1/72 F-111B Build

[Gondor]

I decided that as I was modifying the Weapon Bay for my F-111K and I had always intended to open up the Weapon Bay when building an F-111B to show off it's AIM-54, that it would be a good idea to start work on the build at the same time as for the K version.

So, the base kit is Hasegawa's FB-111A but cross kitted with F-111C/G or it might not as I have moved parts around so often with some of my F-111 kits I am no longer 100% sure which box some of the parts started out in  Things got so bad when I had started building my "fleet" of F-111's that I had to write on the inside of the fuselage which version it was as sometimes the only difference is the instrument panel 

However, as either the FB-111A or the F-111G have all the requisite parts, Triple Plough II Intakes and Long wings and I have a conversion set from Pete's Hanger the time seams right to start the build.

I am basing my build on Prototype Number 7 which was regarded as being effectively to production standard shape wise. This will involve changing both the nose profile and the cockpit glazing profile as the rear of the cockpit was raised and the angle of the windscreen changed to a steeper slope that all other F-111's. An Italeri F-111A is donating its canopy as it is in separate parts which will help my modifying the glazing or at least making it look correct.

Decals will be from my spares box and will probably be of FV-1 Wolf-pack which was the first USN squadron to operate the F-14 which makes it rather appropriate to be the first to operate the F-111B

Gondor

[seadude]

Just something I've noticed........

Since you seem to like F-111's and now have three threads, why not start an F-111 Group Build in the Group Build forum?

[Gondor]

There was a Group Build back in 2010 and I am only building two kits at the moment though always thinking about the other F-111 builds that I have as well as items and plans for all my other bits and pieces such as actually starting my BoB GB build or two.

Gondor

[kitnut617]

I bought a F-111 kit sometime ago which is supposed to build into an F-111B, fairly sure it was an Hasegawa one (D'oh! Revell).  I'll have to see if I can remember which stash box I put it in

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/Revell%20H208%20F-111aba.JPG

[kerick]

Ah yes, the multi part kit! I built one many years ago. I still have the "B" nose part in the junk box.

[Thorvic]

Looking forward to the F-111B, don't forget to use Tommys revised drawing for the Production B :-

http://thanlont.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/f-111b-carrier-trials.html

[PR19_Kit]

I bought a F-111 kit sometime ago which is supposed to build into an F-111B, fairly sure it was an Hasegawa one (D'oh! Revell).  I'll have to see if I can remember which stash box I put it in

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/jpegs/Revell%20H208%20F-111aba.JPG

That was the kit I converted into an F-111E for a Scale Models magazine article. I quite liked it, a lot easier to build than the contemporary Airfix one, but the conversion was VERY difficult!

[Gondor]

Looking forward to the F-111B, don't forget to use Tommys revised drawing for the Production B :-

http://thanlont.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/f-111b-carrier-trials.html

Thank you Geoff, I already have scaled down that drawing to 1/72 for use as a pattern for the contour of the forward fuselage.

The Weapons Bay for this aircraft will be far simpler than the bay I intend to build for the F-111K as the B will have one of the AIM-54's inside it and the second one extended on it's trapeze which I will have to make up as I doubt very much that there are any pictures readily available of the mechanism to use as a guide.

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

The old Hasegawa F-102 and F-106 kits come with extended trapezes that you can use to show the missiles in the extended position. Maybe one of them might do the job for your F-111B?

[Gondor]

That's a great idea Kit as I have seen only a couple of pictures of an F-111 carrying Sidewinders on the trapeze and those were taken from outside of the Weapons Bay so no detail could be seen.

I have found that I need to modify the rear of the forward undercarriage bay. This also forms the front of the weapons bay so it needed to be thinned. It looks as if the roof of both are at the same hight which will help me align everything. Work does progress, though it is getting fiddly as the removal of plastic is making some bits very difficult to work with. My fault I suppose for taking this on 

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

The trapeze act is a great idea.

[kitnut617]

Sort of like this then ---

[PR19_Kit]

Here's a sprue shot of the F-102 trapezes. I think the F-106 ones are the same.



I may have some going spare if you don't have any Alastair?

[Gondor]

Sort of like this then ---

Very much like that 

Here's a sprue shot of the F-102 trapezes. I think the F-106 ones are the same.



I may have some going spare if you don't have any Alastair?

Thanks for the offer Kit, however I should have enough here as I have both an F-102 & F-106 that will be used as trainers so I can pinch the parts from either of those models.

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Trainers eh ? Side by side cockpits ?