Academy 1/48 F-111E - COMPLETED

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Greeting FSMers! I thought I’d start a thread and share another one of the WIPs that I have on my bench. For those of you long-timers that know me, you know that I like to have more than one project on my bench at the same time. For those of you new to the forums…uh…I like to have more than one project on my bench at the same time. I recently finished a pair of WW2 fighters, but back in March I started this kit with two others (Testors’ U-2 and OV-10A) at the same time. The third kit that I haven’t done much with is Academy’s 1/48 F-111E. As a matter of fact, I’ve finished four kits since I started this one. It’s been a slog, and I haven’t devoted much time or attention to it. I started a WIP on a different forum, but I figured I’d share it here, too. (I need all the motivation I can get with this one.)

So, let me catch you up…

As with most kits, I started with the cockpit…

…and I built a pair of bulkheads to box up the nose. After dropping in some BBs, I used some Liquid Gravity to fill in the voids between them. Everything was fixed into place with some white glue.

Before gluing in the weight, I taped up the major assemblies to see how things would go together. I found that attaching the forward fuselage (nose) to the main fuselage would be a problem since none of the curves lined up without some major persuasion. Not only that, but the joint wasn’t much more than a butt joint. With all that weight in the nose, I needed a solid (no pun intended) solution. I came up with this…

I had to find a way to attach the nose to the fuselage. Compounding the problem of the two assemblies’ profiles not matching was the terrible joint. It was basically a butt-joint with a couple of small tabs. There was not a lot of gluing area.

So, I decided to attack the problem on three fronts. First, I decided I’d glue the upper fuselage half to the forward nose assembly. That would help me match the topside contours. But secondly, to help with the shaping and support, I added some styrene tabs to help.

Thirdly, for added strength, I used a technique I used on my B-1. I decided to use styrene rod to “rivet” the tabs in place. The tabs were originally attached with liquid glue. Out of paranoia, I also ran a coat of CA over them and the joint. To finish, I drilled small holes into both ends of the tabs and ran small lengths of rod through them.

I did this to the tabs that I had added all around the joint. It’s probably overkill, but I wanted to be sure this joint was gonna hold. Heck, now I can grab this thing by the nose and swing it like a bat!

Before I got the fuselage closed up, I painted up portions of the wing. I did that to make final painting a little easier, since that section that I painted is the part that retracts into the fuselage during the sweep.

Work progressed onto the intakes. The instructions are not totally clear on how these should go together, but after looking at some reference photos, I figured it out. The problem is their fit is terrible. There is some warpage on the outer intake parts that lead to some big gaps.

In the photo above, I’ve only glued down one side. I’m going to wait for that joint to cure, then I’ll muscle the other side together. The yellow strip you might notice inside the intake is some tape I placed to mark where the color demarcation line (masking) is going to go. Although, before I install them, I need to paint the fuselage area behind the intakes first. I hope I can get them looking halfway decent…

Despite having two new projects on my bench, I’ll continue to wrestle with this beast. I had read horror stories about this kit before I started it, and now I’m starting to believe them. Though never ye fear, I will prevail! (I think…)

Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Of course, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out.

Happy modeling!
-O

8 Likes
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A F-111 this time?! O, you are a man with impeccable tastes! :wink:

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ALL kits are somewhat of a nightmare to me! Still, “Adapt and overcome”! You’ll do a fine job!

Gary

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You just crossed this kit off my wishlist! I applaud your excellent work but after two 1980s vintage monogram kits in a row, I’m in the mood to need to be less… creative in my builds.

Thank you for the excellent review and detailed analysis of the issues.

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Ahoy O. Your engineering solutions to tricky problems and bad fits are practical and creative. I love it. Keep up the good work.

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Hello O!
Good to see you working on an F-111 - cool thing, I’m working on an F-111 too (although in 1:72).
I think you need to build some more confidence in your liquid styrene glue - it’s like welding parts together, you wouldn’t need to “rivet” them additionally and so you could potentially save a lot of sanding on the outside.
Good luck with your build and have a nice day!
Paweł

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Really enjoying the way you laid that out — sounds like you’ve got a full hangar on your bench! I respect the multi-project approach; sometimes shifting between kits keeps the energy fresh.

I’m a CAD modeler and builder myself, mostly in vehicles and aircraft, and I definitely understand how some kits just take a little longer to click. Looking forward to seeing how this F-111E progresses. If you ever want to bounce ideas or troubleshoot parts, I’m happy to connect

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Haha, love the “Siren song” bit — I’ve definitely been there. One kit turns into two, then a themed build, then a whole new shelf! That “Pairs” concept is actually really smart — lets you refine technique and compare kits side by side.

I’m a modeler and CAD designer myself, mostly working on motorsport and aircraft subjects, and I really appreciate builders who bring a creative rhythm to their projects like this. Looking forward to watching these A-6Es take shape.

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Excellent thought put into the riveted support tabs! I like how you think outside the box!!

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Making the silk purse out of the ol’ sows ear-eh?.
Great job of thinkng and problem solving. Your rivets may be overkill but the resulting peace of mind when the build is finished, will be worth it.

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Hey gang, I decided to spend some time on my F-111 instead of my Intruders. I was able to make some good progress, and I’m happy with where things are at.

The first thing I needed to do was get the intakes sorted. I got them assembled and installed. Before I glued them in place, I sprayed a little paint on the areas behind and beneath the assemblies, just to make final painting easier. After some careful trimming and sanding, I glued the intakes into place. The seams were reasonable and cleaned up fairly well.

I also got the strakes installed. Their attachment points were simple butt joints, which I didn’t think were going to be strong enough. To sturdy things up a bit, I used a bit of wire to make a couple of pins. Those things ain’t goin’ nowhere!

Then I got to slingin’ some paint! (The horizontal and vertical stabilizers are just dry-fitted for the sake of the photos.)

I used AK Real Colors for the camo. Honestly, I like they way they spray, but I’m not 100% sold on the colors. The Dark Tan looks too rich, like honey, to my eye. And the Medium Green looks too bright. Still, I think the SEA camo scheme looks cool, even if the colors aren’t a perfect match.

Anyway, that’s where I’m at. At this point with this build, I think I’m in a good place. I imagine the worst is behind me. Next are the landing gear and exhausts, and we’ll see how those go. So, as usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out. I appreciate all the feedback and thank you for all your comments. Stay tuned for more!

Cheers,
-O

6 Likes
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I like the variation in the paint, Omar, believable fading.

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Hello glue sniffers, I figured making you wait almost three and a half months for an update was enough, so I’m back to share some small progress. My Thanksgiving break has started, and I was able to sit down and work on my F-111.

I got all the painting done, and I used Caracal decals for the markings.

I was also able to get the fire-spurters painted up, assembled, and installed. They’re not particularly detailed, so I didn’t spend a lot of time on them. That’s why they look the way they do. That, and I’m garbage at painting modern jet exhausts.

Here’s what the airframe looks like at this point. The the vertical and horizontal stabilizers are just dry fit for the photos.

This kit is a fun-sucker, and I’ll be glad when it’s done and off my bench. Mercifully, I’m getting close to the finish line with it. After this, I have the two Intruders to finish, then I’ll be moving onto my project(s) for 2026.

Anyway, that’s where we’re at as of today. I have this week off, so maybe I can wrap it up before I go back to work on Monday. As usual, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on your way out.

Stay tuned for more plastic mashin’!

Cheers,
-O

8 Likes
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Your F-111 is coming together nicely! Did you add any aftermarket parts? Or is it an OOB build?

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Besides the decals and some travel pods I stole from a Hasegawa F-16, this kit is entirely OOB.

I appreciate the compliment. Like I said, this hasn’t been a fun build, and the pats on the back are much needed!

-O

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Looking good actually. That is a kit I almost purchased recently but I’m on stash hold until I complete some and make room. What makes it a fun sucker? That description doesn’t make me want to add it to my stash ever!

I think your exhaust nozzles look really good. My two cents, add a touch of color like “Burnt blue” from the Tamya weathering master product. It just gives is a touch more secret sauce in my opinion.

Which Intruders are you working on?

What’s on the docket for '26?

Inquiring minds…

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Thanks for the feedback, Samphoto, I thought about using some clear colors on the exhausts. I did that on one of the F-16s I built, and you’re right, the color adds quite a bit to the visual aesthetic. For this one? Eh. I didn’t bother.

In regards to this kit, it’s been a slog since the start. The instructions are vague and some parts are misidentified. The swing assembly for the wings and pylons if fiddly. The engraved detail is inconsistent, shallow, and flat out missing in some areas. Parts don’t fit. My intakes were severely warped and needed some serious muscle to get them aligned and installed. The fuselage sections don’t go together well. The contours don’t match up which can cause some significant alignment issues. Oh, and the canopy is too narrow. I think I heard mine crack under its masking. I won’t know until the unveiling. Um…there were other things, I’m sure, these are just the ones I remember off the top of my head. At least when it’s done, it’ll look like a F-111, and that’s good enough for me.

In addition to the -111, I’m working on the HB and Revell -E Intruders in 1/48. If you’re interested, you can see them here: O’s Intruders

When I’m done with these three, there’s a F-18 Group Build on another site that I’ve committed to. I plan on doing a legacy Hornets for that, but it won’t be until my bench is clear.

Anyway, I hope I’ve answered your questions. If there’s anything else you’re interested, please feel free to drop me a line. I appreciate you stopping by and taking an interest in my projects!

Stay tuned for more!
-O

2 Likes
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Yeah, no, not going to be building that F-111 anytime soon, or… probably…ever. I feel like I dodged a bullet coming across your post, I almost bought it last weekend.

I’ll check out the A-6s, I have the Revell on the docket late next year.

F-4 KAI is up next, them my big project for the spring, V-22 which I hope to enter in the June ipms show.

F-18 group build sounds fun, I have a couple of them in the stash myself (hasegawa and meng).

Thank you for indulging my questions. Looking forward to seeing your results.

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That S.E.A.camo scheme looks fantastic!

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OK…stick a for in me. I’m done!

This kit was not fun, and I am glad it’s off my bench and on the shelf. This is not my best effort. I started with the best intentions, but over the course of the build, I just focused on getting it finished.

Before I share the photos of the finished product, I wanted to share something about this kit as a warning to anyone that is thinking of building one up. A feature of this kit is that the engineering allows the inner two pylons to swing with the wings, just like the real thing. That is, as the wings swing back, the pylons stay parallel with the fuselage and pointed forward into the direction of travel. The problem with the kit is that the mechanism that coordinates the movement does not keep the pylon positioned directly centered in the lower wing’s mounting hole. As a result, when the wings swing, the mechanism pulls on the pylon’s small mounting pin and flexes it, eventually weakening it to the point of failure. I had this happen on both of the innermost pylons. Both pylons eventually broke off. I had to carefully drill into the pylon piece that remained inserted in the swing mechanism inside the wing and insert a “pin.” Then drill into the pylon and mount it onto the piece of wire. The result was getting the pylon reattached but with a noticeable gap between the pylon and the wing.

To avoid this, anyone building the kit should consider permanently attaching the wing and pylons in their final position and bypassing the swing option.

Anyway, all the problems aside, the F-111 is done. It’s OOB except for Caracal markings and two travel pods taken from some Hasegawa F-16s. It’s painted with AK Real Colors and weathered (lightly) with pastels and oils. Like I said, it’s not my best effort, but it looks like a F-111. I’m ready to move on and get crankin’ on my A-6s. Before I show the photos, I wanted to let you know that something odd happened to some of them during their upload. If you notice the blue fin cap, in some photos, there are some strange black, digital artifacts. I don’t know what those are or how they got there. Keep in mind that they are not there on the build.

Enough blah, blah, blah. Here are the pictures…

Of course, comments, questions, and criticisms are welcome. Feel free to drop your two cents into the bucket on the way out. Thanks for following along. Keep your eyes open for my other projects.

Thanks for lookin’!
-O

9 Likes