Gen.Dyn. F-iii Mc Namaardvark Folly (finished page 2)

[Tophe]

In 1975, when I was a 11-year old kit, I bought and built the 1/72 Airfix kit of General Dynamics F-111 (later called Aardvark or nicknamed Mc Namara's Folly). It was much too big alas, what a bad memory (of final disappointment). I painted it dark blue above, letting the underside in Airfix sky-blue plastic. It has been destroyed when I changed home in 1982 (to M city) or 84 (to G city) or 85 (to LB village).
Today I have ordered from China, cheap (5€ =5 US $), a 1/144 F-111E of Mini Hobby Models. I will call it F-iii, as the Mirage III (capital-iii) was sometimes written Mirage 111... And Gen.Dyn for General Dynamics will become Genius Dynamite. The new nickname being Mc Namaardvark Folly.
It will have a low fixed wing, at least two fins and a shortened tail (tailless). I plan to show my project as edited picture first.
The parcel arrival is scheduled for January 16th, this is almost the main reason why I ordered it, as gift for my new year (I would have felt guilty if delivered November 18th)...

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/r_f-111achete.jpg

[Tophe]

Here is the project (for the fin/tailplane, it is not decided yet: T-tail or triple fin):

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/f-111_b136-but.jpg

[SPINNERS]

Ambitious!

Re: Airfix F-111E - I bought the same kit when it first came out and I loved it. Of course, mine was RAF camo with tactical markings and I later ruined it by sawing off the fin tip RWR and glueing it under the nose to give it an internal gun bang on the centreline à la F-4E. I seem to remember that the cockpit escape capsule was a shocking fit?

Happy days.

[PR19_Kit]

I seem to remember that the cockpit escape capsule was a shocking fit?

Sure was, but then almost all F-111 kit escape capsules were like that.

I did a review of F-111 kits for Scale Models magazine at the time and mentioned those problems more than once.

Somewhere I still have the Revell one, which I'd converted into an E variant post the review.

[Tophe]

I later ruined it by sawing off the fin tip RWR and glueing it under the nose to give it an internal gun bang on the centreline

It was a good idea according to me    , I would have approved your whif change, even if the final result was disappointing alas.  

[Tophe]

Here is the planned top view:
(reduced size, isn't it? Curing my trauma of child-age...)

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/f-iii_dessus.jpg

[Tophe]

And here is the planned profile view:  
(no jet exhaust, I think, no need, whifly powered by the pilot's mental Force)

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/f-iii-prof.jpg

[kerick]

Ah, and here I thought it would be super hyper Tophe rocket power! Still sounds good!

[Tophe]

Thanks!
Then; question of version: will my model be rather a FB-111 bomber, an EF-111 for electronic war, a RF-111 for recon? Uh, no war no killing for me, so rather rf-iii. Or, in a what-if universe: VF-iii or XVF-iii as VTOL (with secret invisible devices for that).

[Tophe]

The time before delivery is confirmed: a little less than 2 months:

[Tophe]

This Chinese kit was so cheap, I could have bought 2 copies, to build a zwilling F-222...
To "build a drawing" of this possibility, I first gather the 3 views into one at common scale:

[Tophe]

And here is the F-222 that could have been: 

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/f-222-3v.jpg

[Tophe]

I received the kit today, in huge advance... 
But I am ill, without energy to make a photograph.  

[PR19_Kit]

Not good to hear you're that ill Tophe.

Hope things improve for you soon, we'd miss your incredible ideas here.

[Tophe]

Thanks Doctor Kit.

Here is the kit box content:

= link http://www.kristofmeunier.fr/Ir2_f111_6594.jpg