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Academy F-111 to the workbench!


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Here are some better pix of the seals after last nights adjustment. The upper portion overlaps the lower slightly when the wing is in the forward position and appears slightly bulged. Assuming this is on a seal that is newer and has not had years of wear and tear. The gap only starts to develop when it is nearing time for replacement. Studying photos shows many variations, but I like this one best. I just used the PE template and another strip of surgical tape and made the upper portion again for both sides, stuck it in place, coated it with Tamiya Clear, allowed to dry then trimmed the upper edge slightly.

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I have 17 years of maintenance exp. on the Vark, myself CNI/EW. Lots of cussing and many beers. My time was mostly on the E & EF, but have some FB/G & cough D.

John,

When and where did you work on the Vark? It was my first assignment. I worked RHAWS and COMM/NAV at Lakenheath from '91 to '93. Had many good friends at UH as well.

I will be following your build very closely as I've been working on again, off again on my F model for years. I must've missed it, but what model are you doing?

Mike

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My time was mostly on the E & EF, but have some FB/G & cough D.

What was wrong with the D? I've read somewhere that it was one of the most capable Vark variants (or was it the E?), but that it was a maintenance pig though. Care to elaborate?

Edited by J.C. Bahr
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What was wrong with the D? I've read somewhere that it was one of the most capable Vark variants (or was it the E?), but that it was a maintenance pig though. Care to elaborate?

From a CNI/EW POV, nothing, the systems were all similiar with a few exceptions. The bomb nav systems were constantly in the backshop for repair. TAC requirements meant mobility, and when you had to prep your test station and have it fork lifted to the flightline and have it forked back to the shop, lots of things broke down. It was *** holes & elbows for a couple weeks after every exercise, 1 step forward and 3 backward. The real gripe for me and a lot of other folks was it was Cannon AFB, eastern NM is not the cultural center of the US, especially after a tour in Oxfordshire, so needless to say I was England bound after 14 months at Cannon. The only memories I have of Cannon are: my daughter was born there and I had my first wisdom tooth pulled there by a female dentist who gave me 5 shots of Novacaine and finally got the tooth out in 4 pieces.

John

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  • 2 weeks later...

Still building and very close to primer and paint.

Compass Sail antenna & KB-18 strike camera window.

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Forward spikes in place & wingroot glove filets

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Formation lights are thin strips of plastic strip, lightly sanded to soften the corners. These will be painted Testors Zinc Cromate Yellow (small bottle) and the scribed dividers picked out with a wash.

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Stabs & Gloves with styrene rods. Paragon AB Nozzles and Monograms F-14 cans to give depth.

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Various location holes have been made for positioning the CNI blade antennae.

Definately a fun build for me!

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  • 5 weeks later...

Fantastic build mate,

I am so inspired :blink:

One piece of constructive critisism is the flaps don't appear to be on a steep enough angle... Might just be the pictures though....

Kinda shows how far down they should protrude in this photo here

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It's been a month and I have made some progress during the dog days of summer. The USAFE camo pattern was a bear to get where I could leave well enough alone and the red high lift surfaces were a royal pain to mask. Yes the flaps are not full down, technically inaccurate, but if you decide to use the Paragon flaps and slats you will understand. At any rate I'm pleased so far and still excited about the build, here are the latest pics as she sits.

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Looks great! Are you intending on entering this into the contest in Moore in Sept.? Just curious,would love to see this great work in person!

Scot

If I finish, yes, but I haven't had much time to model lately. It's all the little stuff now that will be time comsuming.

John

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

I've been working on the Vaark over the last couple weeks and it is getting closer.

It is clear coated and waiting for a wash and some detail painting. I have to get

to work the externals and the canopy, can't cut corners so here are the latest.

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