Airfix Model World – July 2018

INTERMEDIATE BUILD
TORNADO F.3 ADV

INTERMEDIATE BUILD

TORNADO F.3 ADV

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 17

Special components and a clever

layout allowed the wings to move

from forward to the swept position

if desired. The plan was to have the

wings swept forward, to allow the

flaps and slats to be deployed fully,

for extra interest. Therefore, the

wings were assembled and sanded

to remove any seams, then fitted

and glued in the forward position.

At the same time, the wing sweep

cushions were placed with the

corresponding 25° sweep angle.

All this was then held together by

gluing a T-bar into place, which

ensured correct wing seating. In

preparation for the upper fuselage

assembly, the two recessed bays

for the airbrakes were fitted, along

with the forward spine panel.

This involved a large slab-like

component sitting over the top

of the wings and main fuselage.

Diligent test-fitting and removal

of flash was needed to get this

part to fit. Inner wing fairings were

attached and again, trial-fitting

and neatening promoted snug

assembly, and left a small gap for

where the wings moved.

The remaining front of the intakes

were attached next, and the option

to have the intake doors at zero

degrees was taken, so the removal

of most of a plastic tab was

needed to get the door to fit at the

shallower angle. A small shim of

plastic sheet and a swipe of plastic

putty was required due to gaps

between the intakes and fuselage

sides. The radome, which had been

filled with around 45g of lead shot

and PVA glue, was left to cure for

a day before being attached. Also

at this stage, the multi-part flaps

and slats were assembled and

readied to be painted separately;

patience was vital with the flaps as

they were very fiddly to position

correctly. The tail section had two

main parts to glue together, plus an

aerial and rudder, and two flashed-

over slots needed to be cleared

to accept the ILS aerials, which

were fitted later. Both horizontal

stabilisers were simple two-part

affairs, and along with a small

flared fairing, were glued together

and set aside, as these were easier

to paint off the model.

Special components and a clever

layout allowed the wings to move

from forward to the swept position

if desired. The plan was to have the

wings swept forward, to allow the

flaps and slats to be deployed fully,

for extra interest. Therefore, the

wings were assembled and sanded

component sitting over the top

of the wings and main fuselage.

Diligent test-fitting and removal

of flash was needed to get this

part to fit. Inner wing fairings were

attached and again, trial-fitting

and neatening promoted snug

assembly, and left a small gap for

where the wings moved.

The remaining front of the intakes

were attached next, and the option

to have the intake doors at zero

degrees was taken, so the removal

of most of a plastic tab was

needed to get the door to fit at the

shallower angle. A small shim of

plastic sheet and a swipe of plastic

putty was required due to gaps

between the intakes and fuselage

sides. The radome, which had been

filled with around 45g of lead shot

and PVA glue, was left to cure for

a day before being attached. Also

at this stage, the multi-part flaps

and slats were assembled and

readied to be painted separately;

http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 17

and glued in the forward position.

At the same time, the wing sweep

cushions were placed with the

corresponding 25° sweep angle.

All this was then held together by

gluing a T-bar into place, which

ensured correct wing seating. In

preparation for the upper fuselage

assembly, the two recessed bays

for the airbrakes were fitted, along

with the forward spine panel.

This involved a large slab-like

readied to be painted separately;

patience was vital with the flaps as

they were very fiddly to position

correctly. The tail section had two

main parts to glue together, plus an

aerial and rudder, and two flashed-

over slots needed to be cleared

to accept the ILS aerials, which

were fitted later. Both horizontal

stabilisers were simple two-part

affairs, and along with a small

flared fairing, were glued together

and set aside, as these were easier

to paint off the model.

wings were assembled and sanded

to remove any seams, then fitted

and glued in the forward position.

readied to be painted separately;

patience was vital with the flaps as

they were very fiddly to position

 Careful use of different tools helped to ease the removal of the countermeasures

dispensers. Cutters eradicated the larger chunk of plastic, then a micro-chisel and

stainless-steel seam scraper (www.shimomura-alec.co.jp) made speedy work of the task.

 The final stage of this retroactive

work was to use styrene sheet on the

inner side, to block the hole and then

use more sheet, cut to shape, to

fill the orifices. Filler and sanding

finished the job, but some

detail needed to be reinstated

with a scriber.