Italeri 1/72 F-111A Aardvark
Built OOB except added crew, and swapped out 1000 lb iron bombs for r******d bombs. Was a pretty nice kit - a bit difficult to get the exhaust nozzles snuggled up next to the fuselage once everything was put together. I used a panel line wash and in hindsight wish I'd have just used post shading, as it came out a bit stark. I tried using pastel chalk powders to lighten the center sections of most panels - I used a dirty white on the tan and a light grey on the green sections. It looked pretty good until I top coated with dullcoat, and then the grey turned darker and the white disappeared! Once I was done with everything, I went back over the tan with the white powder and this time did not top coat - you can see the subtle lightening, but I better keep this one out of the rain! Not a lot of weathering except the panel wash, usual post shading with various colors of pastel chalk powders, and a bit of staining underneath and on rear section with Tamiya weathering kits and Tensacrom. Couple of shots of the crew in the cockpit, since you can't see much in there once closed up. Kit decals for a 1972 Thailand-based Aardvark.
11 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Paul Wilsford said on June 12, 2017
Like I said at the meeting, Greg. Fantastic build.
You guys wont believe that he does this with either a hairy stick or rattle can.
Phil Steele said on June 12, 2017
Looks great--always liked the Vark, even saw one fly in a show at 14 Wing. Noisy bird for sure.
Richard Mcstay said on June 12, 2017
I like these jets mate, there's something cool about them. I think it's the side by side seating.
Nice build, very good finish.
Craig Abrahamson said on June 12, 2017
Good-lookin' build, Greg...nice detail work! I like it.
Roberto Colaianni said on June 12, 2017
Nice job Greg, well painted, unusual to see models "in flight", but great effect.
Gary Brantley said on June 12, 2017
Very nice job Greg! 🙂
jim wasley said on June 12, 2017
Fine work indeed Greg,the weathering is first class.also all the small touches add,I enjoyed looking at this build.thanks.
Tom Rodgers said on June 12, 2017
Nice job. I flew 67-065 for five of my combat missions during that war when I was in the 428 TFS based at Takhli RTAFB.
Greg Kittinger said on June 12, 2017
Wow - that's cool to know! Thanks,
IAN JACKSON said on June 12, 2017
I know that kit, Greg, and you've done a h*ll of a job to get such a great model out of such a 'challenging' kit.
Ian.
Robert Royes said on June 12, 2017
She looks fine Greg! I like the way you got the right seater to pose for the camera.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on June 12, 2017
Greg, fine work. Where did the crew figures come from? They really look good!
Greg Kittinger said on June 12, 2017
I took a set from an aircraft kit that I liked and made some resin duplicates... some of the older kits supplied pilots but not so much anymore!
Roberto Silva Cuevas said on June 12, 2017
Great build and awesome work. Takes me back to the time of the raid over Libia in the 80's. The only Aardvark shut down on that mission was piloted Puertorrican Captain so it hit close to home. Thanks!
Allan J Withers said on June 14, 2017
Always nice to see another Pig Greg, well done.