INTERMEDIATE BUILD
TORNADO F.3 ADVINTERMEDIATE BUILD
TORNADO F.3 ADV16 Airfi x Model Worldchaff/flare dispensers in situ
on the lower fuselage. These
were a 1991 First Gulf War
modification, so their removal
was necessary. The dispensers
and surrounding mounting plates
were ‘hatched’ with a marker
pen and the surrounding area
masked to minimise damage. Via
a combination of sprue cutters,
a micro-chisel and a very handy
seam-scraping tool, the marked
areas of plastic were removed,
neatened and sanded. After this
minor surgery was completed, the
masking was removed and any
details either damaged or removed
by the abrasives were reinstated.
Moving on, the front
undercarriage bay was positioned,
and the cockpit assembly fitted
over this, to complete the front
section. Main undercarriage
wells were also added, followed
by the engine fronts and intakes.
Turbine blades were painted with
AK Interactive AK669 Titanium,
and the intakes with Badger’s
white Stynylrez primer prior to
attachment, as they would be
mostly out of view once the engine
facings were fitted.The inner surfaces of the front
fuselage halves (which formed the
cockpit sidewalls) were painted
and weathered the same as the
cockpit assembly. These were
then fitted around the cockpit and
glued into position once dry-fitting
ensured no problems. Any seams
were sanded, and small spots of
plastic putty were used where
required, especially to neaten the
nose area. A small amount of filler
was also needed after fitting the
gun housing recess. Next came
attachment of the front inner
intakes and two long side panels,
which ran from the intakes to the
back of the main airframe. This
stage of the build was completed
with the addition of the windscreen
and canopy. The latter had several
parts to be applied to the inner
framing, which was then masked
and painted XF-66; the canopy
exterior was then masked and
positioned closed temporarily.Wings and things
As with many kits of the Tornado,
this aircraft’s ‘party trick’ of
variable-wing geometry was
represented in a multi-part manner.INTERMEDIATE BUILD
TORNADO F.3 ADVchaff/flare dispensers in situ
on the lower fuselage. These
were a 1991 First Gulf War
modification, so their removal
was necessary. The dispensers
and surrounding mounting plates
were ‘hatched’ with a marker
pen and the surrounding area
masked to minimise damage. Via
a combination of sprue cutters,The inner surfaces of the front
fuselage halves (which formed the
cockpit sidewalls) were painted
and weathered the same as the
cockpit assembly. These were
then fitted around the cockpit and
glued into position once dry-fitting
ensured no problems. Any seams
were sanded, and small spots of
plastic putty were used where plastic putty were used where
required, especially to neaten the
nose area. A small amount of filler
was also needed after fitting the
gun housing recess. Next came
attachment of the front inner
intakes and two long side panels,
which ran from the intakes to the
back of the main airframe. This
stage of the build was completed
with the addition of the windscreen
and canopy. The latter had several
parts to be applied to the inner
framing, which was then masked
and painted XF-66; the canopy
exterior was then masked and
positioned closed temporarily.Wings and things
As with many kits of the Tornado,
this aircraft’s ‘party trick’ of
variable-wing geometry was
represented in a multi-part manner.ensured no problems. Any seams
were sanded, and small spots of
plastic putty were used where‘Office’ decor by Airscale
To add more detail to the resin ejection seats, Airscale’s modern jet cockpit and
warnings set (AS48) was employed. This sheet of waterslide items offered a wealth
of data plates/stencils and blocks of warning stripes, which can be cut to the
required size. The quality and register were superb, being produced by Fantasy
Printshop. Visit: http://www.airscale.co.uk for more details. Despite its basic construction, the cockpit displayed a good level of detail...which was
enhanced very convincingly via kit decals for the instrument panels and side consoles.
Removal of the chaff/flare dispensers from the underside; the unwanted plastic was
highlighted with black marker, and the surrounding area masked, to reduce the risk of
damaging the immediate area during cutting/sanding.
“the plan was to
have the wings
swept forward...”