The F-111 was originally designed for use by the USAF and the USN, and was meant to be a money saving measure by then Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara. This one platform for multi-service use was not well received. One of the biggest problems that both services had was weight. The Navy also wanted it for use with the Phoenix missile. The issues that the USN had with the "Vark" just became to numerous and another famous aircraft was created, the F-14.

Even though the F-111 started out on a rocky road, it would eventually turn a corner through the hard work of the developers & the crews and become one most important aircraft of the Vietnam War and several modern day operations. Australia was the only other country to use the F-111 and had originally intended them to stay in service to the year 2020. Due to increased maintenance issues and fiscal impact, Australia retired the F-111 in 2010.

A quick “thank you!” to Aires for providing us with this set; once again the excellence of your products is readily apparent!

This is a very simple swap out for the Hasegawa Jaguar wheels. As you see in the side by side pictures, the outside rim detail is much more refined than the almost 30 year old wheels in the kit. The brake assembly on the back side (which is not on the kit wheels) is just phenomenal for this scale.

The masks are olive green and semi-flexible. My past experience with these masks are that they work very well… when you use them correctly! (Mask the tire, not the wheel.) That may seem obvious, but I’m getting older, ya know.

Thanks very much to Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) for providing IPMS USA this kit. Up front, I determined to send this item as part of an effort to provide some of the “New kits” to our deployed personnel in harms way, through our POC at IPMS USA, and full credit definitely goes to our long-time supporters at MRC. That means this will be an “In-box” review of this kit.

I was at Edwards AFB, CA about two months ago and observed (mostly heard) firsthand the test birds flying. Extremely interesting to watch and noisy, as they are claimed to be louder than the F-22 if that is possible! Nonetheless, a great opportunity and I was pleased to actually see them fly.