next week

[Gondor]

I think you have put the wing pylons on back to front Mish. Looking good tho.

I agree..... but then it is a what if

Gondor

[Big Bird]

Hmmmm not sure about the pylons they look right, but the instructions leave a lot to the imagination... I'm still rying to work out how the MLG goes together and fits 

Not a lot done this morning, in fact all I've done is paste some filler of the the cockpit to fuselage join. The step is too much to sand alone, so I'm 'blending' it in with some filler.





After a lot of sanding this afternoon I've got it to this stage





Plenty more to go.

[Big Bird]

That join is final beaten! I hope...





WHOOSH

[McColm]

Looking good.
Are you going to add a reconnassiance pack to the nose?