DONE @ p.3 +++ 1:72 Panavia Tornado F.6 of RAF 5 Squadron, 2018

Dizzyfugu · September 12, 2018, 12:43:24 AM

Well, roundabout two weeks to go for the GB, and I might try to add an eighth entry - somewhat inspired by Kit's Tornado F.5 build with "extensions", but a different interpretation of a Tornado ADV upgrade. Basis will be the Italeri kit (recently got one cheap w/o clear parts, but I found suitable replacements in the donor bank!), and changes will be rather subtle. The idea is an engine upgrade towards the type's late career, and the paint scheme will be different from the standard light grey livery, too.

PR19_Kit · September 12, 2018, 03:36:12 AM

Now that a 2 week extension's been granted to the build end date you've got a whole month to go.

That's long enough to build a whole SQUADRON of F6s at your rate Thomas.

Dizzyfugu · September 12, 2018, 05:06:51 AM

I guess so, too...

I am just finishing a non-GB project right now, but work on the Tonka hardware might start this evening. I've already secured some donor parts and have been bathing the new/old clear parts in oven cleaner for a week in order to get the old paint off, this should move fast (since the kit is not very complicated).

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · September 12, 2018, 11:46:27 PM

Work actually started, with several non-critical sub-assemblies and parts cleaning. Most of the F.3 will be retained, but, as mentioned above, the engine will be changed, and with it some visible parts like the exhausts and, most of all, the air intakes. The latter will be the actual stunt of this build, because of the complex location in the wing roots and the curved fuselage flank. Armament will also be upgraded - I had some AMRAAMs earmarked, but found yesterday a Eurofighter/Typhoon kit which comes with four Meteor AAMs, a more British ordnance option.

For instance, the exhausts will be changed in order to mimic EJ200 engines (with F-18 implants from an F404)

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The ordnance, four Meteor AAMs and four different AIM9s (which are better than the OOB missiles):

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And a look at the interior:

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

PR19_Kit · September 13, 2018, 02:16:25 AM

Veeeeeery interesting.

Dizzyfugu · September 13, 2018, 03:04:51 AM

I am really curious how this will turn out. The intakes will be a major stunt, but I gess that this Tonka will look even more racy than the pure F.3 (at least when compared with the stout IDS).

Transplants from an Academy MiG-23!

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The size fits quite well, but they are naturally much more slender than the Tonka's orginal wedge-shaped intakes with horizontal ramps. For instance, I added a spacer from 1mm styrene sheet on the back side, so that the new intake/splitter plate does not sit directly on the fuselage. On the lower fuselage, in front of the landing gear wells, the shape under the original airtakes had to be adapted to the new parts, too.

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some gaps on the lower and upper side had to be filled - in an initial step with styrene stripes/plates:

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The fin is taken OOB, just a small antenna fairing added to the leading edge:

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

McColm · September 13, 2018, 03:12:54 AM

What about adding the Eurofighter wings to your tonka?

Dizzyfugu · September 13, 2018, 08:05:16 AM

Nah, I want to create an evolutionary step between the F.3 and the Eurofighter, so I'll stay close to the "original".

But your suggestions could become a late CF-105 successor?

Gondor · September 13, 2018, 08:17:20 AM

So an upgrade to the weapons and engines?

Eurojet EJ200 engines along with the Meteors you have already mentioned?

Gondor

Dizzyfugu · September 13, 2018, 08:28:19 AM

Yup, an obvious combo.

Gondor · September 13, 2018, 08:57:01 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on September 13, 2018, 08:28:19 AM
Yup, an obvious combo.

I have a similar plan for an F-4F to become and F-4F ICE++

You could also add small details such as a commercial SATNAV aerial to the spine of the aircraft

Gondor

Dizzyfugu · September 14, 2018, 12:28:39 AM

Hardware makes quick progress; yesterday I closed the fuselage halves and worry now about the massive PSR all around the hull... In parallel, work on ordnance and air intakes goes on, too - once the fuselage is "clean" the implantation stunt can take place: of a pair of MiG-23 intakes with vertical splittter plates!

PR19_Kit · September 14, 2018, 04:33:51 AM

I'm glad it's not just me who has that problem with that kit, those fuselage halves just DON'T fit top to bottom.

You can't help thinking that a few more locating pegs would help, as I recall the only ones are right at the nose and back near the tailplane!

Dizzyfugu · September 14, 2018, 04:46:57 AM

Totally agree. But it would not have been different if the fuselage would be split vertically: the square diameter, with its vertical side walls (and top and bottom) are a big problem for the molds' construction. More locator pins, even though generally helpful, would IMHO hardly help - I guess that thicker side walls would be a more effective solution? Well, I have built enough Italeri Tonka not to panic about this, but it's still a nuissance.

Dizzyfugu · September 15, 2018, 03:52:25 AM

Things have turned messy. If you ever wondered whether it was possible to mount MiG-23 air intakes on a Tonka... Well, it is possible, but not recommended!

Massive PSR involved, with 2C and NC putty:

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Since the original air intake ducts would not be there anymore I also decided to modify the characeteristic, swung "edge" on top of the wing gloves into a straight line - this was done with NC putty and the help of thick adhesive tape as a template. Worked better than expected!

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The landing gear wells also needed covers on the inside; I also implanted a vertical styrene tube into the fuselage, in a prospect towards the beauty pics, because the attachment of a holder to the model is quite difficult for flight scenes:

1:72 Panavia "Tornado F.6"; aircraft "ZF205/CG" of the Royal Air Force 5 Squadron; RAF Cranwell, 2018 (Whif/Kitbashing) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr