dsamuel

Hello Guys,

I enjoy reading Geedubya's mini-reviews, so I thought I might add my own.
Below is some pics of my first proper build - Tornado F3 (airfix 1:72).

The Tornado F3 (sometimes refered to as 'ADV' air defence variant) is, as the name suggests, the air defence version of the Tornado. It has been the UK's primary air defence fighter since the later stages of the cold war and is now being replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon.

This was an airfix kit which I believe has been updated and reissued within the last few years. The reissue contains some weapons updates (ASRAMs, ALARM missiles) but the airframe itself is from fairly old tooling (so I understand). It has a combination of raised and recessed panel lines, but most of the raised panel lines were lost as a lot of filling and sanding was required.

It has been painted by brush using Xtracrylics acrylic paints on a primer base of Halfords grey primer. Overall build time has been about 4-weeks doing a bit here and there.

There are some 'deliberate' mistakes, but overall I am very please with the result. I am currently completing the decalling. There are some long white dashed panel demarkation lines that are decals. These are a nightmare to place as it is very easy to get the long decal tied up in knots. Any tips on this?

Anyway, next build in the RAF collection is a Mosquito fighter bomber by tamiya.

Cheers,
Dave

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/galler...1/dscn1869.jpg
http://www.scale-models.co.uk/galler...1/dscn1868.jpg
http://www.scale-models.co.uk/galler...1/dscn1867.jpg

rawfodog

That looks brill' mate, do the wings move, or are they glued in a fixed position? Also I know its rare but is this one of those special models that the wheels retrack with out being glued in the retracted position? Thats has always been a to buy or not to buy winner for me.

Looks great by the way. Any idea waht sqd' it is? I may have to make the Dam buster F3

edit:
How long/wide is it?

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dsamuel

Hi Rawfodog,

The wings would move as there is a cross linkage provided in the kit, but I chose not to use this and glued the wings in the forward position. The wing movement mechanism seemed a bit sloppy, so it thought it was best to glue it in place.
Also, the landing gear is either glued in place, or not.

I believe this particular aircraft is from 111 squadron at RAF Leuchars. The colour scheme is from 2002 when it was their 85th (?) aniversary. A picture of this very aircraft is actually on the RAF website here http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/wall...f3_03_0800.jpg

But, don't look to hard at the real thing (it makes my model look naff!! lol).
I've got some better pics of the real aircraft which I will upload to the gallery.

The model in 1:72 measures 251mm long and 193mm wingspan.

Cheers,
Dave

GEEDUBBYA

Howdy Dave,

The tornado looks great, would you believe that its one of the models I currently don't have lol. I have however been meaning to get one and you just reminded me why. I have build this plane, (not the airfix model) several times in the past back when i was married in the 90's right after the start of the gulf war when you saw alot of the tornadoes and sepecats on the news.
I remember building two of these and an F-111 Aardvark swing wing fighter, precursor to the F-14 Tomcat and the plane originally designed to carry the Phoenix missile system. Something about swing wing fighter bombers....they just have an appeal all of their own to them.
I am glad you posted this model and have been hoping to get other people to do the same, I really enjoy looking at other peoples work for inspiration. Besides, like someone said in my most recent thread about the Jas-39 gripen, he wondered if i was the only one posting in the aircraft photos section of the forum lol, and i admit I do have alot of models posted there, but there are others who's work i admire in that far outclass my efforts. And i hope to see your work more often.
I too have the tamiya "mosquito" (yet to be assembled) as well as the beaufighter and have been putting them off in lieu of more "esoteric" subjects like the liason aircraft and others.
And last but not least, I want to say i am glad you gave some history of the aircraft in your post, I am guilty of just posting the model and pointing out that its in my driveway or on the hood of my truck, i really need to give abit more history in my threads or maybe even do a "speed build" construction thread someday.

Have a good day, and again, thats a wonderful looking tornado,


Greg aka GEEDUBBYA (GW)

rawfodog

Greg any idea waht sqd' you are doing? be cool if we could get a few different sqds on here. When/if i build it, it would have to be the dambuster sqd, in the Iraq war (2003). When it was the first sqd to use the nw storm shadow air-to-ground, shame that they dont model this missile "I wonder how to make custom missiles?"

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It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames

dsamuel

Thanks greg and rawfodog. I've thought about doing a tornado GR1 in desert storm colours to go next to the F3. The GR1 is the ground attack version of the tornado and has a stubbier nose with a different radar housed inside. It would make a more interesting model as the weapons loadouts and colour schemes are much more varied. I think I need a little more practice before I attempt the desert camo schemes though and I will probably need to do it with an airbrush.

Here's some pics of the real ZE159 F3:
Aviation Photos: ZE159

Rawfodog,
I know for certain that the Revell 1:72 Eurofighter typhoon has storm shadow missles included. I bought this kit as an initial practice run to learn some techniques and I made a right pigs ear of it. If I still had the missles, you would be welcome to have them, but they were used for some glueing and painting practice and went in the bin.

Cheers,
Dave

GEEDUBBYA

Howdy Dave and Jason,

Well as for when might I build the tornado....I will have to buy it first, and if I do, it will probably be next week before I buy it. As to what squadron, I dont know for sure, one of the hobby shops i frequent has tons of decals and i know they have some for the tornado, So I could probably pick markings for any of several squadrons. If not, I also make my own on my computer.
I also have the Eurofighter typhoon model with the storm shadow and Taurus missiles. Check out this link to a build thread of the "Taurus" stand off missile : Revell 1/72 Taurus Missile


have a good day guys,

Greg

rawfodog

How easy would it be to fit the EF (eurofighter) storm shadow to the GR1? It will make a great pressy for me paps, as he worked on the storm shadow.
And does this model shop have a tinternet site? I'd love to get my hand on the dambuster sqd' decals.
cheers a mill'

-jason

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It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames

GEEDUBBYA

Howdy Jason,

adapting it to fit the GR1 shouldnt be any trouble, I have done that with several weapons in the past on various models.
As for the hobby shop, no, its strickly a single person operation and I dont even think he has an email address that i know of. However, you might try looking through these for the decals you want : S q u a d r o n . c o m - Cookie if this page doesnt show up with the 1900 some odd decal sets offered by this company click this link S q u a d r o n . c o m - Search and go to "types" and in the drop down box look for "decals-aircraft" and hit go.

hope this helps,

Greg

rawfodog

Greg, I'v had a llok and cant seem to find some, I wonder if your wonder shop does have them, if i can send you the money for them + P+P + a little bit for your trouble? via paypal? If not then its not a problem.

__________________
It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames