mrvark

Here is the article about correcting the DMold intakes for installation in either kit. It was a bit easier in the Academy kit. Also, once done, you'll want to compress and epoxy the fuselage sides against the back end of the intake parts so that the top and bottom fuselage halves are even (You'll see what I mean when you get there). https://www.dropbox.com/s/t9cg9bi73xeph4o/Correcting 1-48 F-111 Triple Plow II Intakes.pdf?dl=0

Something that I haven't seen pointed out thus far is that the Academy & Hobby Boss kits only have Triple Plow I inlets. They include variants of the inlet spikes both with and without the large flat panel that fits alongside the fuselage. However, the Triple Plow II inlet spikes are 18" longer than the Triple Plow I ones. DMold created better inlets for the Academy kit, but their store has temporarily (hopefully) suspended operations. However, even this isn't a completely accurate rendition of the Triple Plow II redesign. I've attached a link to a tutorial a couple pos

Thanks all!

Where was this picture of the F-105 inboard multi-weapon pylon taken?

In the above pictures, the missiles with the milky-orange seeker windows are IIR missiles (125-lb warhead D or 300-lb warhead G). The ones with clear windows are EO (H, which are 125-lb warhead Bs modified with an improved seeker or Ks with the same seeker and a 300-lb warhead). Laser seekers (L for USAF E-2 for USN) also have clear windows, but the side of the seeker has LASER in large letters stenciled on the side.

Just a quick tip. When making Reskit resin nozzles, most of the cutting to free the parts from their casting blocks is pretty straight-forward. However, the afterburner flame holders are a bit of a challenge. These parts are three-dimensional in that they are conically shaped. I've tried cutting them free and am here to warn you not to do that--you'll probably end up damaging the parts (at least, if you're as clumsy as I am)! Instead, get a corse sanding stick and sand the excess away gradually. It's time consuming and messy, but the part will end up intact and you won't beat your head against

As a guy with a little (NOT a lot) of USAF F-4 time, I wonder how those Navy guys got in the jet without stepping on the seat cushion!

The original AGM-12B Bullpup A was usually mounted to the LAU-34, which was also used with the AGM-45. This is what it looked like:

Sparrow (probably an E-2) in the front well as well--that's unusual. Can't tell for sure, but it looks like there may NOT be any aft-mounted Sparrows. Too bad the photographer didn't wait about two more seconds before taking his pic. 🙄

So far as I'm aware, only 497 TFS (FP) F-4Ds had (gloss) black bellies. The earliest pic I've seen so painted was in 1969 and they were painted this way through 1972. Aircraft noted painted this way included 66-0279, 66-8713, 66-8738*, 66-8786*, 66-8802, 66-8812* (there may have been more, but NOT all 497th aircraft were painted this way). All of these aircraft were fitted with the PAVE Phantom Towel Rack antenna. The aircraft above marked with an asterisk (*) are known to have been some of the 11 F-4Ds capable of employing the PAVE Sword pod. From a modeling standpoint, they were

Academy's two-seat canopy is too flat (IIRC). Fairy Hobby did a vac-u-form correction some years ago, but it now seems to be OOS. Don't let the posted price scare you, $120 HKD is only about $15.50 USD!

Here's what the Scale Motorsport carbon fibre decals look like on my 1:48 F-16I. The decal is just one big sheet, not individual decals. Came up with a drawing on what the individual petals look like and had a friend with a silhouette printer cut them out for me. Turns out the petals differ, depending on which kit you're using.

I got really excited until I went to the link and it is 1/48 🙁 (and they don't specify which kit its for). Amazon (of all places) seems to carry AFV Club's line of coated canopies (which is unfortunately kind of limited).

The majority of MXU-648/A Travel Pods are repurposed BLU-27 Vietnam era Napalm bombs. There used to be some based on the BLU-1, but I think most of those have passed into history.

Not a great shot, but here's one loaded with Scalp (sis Storm Shadow) on 25 March 2011.

I just checked this out on the Scalemates website and noticed that the Eldorado Canyon markings are for 70-2386, which just happened to be the jet with my name on it that night 😃. I know the WSO who flew it and he confirmed the next morning that it was 'my' jet. Unfortunately, it was an air spare and didn't fly the whole mission, turning back after the first air refueling near Land's End (with a runaway INS showing 600 knots of wind 🙄). BTW, my book on the raid is nearing completion--hoping to get it sent off the the Pentagon within the month for the security review. Not sure how long tha

I don't think its a MTOW issue. When I asked the question, my understanding was that Spice can be carried with the 600 gal tanks, but that mix precluded the Python IV on the outboard station. That makes me think it is probably a separation issue (i.e., when the Spice is released, the airflow around the tank might force it outboard enough that it might impact the the Python IV), but that is only my GUESS.

I agree about the tanks. As you can see from your first photo, they can be used with GBU-24s. I plan on doing a 1:32 F-16I as well and will do it with that load out. I don't know why the big tanks can't be used with the Python IVs on the outboard stations--it may be that they just never tested that configuration. A lot of drag with even the 370s, so that might be part of the reason.

Your load out is okay EXCEPT you have to retain the 370 gal wing tanks if also carrying Spice and Python IV. Also, all the pics I've seen of F-16Is show them carrying the early AIM-120s with the long wings, not the later AIM-120C/Ds. Here's one I just finished:

I just looked at your website, but didn't see the pilot illustrated above with the JHMCS visor down. Is it still available?

I would be SHOCKED if the Saudis used M117s. AFAIK, only the B-52s dropped M117s during ODS. I do remember seeing a video showing a Saudi IDS carrying Mk 84s on the outboard fuselage stations.

Man, what happened to the pilot's union?! Back in the Vark days we did a ton of low angle deliveries to entertain the pilots! The Mudhen pilots must get SO bored! I almost feel sorry for them (not really--WSOs forever!).🤣

Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it...

Look just to the left of the NLG light and you'll see the radome and farther back you can see the silhouette of the rest of the pod in front of the GBU-31(V)3/B

Yes--as you can see here. The most probable reason is that the weapon separation tests were performed with two pods installed and that configuration is all that is authorized. As for the Sniper pod replacing the LANTIRN targeting pod, they probably made the determination that the airflow differences around the two pods was insignificant.