[:)]Merry Christmas everyone!
As usual, my apologies for not being around much -work and family are keeping me busy![;)]
Anyhow, I’ve managed to cobble my Italieri 1/72 F-111 together and thought you might enjoy some pics. There’s a few mistakes here and there, but it was a fun build and I think the end result looks ok[:o)]
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all of you here a very happy Chistmas and a happy, safe and successful new year[:)]
All the best,
Darren[;)]
Here’s the pics:
Looks good to me.
Merry Christmas Darren & thanks for the pics. A very nice build of the Aardvark… Nice work.
Regards, Rick
Jeff, Rick,
Thanks! Glad you guys like it. Enjoy the holiday,
Darren.
i like the loaders, they make the whole thing much more alive [:)] very nice !
Hmm the only mistake I can see is the lack of Australian markings [:D]
Seriously, that looks very nice.
Nice work Darren, I like your Dio.
What are those two guys arguing about? Looks like the red helmet is getting chewed out and making excuses!!
Dang nice Vark! Always been a fave of mine ,thanks dude and
Merry Christmas.
[#ditto][:p][:o)][;)][:D]
Well done ab work Tango[tup][tup]
Couple of RAAF bouncers and it would be a percect 111!!!
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you and your family!!
[:I]Many thanks for your kind words guys! It’s nice to know that I’m not alone as an admirer of the 'Vark.
I have a 1/48 version to build in my stock-pile, maybe I should put Aussie markings on it?[;)]
Seasons greetings to all of you and yours, all the best,
Darren
[:)]
Very nice work, of a very unsightly aircraft.
Have fun painting the 1/48 version, it’s quite a large model.
Very nice build and dio. Thanks for sharing
One beautiful build, and a nice ramp diorama. What did you use for the base?
And, did I dream this, or did I recently read that somebody is coming out with a whole series of F-111s, including the cancelled Navy F-111B with its snug nose, along with a model of the early prototype?
I, too, love the 'Vark, and am so glad the Aussies are still flying them. Their American replacement, the F-15E, may be more modern and better for the job, but it just doesn’t have the style of the F-111. And I don’t know how it got the reputation for being an ugly design. I find it one of the most aesthetically pleasing jets ever built. My biggest regret is that while I was still in daily newspapers, I never got to wangle a ride in one, since there were none based within a thousand miles of me. But a friend of mine did get a ride out of Nellis, and he still gets misty-eyed when he talks about it a dozen years later (sort of like someone else I know all too well). BTW, does anyone know, did the Spark 'Vark retire at the same time as all the others? And when did the FB-111A go out of service? As I recall, the FB’s were all under SAC’s strength.
And as long as we’re on the subject, for those who want to build an F-111 and have that old Monogram (nee Aurora) kit in the closet, throw it in the spares box. If you hold it up against drawings of an F-111, you’ll see that it isn’t even close in shape from the wings forward, and it has a dozen other major flaws. It is either a bastardization of the A and B without looking like either, or maybe even loosely based on the prototype. Or maybe it’s just a crappy job of mold-making. Go with the Academy kits (as much as I hate to promote anything by that company), then add aftermarket parts to those bare cockpits. Verlinden makes a great set and, of course, there’s Eduard.
Tom
Very nice build Tango. Always a pleasure ssing what you post.
I am kinda suprised about the markings too… though I’d have expected markings from RAF UpperHeyford or Lakenheath
Darren,
The F-111 looks fantastic! I really like the ramp and figures too. Did the figures come with the kit?
From the title of this thread, I expected to see Santa on the plane. [;)]
Regards,
I seem to remember a kit that I built back in the seventies that offered both versions, navy or airforce, I think it was monogram? Anyone else remember this kit?
Oh, by the way, almost forgot, great job on the braille scale Vark!
Cheers,
Steve
The Spark Varks were the last of the American F-111 fleet to be retired and I think it was only a matter of six months after the last American G model was retired that the Spark Varks went to the boneyard.
The FB-111 is a bit trickier to track the retirement of because a lot of them got refitted as G’s and continued flying with ACC even after the FB was officially “retired”.
The last true FBs were serving at Whiteman AFB and were consolidated there after the closures of Pease and Platsburgh AFBs in the late 80s. After Whiteman went fully B-2, the FBs were either mothballed or converted to Gs.
Its one of those “glass half full or half empty” arguments to me. I’ll go with the glass half full and say that as long as there’s a G model flying somewhere, the FB has yet to be trully “retired”[:D]
Long live the Vark!
Beautiful work!!!
Nice work Tango,
Nice build - and I like the sense of busy-ness that you captured in the dio.
Very neat !
Chris
Hey fellas,
thanks for your kind words![:I] I’m really happy that you like the model.
Sharkskin,
I used a MDF display base from Chatterton bases(in NW UK) I know the guy who runs the business and he lets me buy my bases in bulk. They are machined to a high standard so all I have to do is paint a ramp on top and varnish the edges. I’m sure simular bases can be found in the US.
Awood,
good to hear from you! Before you ask, I’m still no nearer to completing the AC-130[V]-I’ve made a hash of it and will have to start again[;)] To answer your question, I used the kit decals- this particular bird was based in Thailand in n1971-hence the “different” markings.
Lufbery,
the ground crew figures were a mixture of spares from old ESCI and hasegawa kits, you can still get hold of them if you shop around. All the ground equipment came in the Hasegawa set except the ladders, they were done with garden wire and super-glue[8D]
Thanks to all of you for your comments, they are much appreciated[^]
Regards,
Darren.