TSR.2 by Airfix

A b-I-g kit in 1/48. Disapointing in some details as some parts are quite crudely detailed. The instrument panels are poor indeed. On the other hand, Airfix have arranged the fuselage joints so there's only about 200 mm or joins to be sanded. Bonus!

This will be a "wotif" build in RAAF colours. We did consider them, but went for the F-111 instead. Since it's a wotif, I'll be using some cockpit detailing from an RA-5 Vigilante ( also considered for the RAAF)

Kit seat, with some detailing added. Harnesses to come.



Mocked up for  C o G tests. Some Plasicine in the nose ensured it passed.

me likee!

a great plane killed off by short sighted politicians

Undercarriage is complete, seats done, and the fuselage is sanded & ready for paint. I'm not sure what colour scheme I'll use. It will depend on the era of the F-111 transfers I source. F-111, because it's the plane we selected over TSR.2

Very nice.

Very cool bird. I also like that its called Aardvark.

Sorry, couldn't help it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPUvO7ircyU

Great work Chris.

Cockpits ( with obligatory car hair-the old cat was on my lap) The instruments are from a near contempory, an F-4B. Since the plane never entered service, no one can prove me wrong.

The transfers are going on as we speak, a mix from the kit, the stash, and some RAAF F-111C ones. I ran some wash into the panel lines, if you think there's a lot to do, you'd be right. Feet & feet of 'em!

I hope to finish it over the weekend.

The instrument panels look great, nice work.

Very nice work on the cockpits.

Detailing is superb Chris.

Slowly getting the transfers on.

this is looking really good

Really pop to life when the decals go on don't they.

Looking good. And looking quite large, too.

Excellent work with the cockpits, that detail is stunning. Plus they also help give perspective on how large this thing is.

I've hit a speed bump, the windscreen fit is appalling. Going to have to do some filling & sanding. I'm not enamoured of that, since it's fully painted, with under carriage doors on and mostly decaled.  I might hid the filler under a black anti glare panel.

Sorry to hear about the issues, especially at this stage in the build. Hopefully it'll work out smoothly and cleanly.

A day off work so I cracked with the TSR.

Decals on, and working out the weapons load from the parts bin.



More of the same.


Loading them. I have a spare centreline rack so I may fit that as well.

A great looking aircraft. Very nice work with the windscreen. No sign of trouble there.

Man that really looks bang on! Great work on the panel lines.

Beautiful progress! The windscreen turned out excellent and the detailing is crisp and sharp (is that saying the same thing twice?). The munitions look cool, are the white ones Phoenix missiles?

KatsZenJammer wrote:Beautiful progress! The windscreen turned out excellent and the detailing is crisp and sharp (is that saying the same thing twice?). The munitions look cool, are the white ones Phoenix missiles?

Well spotted, Katz, they are indeed AIM-54 Phoenix. They're doubling as an anti shipping missile here.

this is looking great

only problem with a centreline pylon is that the TSR2 had an internal bomb bay right where the pylon would go.............it was designed to carry a large freefall nuclear bomb.......however it also had a palletised 'recconaisance pack' which carried cameras and gubbins which could just be lifted and bolted into the bomb bay for its recon role.......since its a whiff why not a palletised extra fuel tank to give it extra range and allow for the hard point for the centre pylon?

TSR2 was a great plane that never made it thanks to the politicians......this could have been the RAFs main strike aircraft til the late 80s