Problem with 1/72 Esci F-111A

[vegasken]

I'm part way through this 1/72 Esci F-111A build and was going to attach the rear splitter plate until I noticed how it mated with the horizontal stabilizer. As is it leaves a huge gap between the rudder and the rear end. Looking at pictures it appears to me that there should be no gap back there. All I can think to do is angle the rear plate so that it is flat with the rest of the plane and then add styrene to the bottom of the rudder and fill in the gap in the bottom of the splitter plate. Has anyone else noticed this problem with this kit? Thanks in advance for any advice or input!

[Paul Boyer]

I tried building one a few years ago and gave up - and that's says a lot for me. There was something terribly wrong with the cockpit on mine and it was unfixable. Found a Hasegawa A model on eBay and finished that right quick. The Esci kit is in a landfill. Hase is reissuing the A model kit, so you may want to go that route.

[vegasken]

19 minutes ago, Paul Boyer said:

I tried building one a few years ago and gave up - and that's says a lot for me. There was something terribly wrong with the cockpit on mine and it was unfixable. Found a Hasegawa A model on eBay and finished that right quick. The Esci kit is in a landfill. Hase is reissuing the A model kit, so you may want to go that route.

Thanks Paul, I think I've got it sorted out with some shims and such. I'll try to post some pictures later. I found another guy who had the same problem here: https://www.rocketpunch.biz/wip-italeri-ef111a-raven-1/ so it was nice to know that I wasn't alone in noticing it.

[ikar]

So, who's markings are you going to use?

We had two squadrons at Korat and they carried 500 pounders on their wing racks or cluster bombs and also mounted two ECM pods center line.

At one point the A.F. told all squadrons to remove the shark mouths and the fight was on, for a short time.  One shift of mechanics woult take off their mouths and the later shift would put them back on.  Not long after that, they moved the location of the mouths.  The F-4Es put them on the top of their AIM 9 rails and the F-111s put them on the nose of their ECM pods.  The A-7Ds just went along with orders and the RF-4Cs never carried them anyway.  

The EB-66s had already gone away to die in the Philippines and no type of C-130s we had ever had a mouth.

The whole thing lasted only a few weeks, but it was interesting to watch when I was out on the flight line taking pictures.

This happened in 1974 during my second tour and only a couple months after I left the war was done.

[vegasken]

1 hour ago, ikar said:

So, who's markings are you going to use?

We had two squadrons at Korat and they carried 500 pounders on their wing racks or cluster bombs and also mounted two ECM pods center line.

At one point the A.F. told all squadrons to remove the shark mouths and the fight was on, for a short time.  One shift of mechanics woult take off their mouths and the later shift would put them back on.  Not long after that, they moved the location of the mouths.  The F-4Es put them on the top of their AIM 9 rails and the F-111s put them on the nose of their ECM pods.  The A-7Ds just went along with orders and the RF-4Cs never carried them anyway.  

The EB-66s had already gone away to die in the Philippines and no type of C-130s we had ever had a mouth.

The whole thing lasted only a few weeks, but it was interesting to watch when I was out on the flight line taking pictures.

This happened in 1974 during my second tour and only a couple months after I left the war was done.

Ikar thanks for the input! I don't think that the Esci decals look useable so I'm looking now for some markings for a F-111A. The Caracal F-111A sheet looks really nice so I may order that one and choose one of those that was in Combat Lancer in 1968.

[habu2]

Hmmm, I have the AMT/ERTL boxing that appears to be the same kit. ☹️

[Trojan Thunder]

5 hours ago, habu2 said:

Hmmm, I have the AMT/ERTL boxing that appears to be the same kit. ☹️

 

It certainly is, I built is a couple of years ago and did not notice the rudder gap issue

 

.

[habu2]

On a slight tangent I also have the AMT/ERTL 1/72 F-14A and F-15A kits in my stash and they both seem to be based on the early Hasegawa releases of the same subjects but with (heavily) engraved panel lines.  I'm unsure of the heritage of the F-111A kit.

[Paul Boyer]

It seems to me there were two "generations" of 1/72 scale Esci kits; the first that included the F-100, F-104, Harrier, and the F-5 were pretty good. Then the later generation that was not so good included the F-111, A-7, F-8, and possibly the F-14 and F-15. I'm not sure about the latter two as I have not built or examined them. But there was a definite drop-off in quality there.

[RichB63]

Hasegawa have re-released their F-111A kit…

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by RichB63

[vegasken]

10 hours ago, RichB63 said:

Hasegawa have re-released their F-111A kit…

 

LOL you guys need to let me know which old kits you want me to start so that mid-build a better kit will get re-released or released. I have a habit of doing this.

 

[vegasken]

Ok I think I've got the rear end sorted out with some styrene shims and such.

 

[Alternative 4]

12 hours ago, RichB63 said:

Hasegawa have re-released their F-111A kit…

 

67-113 later became A8-113 with the RAAF.

 

Started out with the USAF and served in Vietnam before it ran off the runway at Nellis in the late 70's. It was purchased by the RAAF, restored and served until the F-111's retirement.

[ikar]

Our two squadrons at Korat, the 428th and 429th had the NG tail code while they were there.

When I was attending a class at Sheppard AFB in Texas, I found a few of the original F-111s in their grey and white paint, just like the Revell model from the mid 60s where they gave the option of an A.F. or Navy scheme.  I managed to get a couple shots of them.

[RichB63]

On 6/17/2023 at 4:27 PM, ikar said:

…Our two squadrons at Korat, the 428th and 429th had the NG tail code while they were there…

 

Did you mean HG?

 

[gmat6441]

One of the C-130E-IIs with the 7th ACCS had a shark mouth painted. It would have had the JC tail code. One of the 553rd RS EC-121Rs also had a shark mouth painted. 

[ikar]

You're right, it was HG.

One day I was on the flight line with my camera when a 111 came in with an engine blowing out blue smoke.  I as they parked it in front of the reventmants on the upper layer and the fire dept met it.  The crew got out as the firemen approached and then the brakes gave out and the 111 rolled into the sie of the fire vehicle.

I could see it rolling, but could not get close enough for a couple pictures.

[jonwinn]

I have that kit and it looks like parts are missing or AMT ERTL screwed up on the instructions. They call out parts 6E which are UHF-VHF antennas on the fuselage sides near the main landing gear well area. There is NO E sprue in my kit. I looked at an EF-111A and that had those antennas AND the different tail with the football on the tip and some fuel tanks on sprue E. Does your kit have those antennas?

[vegasken]

38 minutes ago, jonwinn said:

I have that kit and it looks like parts are missing or AMT ERTL screwed up on the instructions. They call out parts 6E which are UHF-VHF antennas on the fuselage sides near the main landing gear well area. There is NO E sprue in my kit. I looked at an EF-111A and that had those antennas AND the different tail with the football on the tip and some fuel tanks on sprue E. Does your kit have those antennas?

Funny you mention part 6E. I was just looking for the E sprue last night and noticed that it was missing. The kit that I have was purchased with all of the sprues out of the bags, so I assumed that sprue E was lost. After looking at my WAPJ reference though, it does not appear that all F-111's had that UHF/VHF antenna installed. I don't think the F-111A had it. I think it was a mistake in the Esci instructions for the 111A. Hopefully a F-111 expert will chime in with the correct answer as to whether or not the 111A had that antenna.

The biggest issues I have dealt with is fixing the rear end/vertical stabilzer, blending in the joint behind the cockpit where the refuel door is and adding back panel lines, and blending in the intakes. I also added some generic fan blades inside the intake. Doesn't look great but better than a blank wall inside there.

Edited June 26, 2023 by vegasken
clarification

[jonwinn]

Thanks, my kit was factory sealed and had NO E or C sprue which supposedly have those antennas. AMT is not known for great instructions, just sorta "the part goes close to here". I looked at some walkarounds and saw no VHF-UHF antennas so far. BTW good job so far, I did the 1/72 Monogram EF-111A kit and it was enjoyable and came out looking good. Carry on!!!!! LOL

Edited June 26, 2023 by jonwinn

[jonwinn]

The Monogram kit has a much better cockpit, I added a LOT of weight to the nose area'

 

[Quixote74]

Far from an expert, but the blade antennae shown in the F-111A instructions should only be there on the EF-111A 'Spark Vark' conversions.  It appears this was an error in ESCI's original instructions (which I'm sure shared a lot of basic artwork between the variants). The phantom antennae from sprue "E" show up in the first release instructions posted on scalemates

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/esci-ertl-9068-f-111a-aardvark--136476

 

In fact there should be an external "strap" reinforcement in that area unique to the EF-111A updates:

http://nabe3saviation.web.fc2.com/images10/wa111-28.jpg

Monogram got this feature correct, it's one of many small details that ESCI chose to ignore.

 

For all their many faults, the ESCI Vark family does have the virtue of being widely available, affordable, and covering several versions (if not altogether accurately). Monogram did a great job on the EF-111 but only ever released that one version - a huge gap in the market after Eldorado Canyon, which ESCI partially filled (somewhat improved upon by AMT with their F-111F update released after Desert Storm).  Since their release Hasegawa has stayed the definitive leader in the market, but at a jaw-dropping retail price - when in production - and a truly staggering collector value when it's been OOP.

[jonwinn]

Thanks, the Monogram EF-111A was an excellent kit for it's time and I often wondered why they didn't continue on with the F-111A, C and F. The old 1/72 Revell I think was rather toyish. As for Hasegawa they are better but NOT for that price as their molds are showing wear and you need to be in the know to make a swept wing version.

[vegasken]

Thanks for that info Quixote, interesting to read the background behind the Esci kit. I don't find the Esci F-111 too bad. I have the Hasegawa kit and that one is next on my build list so it will be interesting to compare.

 

The Esci cockpit is pretty sparse so I've been doing some scratchbuilding to try to dress it up a little.