F-111 group build
Komentarzy
2 16 July 2019, 19:59
Slavo HazuchaA warm welcome to the latest victim of Vark invasion! Its great to see that everyone has some different unique extra bits & pieces 🙂 I see you got the radar absorbing surfaces as decals for the intakes... Hope the Academy kit can muster some inlet interiors to put them on - the HB kit does not... 😄
16 July 2019, 20:09
Nathan DempseyOooh an Academy kit finally joins formation. I'll be watching this one intently Clifford since both of the Varks I have are Academy kits.
16 July 2019, 20:13
Clifford Keesler AutorI have built 3 of them, this is #4. They go together pretty well. I get the PE cockpit set which helps the cockpit a lot. And a vacuformed canopy from squadron, though there is really nothing wrong with the Academy canopy. The wheels are the weak part of the landing gear, so I use resin. Cutting Edge model works used to make seamless full length intakes for those kits, but I have not been able to find any. Overall it is not a bad kit. I will have to source aftermarket weapons for it, as the FB-111A version only comes with external tanks. Thank you for the warm welcome Slavo. I hope mine turns out 1/10 as nice as I know yours will be.
17 July 2019, 00:25
Clifford Keesler AutorFound a resin set of TP II resin intakes for the Academy kit. They are made by DMOLDS, just go to DMOLDS.com. I will not be getting a set. A bit above my budget at the moment.
17 July 2019, 00:49
Nathan DempseyI'm waiting for that DMOLD shop to re-open in August. I have several items I need from him.
17 July 2019, 01:31
Clifford Keesler AutorIf I get another F-111, I will most surley get the intakes. But I had to promise the wife I would cut back on the model money,as she let me buy a new truck yesterday.
17 July 2019, 01:34
Clifford Keesler AutorI have been wanting one for awhile, as I gave my son my last one, when his van died. I got a good deal on this one so I jumped on it.
17 July 2019, 01:55
Clifford Keesler AutorI have 2 closets full of kits, and a stack in the corner of my model room to build, so it's not like I won't have any models to build, plus I will "sneak" one in every now and then. LOL.
17 July 2019, 01:58
Clifford Keesler Autor@Stephan, yes I could not resist. I got all my resin bits today, so will get it started tomorrow, after I get the first coat of paint on the Voodoo. @Nathan, so I'm not the only one. LOL.
18 July 2019, 00:42
Slavo HazuchaClifford, no pressure please, I have a feeling that my build is going to be so slow that you can take all the time in the world for this and still finish well before me😉
18 July 2019, 07:13
Anthony FlanaganWell done on the cockpit! Looking forward to seeing how the rest goes.
20 July 2019, 00:21
Slavo HazuchaLuckily the canopy panels seem to be large enough to keep all this eye-candy visible once put together... Are you going for open or closed? Thumbs up also for handling 2 different kits with steady progress at the sam time😉 👍
20 July 2019, 16:45
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Stephan and Slavo. I will be going for the pen canopy, with crew figures aboard.
20 July 2019, 21:28
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you Tim and Michael. Hopefully I will get the cockpit finished tomorrow and the forward fuselage closed up. Spent most of today decaling the F-101. I got one side of it all done.
22 July 2019, 01:41
Clifford Keesler AutorI got the cockpit finished and installed. And forward fuselage closed up.
23 July 2019, 00:03
Donald Dickson III am thinking this is the exact same thing as mine. Those ejection seats are the same as in mine. Does it have working swing wings?
23 July 2019, 21:45
Clifford Keesler AutorYes it does. Your kit is just a re-box of the original Academy kit.
23 July 2019, 21:48
Slavo HazuchaMoving along nicely! I'm still struggling with my cockpit and the Eduard PE's... Looks good coming all together.
23 July 2019, 22:53
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much sir. Hope mine turns out half as good as I know yours will.
23 July 2019, 23:26
Donald Dickson IIThe product time line needs to be fixed. It does not show that.
And looking great!
24 July 2019, 01:01
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you Stephan. I haven't got much further on it. Trying to get the F-101 finished.
26 July 2019, 01:25
Greg BakerSince I just joined the Aardvark build, I'm now scoping out what everyone else is up to... your work is making me rethink my plan to leave the cockpit blank... Wow. Great!
26 July 2019, 02:05
Clifford Keesler AutorJust call me "Tail end Charlie", I can't believe I am so far behind. And am still waiting on parts.
1 August 2019, 23:15
Kerry COXI didn't realize just how detailed the Academy kit was. !
Looking good Clifford. 😉
2 August 2019, 01:22
Slavo HazuchaWow, it's taking shape quickly! Great progress - and not much need for a re-scribe on this one I hope😉
2 August 2019, 05:07
Clifford Keesler AutorActually I have been doing quite a bit of re-scribing. The panel lines are rather shallow, so have been making them a little deeper. Want to make sure it will take a wash. I got the drop tanks assembaled, sanded and primed along with the stabilators. Even with shims, nose to main body joint required a fair amount of filler, waiting for that to dry and my exhausht to arrive.
2 August 2019, 21:11
Clifford Keesler AutorI got all the filler sanded off and all the panel lines re-scribed. The vertical stab is installed along with the ventral strakes. Working on cleaning up the resin pylons and stinger. Still waiting on Nozzle P.E. set.
4 August 2019, 02:35
Slavo HazuchaFills the table quite some bit more than the Viggen... 🙂 Are you already set on a loadout-config?
6 August 2019, 19:45
Clifford Keesler AutorYea, but I thought they were only canted inboard 10 degrees. OH well to late to fix now. It is primed. Thank you Stephan,Slavo and Roland. @Slavo, it is going to have either 4 drop tanks and 2 SHRAM's or since the outboard pylons are wrong, I may remove them and jload it with 2 drop tanks and 2 BRU's of practice MK 82's on the inboard pylons. I have seen many pictures of 380 and 509th BW FB-111's loaded with practice MK-82's.
7 August 2019, 00:46
Slavo HazuchaIf you can fix them and do the 4-tank config that would IMO be a cool variant within the group-build... But plan B is also totally legitimate... In any case, a group-build, particularly with Hans on board is a great way to get an education boost about the aircraft 🙂
7 August 2019, 05:43
Clifford Keesler AutorPylons fixed, everything primed and ready for paint. I won't get around to paint until Friday. Tommorow will be a day at the dentist office, joy. LOL.
8 August 2019, 03:51
Stephan RyllThat's the things that can happen - but you overcome it 🙂 great work
8 August 2019, 17:53
Michael HickeyThis is going great Cliffy, keep up the good work, and have fun at the dentist.😢👍
8 August 2019, 22:43
Clifford Keesler AutorThanks Stephan and Michael. @ Michael, yea the dentist was a blast. I am still sitting here with half of my face numb. LOL. My bird will start to get it's colors tomorrow.
9 August 2019, 01:09
Slavo HazuchaDon't tell your Vark... it's better when it does not know you can't bite back...😉
9 August 2019, 04:49
Clifford Keesler AutorThe paint job stinks. The clear coat is rough, for some reason. Hopefully it will be ok when I apply the matt coat.
9 August 2019, 21:32
Clifford Keesler AutorYea, I think it will be ok, once I get the decals and matt coat on. You know we are always our own worst critic.
9 August 2019, 22:50
Nathan DempseyThe dark scheme does look cool on the F-111 🙂 Don't worry about that gloss too much Clifford, the matt will level it out a bit.
9 August 2019, 22:57
Clifford Keesler AutorI'm sure it will, not feeling so bad about it anymore, I will start decals tomorrow.
9 August 2019, 23:04
Kerry COXThe 'orange peel' effect can be minimised Clifford. 👍
Thankfully, there is little in the way of 'raised' detail that would be impacted if you gave it an overall gentle sand. 😉
What you have achieved so far is a credit to your patience and skills mate. 👍 🙂
10 August 2019, 00:16
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Kerry for your kind words and encouragement. The surface is more pebbley than orange peel, and that is what I was thing of doing, giving it a wee sanding, with a scotch bright pad.
10 August 2019, 03:00
Kerry COXA scotch bright pad is exactly what I was thinking actually, as it will not damage the plastic at all and that is a bonus. 👍
It will be a whole lot better this way. For sure. 😉
10 August 2019, 03:43
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Stephan. @ Kerry, I took a scotch bright pad to the bird. It took most of the orange peel away, but took some paint also. So from the cockpit back she got a total re-paint. I feel much better about it now. I am going to let the paint cure for a day before I even think about a gloss coat. This time I will use Alaclad Aqua Gloss.
10 August 2019, 23:09
Kerry COXIf your talking about the gloss 'base', then go for it. !
It's a brilliant paint for all occasions where black is called for. 👍
10 August 2019, 23:32
Slavo HazuchaI am happy to see it's coming back on track! The camo looks great, I hope that now all will go according to plan...
11 August 2019, 05:16
Clifford Keesler AutorAll my technical problems have been solved. It will get it's markings tomorrow. I tried to upload so new pictures last night, but my computer would not cooperate.
13 August 2019, 00:20
Treehugger"Minicraft" with 1:48 scale kit, I had no idea. 🙂 I've always associated Minicraft with 1:144 somehow.
13 August 2019, 05:26
Slavo HazuchaSolid progress, the sinister dark camo looks great with the varnish coat sorted, also like the wheels - a fair bit of flattening, but that just seems right for this slightly heavier lady😉
13 August 2019, 05:33
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Nathan, Treehugger, Michael, Slavo, Hans, Dutch, Maciej and Stephan. @Maciej I had never seen it either until I found the decal sheet. I must say it is my favorite F-111 color scheme.
13 August 2019, 20:11
Slavo HazuchaGood pace in the final turns before the finish line! The Caracal decals & Dark Vark scheme look rather nice, really good choice! 👍
13 August 2019, 21:40
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Slavo, That means a lot coming from you.
13 August 2019, 21:42
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Nathan, Augie, Stephan, and Michael. Your kind words mean a lot. The decals are all done, I am now applying a pin wash. I will not do a lot of weathering, as these birds seem to have been kept pretty clean. @ Augie, I like it so much I started another one. LOL.
15 August 2019, 01:10
Clifford Keesler AutorP.S. this one will be done in 509BW markings. so will have one of each.
15 August 2019, 01:11
DutchCliff, I really like the way that you painted and weathered the exhaust nozzles. They truly look authentic. R/ Dutch
15 August 2019, 02:45
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Dutch and Michael, your kind words are most appreciated. @Dutch, I am glad you like the exhaust nozzles. I was afraid I might of overdone them. I am building another FB-111 in 509th markings. Another Dark Vark, so there will be one in 509th just for you. LOL.
15 August 2019, 19:45
Slavo HazuchaLooking good on the final meters, I really like the tail, the contrast colors on the decals work very well with the dark camo. 👍 I hope I get the "neck" seam as well (= invisible) as you & Hans did lately!
17 August 2019, 22:17
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much James and Slavo. Your kind words are much appericated.
18 August 2019, 05:55
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Donald. Your kind words are much appreciated.
22 August 2019, 21:01
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you James, Stephan and Augie, your kind words are much appreciated. @James, no my pylons and wings are fixed, I used the OZ Mods resin pylons and they did not fit the Academy pylon swing mechanism, so they are fixed in place. @ Augie, yes 2 buckets of instant sunshine courtesy of my B-1B, robbed 2 from it. LOL.
22 August 2019, 21:21
Clifford Keesler AutorNow I am trying to figure out what to build for the Aggressor GB. A F-18, F-5E or F-5B, T-38, or F-15 or F-14 or F-16 or all of the above. LOL.
22 August 2019, 21:27
Maciej BellosWell done Clifford!
As for the Aggressors, well my favorite is the Viper, but a T-38 would be unique. All of the above would be ideal!!!
22 August 2019, 21:46
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you very much Nathan, Maciej and Tim. Your kind words mean a lot. @Hans, Maciej and Augie. I was leaning toward the T-38, a Mig 28 maybe?.
22 August 2019, 22:45
Slavo HazuchaGreat finish with the dark Vark Clifford! I really like the camo, the surface is flawless without any visible seams, and the idea with one open - one closed canopy sides 👍 In this finish, the F-111 really looks almost as a contemporary plane than a Vietnam-era bird, that's what I really like on it, an ageless design... You really paid it full credit, a job well done sir! 👍
As for the Aggressors, a MiG-28 would be really welcome I think, but since it's a half-lunch-break paint-job, surely cannot go alone...?😉
23 August 2019, 05:36
Clifford Keesler AutorThank you Michael and Slavo, you guys make me blush. I am very humbeled that you like it. It was a struggle at times, but I must agree I think it is the best of the F-11 color schemes. I have another one on the bench, this one will also be a Dark Vark, but in the markings of the 509th BW. @ Slavo, the mig-28 won't be my only entry into the Aggressor GB., I have a stack of F-18's, a couple of F-16's some more F-5's and T-38's plus a couple of Tomcats piled in the corner of my workroom. I even found a srt of F-16 Viper aggressor decals that I had forgotten I had. "OH the choices of it all". LOL.
24 August 2019, 01:23
Album info
Acadmey's 1/48 FB-111A. This one will be finished in the "Dark Vark" late career SAC scheme.
