Grumman F-111B (Hasegawa conversion)
Opmerkingen
2 26 April 2017, 17:45
Bill GilmanThanks mates. There are quite a few changes that need to be made in order to turn an F-111C/G into the F-111B (specifically 151972). It's a lot more than a short nose - for example:
• Short nose
• Instrument panel with AWG-9 radar display
• Flight controls for pilot only
• Escapac 1C ejection seats instead of ejection capsule
• No refueling probe receptacle on spine
• Angled bottom splitter plate without the kink (pre-Triple Plow I)
• Translating intake cowl (usually forward with engine off)
• Knife edge boat tail with fuel dump
• IR pod under forward fuselage
• IR warning pod on fin
• Add air vents under wing glove
• Modify vents on top of wing – smaller and rectangular not triangular
• Non-faired arresting hook with tail skid
• Pointed "speed bumps" (extensions inboard of tailplanes)
• Long wing with five flaps (not four flaps and ferry tips)
• No rotating glove slats
• Non-raked main landing gear (modify rear main gear door and fuselage opening)
• Rear main gear door on parallelogram mechanism, not hanging perpendicular)
• F-111A nose gear with launch bar
• F-111A main tyres (large)
• Add Phoenix pylons (modify F/A-18 pylons)
• Modify Phoenix missiles from F-14 kit (non-pointed nose)
I'm sure there will be some other issues that come up as the build progresses. Cheers, Bill
27 April 2017, 11:32
Patrick HagelsteinWow Bill, this looks to be an enormous project! I'm very curious to see how you hang in there. But seeing how beautiful your other projects turned out, I'm confident this one will be a beauty as well! Enjoy your build and good luck!
27 April 2017, 12:31
Bill GilmanI'm one of perhaps two people who think the F-111B is the best looking 'Vark. Ha. Something about that big long nose on the USAF versions...
27 April 2017, 18:52
Aris GreyHello Bill, very nice project to watch. It seems you did a very extensive research so far. Good luck, following!
28 April 2017, 19:50
GlennBill would be a bit easier if you had one of these conversions. But not sure if you could find one now? I brought one a long time back.
www.scalemates.com/kits/995609-pete-s-hangar-phd-72001-f-111b-usn-conversion
28 April 2017, 20:07
Bill GilmanHi Glenn, I have one of the Pete's Hangar conversion sets. In fact, the photo on Scalemates of that set is mine - I took it after I acquired the set and added the page here at Scalemates for it. You'll see it listed as an inventory item for my project, but I should have included that shot in this album. Thanks for reminding me - I'll add it now.
28 April 2017, 20:27
Bill GilmanI've done some more work on the cockpit, and added a photo. I may have gone a bit heavy on the wash, but everything was grey. Even the seat cushions and harnesses were grey on 151972. I mounted the ejection seats so that the headrest is at the height shown on the photos. I think I may adjust the instrument panel coaming to align better with the seats.
28 April 2017, 20:39
Bill GilmanI've uploaded several new photos that show the addition of the early knife edge boat tail, the pointed speed bumps, some more work on the intakes, and the proboscis-ectomey (removal of nose).
4 May 2017, 17:46
Bill GilmanHi mates, I'm plodding forward with the resin nose. The initial blend with the fuselage is finished. I spent most of my time trying to make sure that the all-important slope of the nose when viewed from the side looks right, and that the slope has a slight kink right in front of the windscreen at station 180. I'm happy with the top side of nose, but there is more work to do on the bottom.
You can see that the curve on the underside of the resin nose is exaggerated, and should be smoother and flatter. This is a direct result of the way the resin conversion set was designed - I think they wanted to make it easier for the modeller to make the cut, so they made the join line vertical. (If you follow the instructions from Pete's Hangar, your cut line would be 6 mm in front of the cockpit, and that would be right on a panel line. I'm sure that was their intent. However, using the excellent documentation from Tommy Thomason, the cut line is actually 8.5 mm forward of the cockpit - this ensures the overall length is correct.)
The join line on the actual aircraft follows the front edge of the escape capsule until it reaches the bottom of it, and then goes straight down. This means that the entire bottom of the forward fuselage from the front of the nose gear well was unique on the F-111B. The conversion set has you use a portion of the F-111A lower front fuselage (from the front of the nose gear well to my cut line), and this creates the issue.
I want to continue to work on the underside until it looks more like it should. Neglecting the profile of the bottom of the nose is one reason why so many F-111B conversions that I've seen on the web or in books have a nose that looks a bit too large, and not quite as sleek as the real thing.
More work to do! Pass the sanding sticks, gas mask, and some single malt. 🙂
6 May 2017, 14:26
Clifford KeeslerIt is looking good. Hope you do not get "Tennis Elbow" from all of the sanding. LOL.
6 May 2017, 15:33
Thomas BischoffI'll help you burden the single malt taks 🙂 magnificent work so far!
6 May 2017, 20:06
Mark MedwellYou need one of those masks with a built on drinking kit... great work so far!
7 May 2017, 04:23
Bill GilmanHi mates, I've finished the re-shaping of the resin nose. To be truthful, the piece from Pete's Hangar is considerably misshapen, a result, I think, from how they designed its joint with the fuselage. Luckily it was too big so I could sand to the right shape! It was too flat on top, not flat enough on the bottom, and too squared off. I think it's much better now. I sanded so much off the bottom near the join that the remaining styrene is transparent - you can see the resin through it.
The front and rear fuselage sections are joined, and she's starting to look like an aircraft. I've built this kit before, and it amazes me how everything fits so well, except the joint between the forward fuselage and the main landing gear bay. The contours match on each piece, so they're obviously designed to fit together, but there is a huge gap. Fortunately, all of this is hidden under the intake so no one will know.
I've assembled the main landing gear, which looks more complex than it actually is. The F-111B had a different mechanism for folding the rear main gear door which resulted in the door being parallel to the bottom of the fuselage when open. The kit correctly depicts the mechanism for the production F-111, where the rear main gear door is perpendicular to the bottom of the fuselage. I will need to scratch build the mechanism for the F-111B, and this includes modifying the rear main gear door itself. Everywhere I look there is something to modify or scratch build - the F-111B has many detail differences to the USAF versions.
Cheers, Bill
8 May 2017, 14:39
Bill GilmanHi Holger - the resemblance is the other way around. The F-111B came first! 🙂
How are you? Long time no chat.
8 May 2017, 14:48
Davide Tessariwhat a great project Bill!!Cool, I like it!!! The model will come with some aim-54 under the wings?
8 May 2017, 17:31
Bill GilmanHi Davide, yes but they will be XAIM-54 Phoenix missiles which are slightly different, mostly in the nose. I will modify some standard AIM-54 missiles from the Hasegawa weapons set. For pylons, the ones used by the F-111B were surprisingly similar to those used by the F/A-18A-D. The main difference here is in the trailing edge of the pylon which is more angled to clear the F-111B flaps. I'll be modifying some Hasegawa Hornet pylons.
I have two sets of markings that were on 151972 during the live missile testing at Hughes, one is from the conversion set (but it has a few errors) and another from an old out-of-production Microscale sheet. I was lucky that a fellow modeller had one that I could use. This is a sister ship, 151971, which was also used for Phoenix testing:
[img1]
8 May 2017, 18:17
Bill GilmanI've done some work on the aft main gear door. The F-111B prototypes used a different mechanism that resulted in the aft main gear door positioned parallel to the underside when the gear was down, as can be seen in photo #43. The door was a different shape as well, completely covering the aft portion of the bay, unlike the production versions which left a slot open. You can also see in photo #43 how the gear bay opening matches the shape of the door. This required adding two small triangular pieces of styrene to the rear corners of the bay. I have to scratch build the mechanism that deploys and retracts the door. It is described in detail here:
tailspintopics.blogs..nding-gear-door.html
9 May 2017, 18:55
Holger Kranich" there is not enough thrust in Christendom to make the F-111 a good fighter "😢
9 May 2017, 19:18
Holger KranichI am fine Bill, how are you? Is your health stable? Your modeling looks as good as ever!😢
9 May 2017, 19:39
Bill GilmanHi Holger, I love that quote. The Navy certainly didn't want this airplane, probably because the USAF was managing the program. The 111B could certainly do the Fleet Defense mission with BVR Phoenix missiles, but it was no dogfighter. But it wasn't a dog either. It would probably have been better at the "Bombcat" missions than the F-14. Who knows?
My health is OK, and I am finishing my chemotherapy in July. It started in late 2014 so it seems like it's been going forever. I hope this remission is as long or longer than the first one, which lasted 12 years. Stupid cancer!!
9 May 2017, 20:34
Holger KranichThe F-111 is some kind of a Bullterrier. Even with the Phoenix! But as you say not a dogfighter.
Good to hear that you feel fine/good! Your grandkids need you and mommy and poppy too!
9 May 2017, 20:42
Bernhard SchrockExcellent research as usual Bill. Very interesting project: I'm in.
10 May 2017, 10:27
Bill GilmanMore on the aft main gear door (as I described the issue above) - I built a rudimentary mechanism using square styrene for the door actuator bellcrank, T-channel styrene for the brackets on the door that the bellcranks attach to, and round styrene rod for the door leading edge idler. With the aft main gear door in place, it looks the part even though it is not entirely accurate. Two new photos show this work. Cheers, Bill
11 May 2017, 17:05
Bill ScarbroughWatching intently here, Bill. I got to see your work up close when I judged at BUFFCON. Great stuff!
12 May 2017, 00:24
Bill GilmanI've uploaded a few new photos. Sorry for the lack of progress, but I've been a bit under the weather as they say. I think I'm getting old. 🙂
27 May 2017, 15:49
Clifford KeeslerIt is looking very nice Bill. Sorry to hear you have been under the weather.
27 May 2017, 18:40
Bill GilmanHi mates! I've managed to add some more photos that show the glacial rate of progress on the Beta Tomcat. Due to my health problems, plus my wife's brother passing away, I haven't had a lot of time to be at my workbench. But we'll get there - I think it's just about time to spray some paint on this baby.
Speaking of paint, I bought a new airbrush. I've been using a Paasche Model H since 1980 - it's a single action, external mix, suction feed type. It's been a real workhorse for me. The new one is a Harder & Steenbeck Infinity CR Plus Two in One - holy cow, what a beautiful bit of kit! Now I just have to figure out how to use it! Since I model almost exclusively in 1:72, the new brush should allow me to get much finer lines and blends. I've never used a double action, internal mix, gravity feed brush before, but my only real concern is properly cleaning it.
6 August 2017, 21:35
Martin OostromHi Bill, there are some tips over here for cleaning your H&S: cs.finescale.com/fsm..s/f/18/t/155694.aspx
Glad you're back 👍
7 August 2017, 17:19
Christian BruerMhh, I think I forgot to take a seat to follow this interesting project. Very nice start on this interesting subject 👍
7 August 2017, 18:23
Aris GreyHi Bill, lovely progress as usual. hope you get better you and your wife..
7 August 2017, 19:48
Clifford KeeslerLooking good Bill. I too hope you get to feeling better. Sorry to hear about your wife's brother. My condolences.
7 August 2017, 21:24
Christian LehmannMissed this completely until now. Don't know much about F-111 but looks awesome as always. Typical Bill! 👍
10 August 2017, 20:14
Burkhard DCongrats, that's one awesome airbrush. Easier to clean than an Aztec and working with much less pressure/airflow. You'll love it. 👍👍👍
10 August 2017, 22:14
Bill GilmanHi mates, sorry for the lack of progress reports but life got in the way again. Anyway, I've uploaded several new photos that show where we are. The project is coming together, it won't be long now as long as I can stay out of the krankenhaus! Cheers, Bill
1 October 2017, 20:15
Holger KranichGood to hear from you, Uncle Bill! Hope you used the time at sick bay to steal some new tweezers, scalpells and other modeling stuff. 👍
2 October 2017, 06:53
Wilfried BogaertsNice to have you back Uncle! Get well, stay well and keep us amazed with your modeling wonders!
2 October 2017, 07:36
Ben SchumacherGreat project, I like it a lot! I'd love to build one of the F-111B prototypes in 32nd scale one day... I'll follow your project with big interest!
2 October 2017, 11:05
Bill GilmanThe fuselage portion of the model has its stickers on, along with a clear varnish. Those of you with good eyes might notice that the national insignia looks like it's not aligned, but this is by design. The documentation says that it should be tilted three degrees nose down, which matches a panel line on the side. I'm guessing this was done so that the insignia would be level with respect to the ground, but that's just a guess. The stencils in general follow the locations used by the F-111A, which seem to match the 111B photos that I have.
The decals came from a variety of sources. Even the red stripes that make up the intake warnings had to made from individual pieces. The red area where the tailplanes attach was also made from a decal - in this case some leftover squadron markings from the Tamiya F4D Skyray kit. I had to trim them a bit to make them the correct length and airfoil shape, but I think that was easier than trying to mask and paint that area.
I will likely do some additional weathering later on, although the test plane at Hughes wasn't particularly dirty. Now I have to move on to the wings, tailplanes, exhausts, pylons, and Phoenix missiles. Enjoy the new photos!
8 October 2017, 15:02
TomHello Bill, your short nose Aardvark is a dream! The insignia has to be level with respect to the ground. There is no doubt, this is habit in the Navy as well as in the Air Force and in the Armee de`l Air too, my MirageIV has the same "problem", "BZ" looks misaligned, but this is the real deal! I started a new project "Hair Force Corvette" to proof this for all others, who dont believe (until now) ...
8 October 2017, 16:26
Murad ÖZERregarding the insignia alignment *in general*, what would constitute a ground stabilized stance? since these vehicles can have their center of gravity shift back and forth depending on their weight considerably.
anyway this is probably one of the most unique modern aviation related projects out there for so many reasons.
8 October 2017, 16:31
Łukasz GlińskiLovely looking Vark (even w/o wings), I can hardly wait to see the finished product😉
9 October 2017, 07:05
Bart GoesaertJust stumbled upon this beauty...that's a nice conversion... splendid work so far...
9 October 2017, 11:08
Bill GilmanThanks mates! I'm quite chuffed at how she's turned out so far - she'll look much better with the wings on of course. The slats will be deployed and the flaps lowered. It was a lot of fun to do the research on this one as it turns out there were many differences between the seven F-111B prototypes that were built. And, of course, many differences to the production F-111 versions. I highly recommend the F-111B book by Tommy Thomason (it's in the Ginter Naval Fighters series) and his website tailspintopics.blogspot.com/. These were my go-to sources for information on the F-111B. Have a look if you'd like to learn more. Cheers!
9 October 2017, 15:42
Hanno KleineckeIncredible sense for proportion, great work on that nose Bill ! Beautiful and clean loking bird 👍
14 October 2017, 19:11
Bill GilmanThanks mates! I'll be absent from the workbench for the next few days as my youngest daughter is getting married. She's made it a Halloween themed wedding - costumes are allowed! It should be a fun time. I told my wife to not let me see the final invoice...
27 October 2017, 13:09
Wilfried BogaertsCongratulations Uncle! Go and have some fun! May The Force be with all of you 👍
27 October 2017, 13:18
iceI don't know why I came across this build THIS late but I finally found and now admire it. Your "obsession" to details is so inspiring.
I hope your daughter has a beautiful wedding. Have fun!
27 October 2017, 23:10
Bill GilmanWings are on - we're nearing the end of this build. Just some fiddly bits left. Cheers, Bill
6 November 2017, 22:00
Bernd KorteVery nice! I don't recall to have seen this version as a model before!
7 November 2017, 08:08
Wim van der LuijtGreat build Bill.....I also didn't know F-111's were operated by the Navy...I guess modelling is all about learning too
7 November 2017, 09:21
Bernhard SchrockBill: you have raised the bar once again! I'm impressed by the idea, research, detailing, solution of problems, patience, painting and at last photography. The surface of you jet is so clean but still so "alive"🙂 Great job!!
7 November 2017, 18:55
Erik LeijdensLike Bernhard said, the whole package is just great. Award winning stuff mate 👍
7 November 2017, 18:59
Bill GilmanWow, thanks everyone! I appreciate all of your compliments. It's taken some time to get to this stage, but she's almost done. For those who may not be familiar with the F-111B, only seven prototype aircraft were built before the project was cancelled. My model represents BuNo 151972, which was one of the aircraft used by Hughes for testing of the new Phoenix missile (XAIM-54 at the time). Ultimately, the US Navy decided that the F-111B was not want it wanted, and awarded a development contract to Grumman for what became the F-14 Tomcat.
7 November 2017, 20:09
Bill GilmanFinally, the F-111B is finished. I've uploaded quite a few photos of the finished model - enjoy! Thank you for your comments. Cheers, Bill
17 November 2017, 03:54
Murad ÖZERBill thanks for the ride, it was a real pleasure to see such a unique build come to life. i would have pinned this as a lesson on so many aspects, regards. 👍
17 November 2017, 06:14
Wilfried BogaertsA real beauty Uncle, it's an F-111, but then, it's so different! Great job! I wonder (and look forward to) what the Gilman Factory will produce next... 🤔 Oh, and congratulations to persevere, this was not an easy one I presume?
17 November 2017, 07:40
Thomas Bischoffexceptional job! Very clean and nice build of an unusual subject- I am sure you are proud of it!
17 November 2017, 09:53
Bill GilmanThanks, mates! I appreciate the nice words.
@Wilfried, next up is a much simpler tribute project - the NASA F-104N flown by Joe Walker. I'll use the Italeri F-104G kit, the CMK resin cockpit, RESkit resin tyres, and the decal sheet from Rocketeer. 1:72, of course.
For those who don't know, Joe Walker flew P-38s during WWII, and became a civilian research test pilot afterwards. He flew the X-1, X-1A, X-1E, D-558-I, D-558-II, X-3, X-4, X-5, and X-15. Two of his X-15 flights exceeded 100 miles altitude, making him the first US civilian in space (NASA posthumously gave him his astronaut wings in 2005). He unfortunately lost his life in 1966 in the mid-air collision between his F-104N chase plane and the XB-70 bomber. Walker and Scott Crossfield were the two test pilots that I admired most when I was growing up. The X-plane program at Edwards during the 50s & 60s seemed magical to a young lad...
17 November 2017, 12:20
Bernhard SchrockA great pleasure to see all the pictures of completed model especially of the bottom side. 👍
17 November 2017, 18:36
Hanno KleineckeWow, what a beautiful result Bill ! Well worth all the work that went into it !
So, at last I'm going to whitness your NASA 104 to evolve, really looking forward to that one for sure... 🙂
No doubt it will exceed mine by far.... Beware of these Rocketeer decals ! 🙂
17 November 2017, 21:14
Aris GreyMost interesting F-111 project I've ever seen Bill. Hope you start the next project soon. I have a passion for nasa planes too.
17 November 2017, 21:56
Bill Gilman@Hanno - you had some difficulties with Rocketeer decals? They say they're printed by Aviprint, and I've not had any problems with those. I think most of the CMR decals are printed by Aviprint. Anyway, what problem did you have or read about?
17 November 2017, 23:34
Hanno KleineckeThe decals off sheet I used were extremely thick and immune to any softener ( I tried about 4 different ones ) The orange is nowhere close to the original. Even the smaller decals like the NASA logo and insignia were very reluctant to any attempt of sticking them to the surface of the plane without crinkles. Some more details on my experience are in the post in my album F 104 Starfighter NASA Officers | Album by Aquilifer (1:72) .
From todays perspective I would plan to spray the yellow and orange patterns right from the word go ( which you possibly do anyway 🙂 )
It will be interesting to hear of your experience on this subject.
Looking forward to your build !
18 November 2017, 10:20
iceI personally like the "long-nose F-111" better. But everytime I look at the photos of your build I like the NAVY-version better and better.
Your scratchbuiling skills are exeptional and your attention for details is inspiring. Great result!
18 November 2017, 13:21
Bill GilmanThanks everyone! It's very gratifying to me to read all of the nice words after completion of a project like this. 🙂
@Hanno - thanks for directing me to your build. Beautiful work! I see that we discussed the Rocketeer decals in the comments attached to your album - I didn't remember that (I am getting old you know) and ended up asking the same questions here! I was planning on spraying the white and then putting the Day-Glo orange decal over it (rather than stacking white and orange decals as suggested by Rocketeer). Based on your experience, I may just spray everything. We'll see...I have some Gunze Fluorescent Orange, I wonder if that's a good match.
I've started working on the F-104, and of course I now find that the resin cockpit I bought is made for the Revell kit, not the Italeri. It doesn't fit very well, but I guess that's why I have all these sanding sticks on my bench...
18 November 2017, 13:42
