I worked on the F-111D as an avionics tech in the late 1970s at Cannon AFB, so I think it’s nice that HobbyBoss is covering the F-111 – and in a big way! The kit features detailed engines, avionics bays, cockpit, wheel wells, and vinyl tires. Markings include a preproduction and Vietnam War scheme.
Building the cockpit posed no issues. The instrument panel layout is not exactly correct for the A model. There are four instrument panels in the kit, and they all have a bit of artistic license in their layout compared with what was in the full-size aircraft. The ejection handles have been omitted, and the side walls have no detail. (However, aftermarket cockpits are now available for purists.) I applied the instrument decals to the panels, and they went down fine with Micro Set and Mr. Mark Softer.
HobbyBoss calls out the flat panel for the radar dish, but I believe the curved dish is correct for this early aircraft. (Phased array was not out yet.) I substituted parts C43 and C5 for the ones called out in the instructions. For the radars and the avionics facades, I painted Testors dark gull gray and Testors chromate yellow. The so-called “black boxes” – what we in the Air Force call LRUs (line replaceable units) were gray, not black like the F-102’s.
The instructions show only the wings in the forward sweep, but inside the airframe there are two position pins, one for landings and takeoffs and one for full swept. The flaps, slats and spoilers can be positioned open or closed. I positioned one wing in full sweep and modified the wing glove (Part D31); the other is in landing/takeoff configuration to show what is possible. (On the real aircraft, the wings move in tandem.) Holes in the wings for the bomb racks will need to be filled in, depending on the wing position.
The TF30 engines have the fuel management module but not the associated plumbing. You would have to look to your references for the plumbing and wire layout.
On my kit sample, the escape capsule does not fit into the fuselage tub cleanly. The sides and front did not line up with the parting panel line, and slight gaps were present. I had to clamp mine in place and fill in the gaps. A suggestion would be for you to add sheet-styrene tabs along the sides to ensure alignment.
Arming the F-111 with Mk.82s, I noted that the MERs are not the ones made for the F-111. The F-111 had special racks made for it. Some of the weapons are for later periods and F-111 versions.
I chose the Vietnam markings and painted my Aardvark in the Southeast Asia camouflage scheme with Testors dark green, medium green, and dark tan over aircraft interior black. My reference for this review was F-111 Aardvark, by Bert Kinzey.
Modeler’s note: In the 1970s and 1980s, these aircraft were routinely sent to the wash rack to be cleaned – even the wheel wells (that was my duty for a week) – and to the paint shop as needed, so they should not look unduly dirty or faded. They also flew with the SUU-20 practice bomb dispensers most of the time.
Because of the fit and complexity issues, I can only recommend this kit to experienced modelers. Glad to see the “Pig” (as we called it) out in plastic again. I’m looking forward to the release of the D and E variants so I can make one of the aircraft I maintained.