andrewdick68

Thanks Mark. appreciate the comments Now that I've done a kitbash I've actually started looking for other kits I can bash together in the coming years. Should be fun.

Here is the finished product for all those interested. it was a super fun build. I have a long way to go with my quality, I'm a bit of a 'just get it done' kinda guy. Just have to slow down a bit I guess. Couple of shots of it on the table at Best in the West

This will be my first showing ever, and I think this kit belongs in section 52, Vacuform, Scratchbuilt, Paper, Wood & Kit bash. I've also got my Millennium Falcon, my first Kit in 35 years that I'm bringing along too. It's now a show stopper but I'm still pretty proud of it

I'm planning on having it done for Best in the West in Vegas next month

Thank you for your kind words. I must say, as a boy I just built them and some never got painted, then I moved into what I called factory showroom shine painting and never even considered weathering. This is my greatest challenge, but thanks to YouTube I think I'll have plenty of ideas. I spend 10 or 15 minutes here and there on my kits each day between meetings and other drudgery 🙂

Yep, nothing lined up, lots of extra glue. Thanks for the comments, appreciate it.

Thanks, Appreciate that. I thought it would be fun to merge the Aircraft I spent years working on with the one I'd like to work on (and fly off this rock 🤣)

Thanks, Scalemates list it as 1/73, although I've never taken a tape measure and calculator to it. It's the AMT/ERTL kit, same as the old MPC Han Solo kits and the AMT/ERTL Cutaway. It's the one on the 2nd row up on the left. I've added 6 more Falcons to my stash since this photo including the Deagostini and the Bandai Perfect Grade (I have a problem 🤣)

Installed Undercarriage (blue paint was just holding the fuselage together while a set the gear)

Main gear seen here in mock-up (not yet all glued up) using parts from the Falcons main gear. Funnily there are gaps in the molding that the F-111 stub axels fit right into. I will stabilize and fix with Araldite. All in all I like the look of the gear, it's not that much lower than what the F-111 would sit with Tires, but just enough to make it look a little pimped out.

Have started on the undercarriage. I've decided to run with Millennium Falcon Undercarriage parts as the max take off weight of the F-111 is 92,500 lbs, and the little delicate X-Wing landing gear would crumple under the load. Nose Undercarriage uses a single landing pad from a Millennium Falcon which has been trimmed (Cut & Shut) to accommodate the slightly narrower nose wheel well.

Started on some external piping / greebles. Trying to use the existing lumps and bumps on the F-111 to attach them too or run them from/to.

Flight Crew done

Got the Radome finished with a nose job...

Progress Pics for the cockpit