Pete's Hangar

1/72 and 1/48 F-111B Conversion sets

Product Article by Tommy H. Thomason on Dec 2 2009

 

Only seven F-111Bs flew. There were three different configurations, not counting paint schemes and detail differences: the first three, the middle two, and the final two. The first five had the short nose and translating cowl inlet; the final two the long nose and a blow-in door inlet. In 1/72 scale, the Hasegawa F-111C has the requisite long wing, translating cowl inlet, and boat tail for the fifth F-111B, which was used for the carrier landing trials. In 1/48, the Academy-Minicraft F-111C is the equivalent. All that's needed is the nose, other unique parts, and decals. (Forget about the 1/72 Revell kit, the F-111B nose is the least accurate part in it.) At least one aftermarket nose has been available in each scale in the past but these are out of production and hard to find, with the exception of a 1/48 nose by Custom Aeronautical Minatures that is available from John's Models.

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In any event, these have been superseded by 1/72 and 1/48 conversion kits from Pete's Hangar, distributed by Sprue Brothers in the US and Victorian Hobby Centre in Australia. This conversion includes the F-111B short nose, the complete launch bar nose gear in brass (1/72) or plastic (1/48) with resin wheels, F-111B main wheels, the IR detection pod, a tail hook installation, paint/markings instructions, and last but definitely not least, decals. The parts are excellent quality, the nose profile looks right, and the decals provide for any of the first five airplanes, including the big blue Phoenix Missile System logo that was on the tail of 151971 and 972. If the tail hook installation doesn't look correct for the specific airplane you're modeling, it's easily replaced by a scratch-built substitute.

Sprue Brothers also sells a set of modelers notes on the F-111B that includes an update to my monograph on the F-111B. For a preview and more background on the F-111B, go to http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2009/10/grumman-f-111b.html

Tommy H. Thomason

Photos and text © by Tommy H. Thomason