I’m trying to find a 1/48 scale F-111A to be made into one of the aircraft deployed to Vietnam under the Combat Lancer program, which rushed the Aardvark into combat in 1968 before it was ready, with disastrous results.
My problem is finding a kit. The old Monogram (originally Aurora) kit is out of the question, since it barely even looks like an F-111, and I can’t find the Academy series of Aardvarks. Are these out of production? I knew I should have bought them when they came out, but then, they would have burned up, so that’s a moot point. I know these kits weren’t perfect, lacking cockpit detail, but there was plenty of AM stuff to rectifiy that. If anyone knows a source for these things, other than eVilBay, please let me know.
Thanks,
TOM
sharkskin
are you talking about Operation Combat Lancer circa 1968-69?, or the normal deployment of the 474th TFW from Nellis AFB, NV Circa 1970 or 71?, the two deployments the planes where painted a little bit different from another, the OCL’s didn’t have the call codes on the tails as the later ones did and the tails codes where NA, NB, NC, & ND (for the 428th TFS, 429th TFS, 430th TFS, 431st TFS), after 1972 the tail codes went to just NA (and the 431TFS went to Mountain Home AFB, ID) until 1988 (and after trading in the 111’s for F-4D’s then to F-16A’s & B’s (blocks 5’s & 10’s) when the wing was deactivated and the squadrons where reactivated at Cannon AFB NM, for the EF-111A’s ( the 428, 429, 430)
Also for the F-111A’s check with Great Models or Squadron, I’ve found a couple of low grade copies of the Academy’s at Hobby Lobby a few years back by the company named Zhengdefu but I recommend that you get Squadrons conopy set for the Vark because you’ll need it for this kit also ck this web site out too
http://www.f-111.net/scaledown/
As far as I can see from Hannants http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=AC1647, you can still get 'em. In fact, you’ve tempted me to increase my kit stash by one… damn! [:D]
It’s the original deployment, Combat Lancer, I’m interested in. Someone also makes markings for those birds, but now I’ve forgotten who, so I’ve got to look that one up as well. Thanks guys. I was afraid the Academy kits were kaput.
TOM