A is for Tiger

[tc2324]

Doing this for a GB elsewhere. Been away from whiffing for a while as I needed to do some real world stuff, oh the shame of it..... 

So continuing with my 74 Sqn `whif` theme after completing the Sepecat Jag a while back, another little known rumour that spread around like wildfire in 1966 was that after the cancellation of the TSR.2 Lord Shackleton, the defense minister at the time, was on the verge of ordering the F-111 with the Tigers supposedly listed as being the first squadron to take on the american jet.

How could I resist......



So I got to work on the front section and found a nice bolt that fitted perfectly to stop any tail sitting issues.......



Then too my surprise, the lugs that hold the swing wings in place were so snug that you could put the rest of the main fuselage together without have to fiddle about with it. This part of the build usually tends to put you off swing wing models as they are often too loose and find that you need another pair of hands to hold everything in place.





So I`ve finished with the two sections drying out before progressing further.

[NARSES2]

Good progress

[tc2324]

A quick progress piccie before I head off to work. Most of the main build is now complete and it has been an easy kit to build so far. Not the greatest of fits in some places which I`ll need to give some attention to at a later time but overall it`s going well.........  so far!

[Devilfish]

I like the idea, but in 1966, 74Sqn were operational with Lightnings, until the early 70's.  Expected entry date for the F-111 was meant to be '67-68 wasn't it?

[Thorvic]

I like the idea, but in 1966, 74Sqn were operational with Lightnings, until the early 70's.  Expected entry date for the F-111 was meant to be '67-68 wasn't it?

Yeap 7 sqdn & 15 sqdn were the ones that appeared to be earmarked for F-111K, although it was sent to Singapore in 67, its quite possible they envisaged swapping them over to Merlin (F-111K) when Singapore became independent in 71. At the time the F-111K was actually being procurred to replace the carriers East of Suez rather than the TSR2 in North West Europe and half the F-111K force would be on recon/tactical strike (inc Nuclear) East of Suez operating from the various Island garrisons around the Indian Ocean and supported by a new Joint RAAF base in Darwin, Australia. Thus its quite possible that they intended to keep the squadron in-theatre but re-rolled.

Anyway back to the F-111K build, its going well, odd to see it in that Esci/Ertl Green plastic as more familiar with the Grey Italeri boxing but yes their are some fit issues with the kit especially in the fwd to rear fuselage join. The most annoying aspect of that join being the missed chance to actually include the bomb bay as a separate part and have that floor plate match the bomb bay doors rather than being shy of the overall length  .
As your doing the F-111K, don't forget to scribe in or add a thin plastic card door template for the nose mounted retractable refuelling probe that in the panel ahead of the windscreen and slightly off the centre line so the pilot can actually see the tip of the probe and guide it into the receptacle

[tc2324]

I like the idea, but in 1966, 74Sqn were operational with Lightnings, until the early 70's.  Expected entry date for the F-111 was meant to be '67-68 wasn't it?

1966 would have been just about the right time for 74 to transition to the F-111 as their F.3 Lightnings were going to be replaced by the F.6 variant prior to heading off to Tengah. As I said, it was just the usual rumour mill spinning story after story about possible replacements and new equipment that I would imagine every Sqn suffers from. A few years later in 1971/72 prior to disbandment, as we already know, the Sepecat Jaguar rumour came up.

As your doing the F-111K, don't forget to scribe in or add a thin plastic card door template for the nose mounted retractable refuelling probe that in the panel ahead of the windscreen and slightly off the centre line so the pilot can actually see the tip of the probe and guide it into the receptacle

Cheers for info Thorvic,  although I`m not going to actually build the K version as such with the built in refuelling probe. I was going to go for an external one like the C-130. I just need to work out where this would best be placed.

Anyway......,

The bulk of the spray job is now complete and I`m pretty happy with it.

To be honest I wasn`t sure if this would look right in the RAF grey/green scheme so it`s a pleasent surprise that it suits it quite well.

[NARSES2]

It does look "right" in that scheme 

[lancer]

It does look "right" in that scheme 

Anything looks 'Right' in that cammo scheme...Even F111's

[Army of One]

Love it.....can't wait to see it finished......H

[Mossie]

Very nice!  I'd suggest a white ARTF over one or other of the colours, but it looks pretty good as it is.  Looking forward to seeing it all done.

[tc2324]

Cheers guys. 

Added a bit more colour today, glossed, washed and removed the masking on the canopy. I`ve given this a black underside instead of the white as in my mind this may be what the RAF may have done if they had taken delivery of the F-111.

Now just got to work on the u/c and then it`s decal time.

[tc2324]

So, all done with this now and I can get on with my next `real world` project which surprisingly does not involve 74 Sqn.... 

Here`s pictures of the finished build of a shiny new factory fresh delivered example of the F-111A delivered to 74 Sqn at Tenagh in 1969...,   well..., what if?

[NARSES2]

Well that has come out rather nice 

[kerick]

Always love the look of the F-111, no matter what the colors. Great work!

[Mossie]

Very nice job!

Added a bit more colour today, glossed, washed and removed the masking on the canopy. I`ve given this a black underside instead of the white as in my mind this may be what the RAF may have done if they had taken delivery of the F-111.

It's got precedent, the Chinooks were delivered with black undersides and they stayed in this scheme until conversion to HC.2 standard IIRC.