Subject: Re: Airfix Tornado F-3 - Article by Karl W Branson
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Karl W Branson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:34:13 -0700

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Karl W Branson 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 1:33 PM
  Subject: Airfix Tornado F-3 - Article by Karl W Branson

  Gallery Template #05

  "1/48 Airfix Tornado F-3" 

  by "Karl W Branson"
  --------------------

        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

   

  This is my model of the 1/48 Airfix Tornado F-3

  I believe that Airfix had originally intended the kit to be a Tornado F-2, but this project was never finished. Later, when the upper fuselage part was finally re-tooled did the kit become the Tornado F-3. This kit has raised panel lines throughout, except for the upper fuselage - and for some reason this part was tooled with engraved panel lines. Another failing of the kit is that the cockpit is the same as the one in the GR-1 kit and thus it is nothing like the layout required for an F-3. On the plus side, the kit has a large and comprehensive decal sheet and a number of weapon and fuel tank options.

  As it's not the right layout for the F-3, I scratch build nearly the whole tub from styrene sheet, tubing and copper wire. I replaced the kit ejection seats with some Aeroclub white metal and photo-etch replacements. 

  Due to the miss-matched panel lines, I decided to re-scribe the wings, tail and vertical fin; these were then assembled. The horizontally split fuselage didn't want to align properly, so I made up some long tabs to force the fuselage halves into position and, after installing the tub, nose weight and swing wings I used CA and accelerator to fix the fuselage halves together: this filled any gaps and sped up the joining process. When the fuselage joint had been filled and sanded smooth I re-scribed the remainder of the fuselage so that both upper and lower parts matched. The air intakes were also a bit of an issue as they didn't really want to fit; these were encouraged in to place with lots of attention from files and sanding sticks.  

  Click on images below to see larger images

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  I'd heard from others who had built this kit that the landing gear was a bit on the flimsy side, so I replaced the struts with Aeroclub white metal parts whilst retaining the kit's wheels.

  I assembled the fuel tanks, wing pylons and missiles; as I wanted to be able to swing the wings and swivel the pylons I replace the plastic pivot points on the pylons with brass rods to make them more durable and to ensure a good solid fit in to the wing.

  The Tornado was then primed with Halfords grey primer and lightly rubbed down. I then airbrushed Humbrol #166 Light Aircraft Grey on to the lower fuselage and wings and after masking, sprayed Humbrol #167 RAF Barley Grey on to the upper surfaces, vertical fin and fuel tanks. The nose was masked of and sprayed Humbrol #165 Medium Sea Grey.

          

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  Before applying the decals I gave the Tornado a coat of Klear (Future) and allowed it to completely dry. The kit's decal sheet is quite comprehensive and covers thee squadron options, I decided to do my Tornado in No. 11 Squadron markings. I did have some issued with the decals as a number of them broke up during application but fortunately I had a spare decal sheet for this kit that had been donated to me, this made up for the ones I'd lost. After the decals had been applied I gave the Tornado another coat of Klear to seal them in and then I applied a couple of mist coats of Humbrol Matt Cote to give me the finish I needed.

  Weathering was done with some dark washes for the landing gear bays and a fine 0.3mm pencil for other areas.

  Enjoy.

  Karl

  Click on images below to see larger images

        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 07.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 07.jpg 
       Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 08.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 08.jpg 
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        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 11.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 11.jpg 

   

  Photos and text © 2007 by "Karl W Branson"