RCNFAN Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I've inherited the 1/48 Hobbyboss F-111 D/E and seeing if someone with knowledge of this kit knows if it can be back dated to an A version with what is in the box. Thanks Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Here are the instructions for the A version: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10102814 Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 Thanks for these. I'll do a comparison to my sprue but its looking like I should be able to make this an A. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 Main problem is the TPII intakes, you need to swap them out for the TPI intakes. All the rest that needs to be changed can be dont with after market stuff, its the intakes thats the problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jenshb Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 I believe the two major changes is to add a splitter plate and shorten the shock cone. Not an insurmountable task... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 38 minutes ago, jenshb said: I believe the two major changes is to add a splitter plate and shorten the shock cone. Not an insurmountable task... Move it close to the fuselage, close up the inlet doors and add the transition plate, that opens up instead of the small inlet doors too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Thanks Guys I'm looking into the intake differences now to see how much surgery it will need, if its just these and there are no wing or fuselage dimension changes then it sounds doable. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Its perfectly doable as the kit is quite inaccurate to start with. The exhaust nozzles could do with a change but you can get some nice ones from Reskit. I cant remember if the cockpit panel is right for an A version. The rest of the kit fits in with the short wing version if you discount those two outstanding features though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Just Googled F-111 TPII intakes and and found the f-111.net website for modellers. Has some excellent photos of the intake differences you are talking about so right click and saved. Appreciate the help Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 I don't mind putting in some work. I bought Kittyhawks RF-101C knowing full well that the intakes are for a B version and will require some modification. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Yeah you are going to need some of that alright. There is a thread on here somewhere that talks about the kit more. It might be better to take a look at that too as the kit itself has some real problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 After getting this F-111 it intrigued me that it flew in Vietnam which I didn't know and piqued my interest to do that version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 If you aint bothered about the "work" involved in converting it into an A then go for it. I wouldnt bother myself, I would just get the A model kit as its already some work involved in getting it to look right to begin with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 Will do, looks good in the box and I've heard its a big improvement over the Academy one but haven't seen one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 21, 2020 Author Share Posted August 21, 2020 If this looks like it will require to much I may choose to make this a Gulf War version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 It has its own set of pros and cons compared to the Academy kit. Its an improvement in some ways of course. the bomb bay is nice, as is the Pave Tack, but the latter isnt accurate and doesnt provide the option to mount the data link pod. I like the Academy kit too. But neither are anything to write home about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 22, 2020 Author Share Posted August 22, 2020 I just had it out of the box tonight to go over it, obviously I don't know how the fit is but the detail looks excellent. I haven't built a Hobbyboss kit before but will be starting my first one here soon, the 1/48 F8F bearcat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ElectroSoldier Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 Hobby boss isnt bad over all, Ive mostly built their WWII German tank kits but done a few aircraft models too, they are very much like Trumpeter which isnt unlike the old Hasegawa kits but with way more details than they had. Some of the riveting was a bit heavy or over done on the older kits but in more recent years they're nice. The F-111 kit has some detail problems on it though, the wing flaps are the wrong way around, which takes a lot of chopping to fix them. If you look at the flaps themselves when you put it together as per the instructions they are the wrong way around, they are flipped span wise, so the panels that are shorter chord wise should be on the outside and so on from the tip to the fuselage. The canopy also needs some work to look right, but the fix isnt all that hard, it just needs a vacform canopy and some fillets. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 23, 2020 Author Share Posted August 23, 2020 I'll have a look at the flaps, that seems like the bigger issue. Thanks for the heads up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Correcting the HB canopy: As noted, this is the Academy kit canopy. There is also a vac-u-form canopy based on the Academy kit available, probably from multiple sources, but here is one: https://www.amazon.com/Vacuform-Canopy-Academy-accessory-Squadron/dp/B00EN0AO7M Edited August 27, 2020 by mrvark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Wow. Thanks for this pic mrvark. Glad to see its fixable but that is pretty a pretty big adjustment for a fairly modern kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Okay Reading this again I see thats the Academy canopy on the Hobby boss kit, Cybermodeler talks about the canopy shape issue. Going to pull the canopy out today to see for myself. Cheers Ray Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrvark Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 29 minutes ago, RCNFAN said: Okay Reading this again I see thats the Academy canopy on the Hobby boss kit, Cybermodeler talks about the canopy shape issue. Going to pull the canopy out today to see for myself. Cheers Ray Check my edit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCNFAN Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 Excellent, there is an option. I also found that OZ mods makes one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonbryon Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 1 hour ago, RCNFAN said: Excellent, there is an option. I also found that OZ mods makes one. I think it's identical to the Squadron one. Certainly the one I ordered from OZ mods a few years ago *is* the Squadron canopy. Jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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