72nd scale F-111B long nose conversion

[Rocky]

I want to build an F-111B as it would have looked like if it was put into production. The last two prototypes and the production version had a longer nose than the first three prototypes, but not as long as the Air Force versions. It sort of looks like a Su-27 nose to me. Would a kitbash Su-27 nose and some Milliput work on an FB-111A kit? Or is it too far off? Another problem is the steeper windscreen. I don't know how to fix that change. Somebody make a conversion kit, pleeeeze!

[DET1460]

The nose of the production standard F-111B's, the last two of seven 'B's' built, looked a LITTLE similar to an F-14 nose. You should Google 'F-111B Images". Bing can help there, too. The windshield looks a bit "off" because of the shape of the nose. Its the same canopy and windshield the Tactical versions used. Each side of the windshield had a thin sheet of GOLD squished in (Yup. Thats official lingo!!!) between the two plastic sheets making up each side. In 1968 dollars they were about $24,000 each. So making a new shape would have, logically, been to expensive. I have one I've been making, over the years, with a miliput nose sanded to shape to model 152715 using a Hasagawa FB-111A. The windshield does look a little funky like that.

Make sure you use the FB-111 fairing between the engines. They were the same unit. Remove the infrared dome and fairing on top of the tail. And use the small, extra pitot tube the FB has on its right side on the rear nose equipment door. You'll need two of these as they are mounted on both sides of the "B" model, centered in the middle of the two rear nose equipment doors. These planes had NO nose mounted pitot at the point of the radome (Like some F-14's). And DON'T forget the tail hook and its fairing!

I hope this gives you a little help, and good luck! I'm looking forward to seeing it.

DET1460

[LanceB]

I will second using an F-14 radome and using the putty of your choice to fair it in. As for the production windscreen, that will be trickier. I want to do a whiffer production Navy F-111 as well (although I plan to do more mods and install F110 exhausts and other bits), and I think the only way to fix things would be to cut the cockpit section out of the nose halves, move it up the required number of scale inches, then carefully separate the windscreen from the canopy (using the Hasegawa kit here where they are one piece), tape the canopy into place and then modify the windscreen by trimming or gluing on scrap so that it fit and use that as a master for a heat-and-smash copy.

Although I have also been tempted by the writings of Tommy Thomason on "other" proposals that were made at the time, one of which was an idea to dump the ejectable crew capsule altogether in favor of standard ejection seats and a sliding canopy. I wonder how an A-6 canopy would fit...

[ikar]

I caught these two serving as maint. trainers:

[LanceB]

I caught these two serving as maint. trainers:

Those are F-111A, not F-111B.

[Rocky]

As for the production windscreen, that will be trickier. I want to do a whiffer production Navy F-111 as well (although I plan to do more mods and install F110 exhausts and other bits), and I think the only way to fix things would be to cut the cockpit section out of the nose halves, move it up the required number of scale inches, then carefully separate the windscreen from the canopy (using the Hasegawa kit here where they are one piece), tape the canopy into place and then modify the windscreen by trimming or gluing on scrap so that it fit and use that as a master for a heat-and-smash copy.

I was thinking that was the only way to do it. I don't have any experience with that, but when all else fails, learn something new...

Although I have also been tempted by the writings of Tommy Thomason on "other" proposals that were made at the time, one of which was an idea to dump the ejectable crew capsule altogether in favor of standard ejection seats and a sliding canopy. I wonder how an A-6 canopy would fit... :rolleyes:/>

I've been thinking of making an EF-111B. That would be really interesting, and a plausible development, except that I am afraid the tail would be too tall to get through the hanger doors on the ship.

[Rocky]

On second thought, maybe I should use a Russian solution for the canopy too. The Su-33UB canopy might be close to a production F-111B canopy.

[Andre]

For some added reference material, you could do worse than browsing this excellent Tailspin Topic:

http://tailspintopics.blogspot.nl/2009/10/grumman-f-111b.html

HTH,

Andre

[Flankerman]

On second thought, maybe I should use a Russian solution for the canopy too. The Su-33UB canopy might be close to a production F-111B canopy.

There is, currently, no kit of the Su-33UB available - although one is promised from Trumpeter.

The Italeri Su-34 might work though........

Ken

[chek]

Is it just me Ken, or does that Su-34 profile artwork already look like a Chris Wren cartoon?

(Not a CW cartoon, but the sort of contemporary aircraft characterisation that Chris's cartoons enlivened many an RAF Review with in the 1960s).

Edited April 23, 2015 by chek

[Jennings]

On second thought, maybe I should use a Russian solution for the canopy too. The Su-33UB canopy might be close to a production F-111B canopy.

AFAIK there would have been no difference in the canopy. That would have entailed a completely re-designed nose and escape pod. Not likely.

[LanceB]

AFAIK there would have been no difference in the canopy. That would have entailed a completely re-designed nose and escape pod. Not likely.

Raising the cockpit was exactly what the plan was with the production F-111B. Over-the-nose visibility was an issue with the pre-production machines, Grumman had designed a new nose with raised cockpit.

Tommy's F-111B Fuselage posting

This info was also covered in the link Andre provided, and is in the Ginter book.