F-111F 70-2389, " KARMA 52", Operation Eldorado Canyon April 15, 1986

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Jul 19, 2015 7:27 pm

I think I might have it !! will tell for sure when i spray some primer on it. it feels smooth !

Danta2er · Post by **Danta2er** » Sun Jul 19, 2015 8:16 pm

Huzzah!!

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 12:23 am

rwsmith14 wrote:I think I might have it !! will tell for sure when i spray some primer on it. it feels smooth !

Hehehe been there done that with my Super Hornet.....and then had to fill and sand some more!

patrickroos · Post by **patrickroos** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:24 am

Great work!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:21 pm

patrickroos wrote:Great work!

Thanks !!

Nige201980 · Post by **Nige201980** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:19 am

Great work mate.

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:32 am

Great job!

I think you cleared the worst hurdle now. Fantastic effort!

Cheers

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:07 am

Got more progress done, added the radome.. although instructions did not indicate to add weight to prevent a tail sitter... I loaded the Radome up with some white Tac,then some small fishing split shot weights, then added some CA and to cap it off more white tac. no tail sitter here !

Installed the air intakes, not great detail with these pieces. I have some Steel Beach aftermarket intake covers, I will be installing. Added the ventral fins and Chaff and flare dispensesr.

ready for some primer to check the cockpit capsule fit and other seams, gaps that need filled.

everything that was added this go around fit perfectly !!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:08 am

TommyKillander wrote:Great job!

I think you cleared the worst hurdle now. Fantastic effort!

Cheers

Nige201980 wrote:Great work mate.

thanks Gentlemen !!

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:58 am

Excellent....now the build really comes to life!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:51 am

Homerlovesbeer wrote:Excellent....now the build really comes to life!

Thanks !

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:56 am

Fuselage is primed and first coat of Black FS 37038 (Vallejo Model Air) is on.

Getting the Aftermarket G- Factor exhaust nozzles preped for painting. They look great compared to the kit supplied nozzles

Kit nozzles

G-Factor Nozzles, The Best AM Nozzles for the F-111

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:57 am

She's pre shaded.. ready for SEA Camo. I lightly drew out the first Color USAF Brown FS 30219

Exhaust nozzles are primed, ready for a coat of Tamiya Gloss Black in preparation for multiple shades of ALclad II

patrickroos · Post by **patrickroos** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:44 pm

Nice progress, looks great

One impressive bird...

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:49 am

patrickroos wrote:Nice progress, looks great
One impressive bird...

Thank,s Patrick !

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:59 am

First color FGS30219 is on

slight touch up to do here. got distracted when the phone rang

Once fully dry and I'm satisfied with it, I'll ensure the camo pattern, where the tail and stabilizers meet the fuselage is all aligned.. then move on to the FS34102, Medium Olive

obviously the aft stabilizers and tail are not permanently attached.

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:00 am

SEA Camo painting in progress, Have all three colors on now. About 85% complete. then touch ups and ensure the camo pattern matches up between the control surfaces and the fuselage.

I tried using for the first time, "Silly Putty" for masking. It works great !! you can shape smooth, holds it's shape real well. it. it sticks to the surface, holds up very nicely even when painted.

Medium Olive green FS 34102 added'

Silly putty, then US Dark Green FS 34079 added.

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:56 pm

Reach a major Milestone this afternoon on the build.

The Major SEA Camouflage and all major painting is complete !! a few touchups to go. Also still need to paint the leading wing edges and wing flaps in the SEA Camo.
**tail and aft control surface aren't permanetly attached

The AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack is painted.

the Exhaust nozzles are ready to go too.

Received these babies in the mail yesterday. they will look beautiful hanging from the wing pylons !

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:39 am

tried my hand at panel fading. pictures don't show it up too well.. but I like how it came out. I just used the same color paint I used initially and added a drop or two of white paint for the tan and added light gray for the green paints.

looking forward to weathering this AARDVARK !!

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:59 am

That is looking really really good!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 9:52 pm

Homerlovesbeer wrote:That is looking really really good!

Thanks !!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:25 pm

Got the wing flaps and leading edges hung, I still have more work to do on them to get them to hang correctly. Aft control surfaces not yet permanently installed. trying to get the tail to sit correctly and flush.

exhaust nozzles are intstalled

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 5:29 am

Here is where she sits tonight after working on her, most of the day. just have to re touch up the black and she'll be ready for a gloss coat.

in the pic below you can see I have some work to do where the tail meets the fuselage. it did not want to sit flush. I cut & sanded off the guide and put in place with CA, filled the gap with melted sprue in thin cement. first time I'm trying that we'll see how it works out. Will definitely have some sanding and re painting of the base of the tail and fuselage.

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:16 am

This is such an impressive aircraft !

You have really conquered this kit, the build is fantastic !

Tommy

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 5:14 pm

TommyKillander wrote:This is such an impressive aircraft !

You have really conquered this kit, the build is fantastic !

Tommy

Thanks Tommy

your comments are much appreciated.

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 12:55 am

She's Glossed !! used Alclad Aqua Gloss !!

working on a new WSO's monitor for the cockpit. just wasn't satisfied with the one I scratched built.

primed the GBU-10s with badger Stynylrez. these Eduard Brassin weapons are some of the finest to be had. I'm looking forward to hanging these on the aircraft.

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:14 am

Woooeee she's looking mighty fine!

patrickroos · Post by **patrickroos** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:52 pm

Wow talk about wrestling a fighting kit down into a stunning build.
Im very impessed how you overcame the problems and the result is a very impressive plane!
Great job, great skill

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:24 pm

patrickroos wrote:Wow talk about wrestling a fighting kit down into a stunning build.
Im very impessed how you overcame the problems and the result is a very impressive plane!
Great job, great skill

Thanks Patrick.

. I have truly enjoyed this build.. just hope everything keeps going well.. I'm almost there..

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:38 pm

working on a few accessories while the landing gear bay doors dry. painted those off camera..

GBU-10s in process of painting. main color(Bomb section) which is sprayed Olive drab. under the tamiya masking tape is the WCU-26 control section on the guidance kit. that section is painted brown. The after control section and fins plus the forward laser package section will be dark green.
ALQ-131 is masked for painting as well. Dark green for that as well. the masked sections will be black.

interesting fact about the GBU-10. it is credited with an Air to Air Kill !!

On 14 February 1991, an air-to-air kill was scored by a GBU-10 when an F-15E Strike Eagle of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron hit an Iraqi Air Force Mil Mi-24 Hind. 30 seconds after firing, the F-15E crew thought the bomb had missed and was about to fire an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile when the helicopter suddenly exploded.

Painted the Aftermarket Intake FOD covers Flame red. covers are resin from Steel Beach. port cover is trimmed and fitted, Starboard cover still needs to be trimmed and fitted, after both are trimmed and fitted I'll give it another coat of paint and then they will be chipped, and sealed for weathering

OliveDrab · Post by **OliveDrab** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 4:59 am

Wow, she's really coming together now. Very nice work

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:54 am

OliveDrab wrote:Wow, she's really coming together now. Very nice work

Thanks OD !!

Decals are next.. there was a time when I couldn't wait to put decals on a kit.... No more... I keep putting if off.. I'm threading it...

I hate decals now.. not just this kit but all kits now... !!

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:12 pm

Sneak peak:
was doing some samples of how i was going to weather and bring out the recessed panel lines and rivets of the Black undersides of the fuselage.

used Ultimate weathering wash, Light dirt. applied and let dry, when I wiped it with a mostien towel it would streak badly, the streaks would show up very bright on the black surface. I then just wiped it with a dry towel and really like the result. Below. now just have to do the rest of the underside after decals. Right now, this area and the horizontal stabs, are justed rough in.. still want to do some clean up on them.

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:57 pm

Began to apply decals this morning and ran into a problem. As I was laying the the first major decal, The Tail Code, I noticed it wasn't applying very smoothly. I'm using the Afterburner decals which I have not used before, but are suppose to be very good. I then applied the Tail number right under the tail code and the same thing happened. I'm using Micro sol as well to apply the decals.

I notice there was a soft area with debris just aft of both decals...

.. it appeared to be the aqua glass coming up. I think the Aqca Gloss I sprayed almost a week ago still was not fully dried. This happend to me before on My Vietnam GB A-4E skyhawk, the Aqua Gloss never fully cured even after weeks... I always had great success with Aqua glass and no problems. I think My Aqua Gloss which I have had for about two years has gone bad.

I've never had any problems with aqua gloss before these two issues

I'll have to do some light sanding and repaint and coat in that area before continuing... good thing there is multiple decals on the sheet for different aircraft options.. I'll still be able to to "Karma 52", right now only have two more chance to get it right

thinking about ordering more aqua glass or go with something else.. I think at this point I'm going to use Tamiya clears coat at least i know it will perform as it is suppose too.

I have already trashed my two bottles of aqua gloss

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:00 pm

The main and major decals are on. Not at all happy

with the Afterburner decals. I expected much better then what they were. I haven't had one decal, let alone all the ones i applied, sliver, in I don't know how long. I'll be using the kit decals for the rest of the decals; stencils and minor decals.

keithinflorida · Post by **keithinflorida** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:12 am

That is a work of art

I really miss seeing F-111s screaming around the english countryside. Spent many happy days at Upper Heyford and Lakenheath. Good times, sadly never to ne repeated

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 3:15 am

keithinflorida wrote:That is a work of art
I really miss seeing F-111s screaming around the english countryside. Spent many happy days at Upper Heyford and Lakenheath. Good times, sadly never to ne repeated

thanks Keith it has been a joy to build.

patrickroos · Post by **patrickroos** » Tue Aug 25, 2015 8:44 pm

That is really nice mate!
Cant wait to se her completed...

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:02 pm

patrickroos wrote:That is really nice mate!
Cant wait to se her completed...

Thanks Patrick !

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Thu Aug 27, 2015 8:11 pm

All decals are on.. not fun !!!
nose and main landing gear are installed.

Fuselage bottom is weathered using Ultimate Light Dirt wash. I was hoping to receive the Ultimate Dark Dirt II today, to do the top. hopefully tomorrow. still have some minor cleanup to do on the bottom fuselage. Pictures reveal allot not normally seen when looking with the naked eye.

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 10:16 pm

The mailman delivered my Ultimate Dark Dirt II wash today

I ordered it from Hobby World USA on Monday, arrived today.

it goes on real smooth !!

just waiting for it to dry before wiping off.. "Wax On"...

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:50 am

.... "Wax off"...

Ultimate Dark Dirt wash II (New) works EXCELLENT !! still have a bit of clean up to do.. again pictures reveal where i missed wiping alittle bit off.

Hung the doors for the bombay and NLG.

also Hung the GBU-10 Paveway IIs.. The Bombs are decalled and then weathered with pigments,

Just have to install the canopy which will be open and windshield. then install all the antenna and pitot tube.

Did not like how the port aft stabilizer came out so that is being re- worked and not attached in the pictures below.

chief5437 · Post by **chief5437** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:03 pm

This is coming on really well! Fantastic looking plane, means business,

I love the cockpit, good skills buddy!

Willem · Post by **Willem** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 12:12 pm

Very very nice RW.

Lovely paint job.

Homerlovesbeer · Post by **Homerlovesbeer** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:25 pm

It really is looking awesome. I can't wait for the final reveal pics

Aliktren · Post by **Aliktren** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 4:39 pm

Beautiful work bud, looks amazing now

TommyKillander · Post by **TommyKillander** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 5:23 pm

It looks awesome!

The new Dark Dirt seems worth getting ASAP...

Cheers

rwsmith14 · Post by **rwsmith14** » Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:08 am

She's complete

http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 90&t=14280 for the Final reveal images