spike7451

Same here,I built the Bobcat one over 30 years ago,well before aftermarket & internet was in existence &,at that time,if it looked like a harrier,it was a Harrier.No one cared if it was 12mm to short in length,or it didn't come with gun packs or bombs. A lot of modelers back then,like me,cut our teeth on models like those!

We (the RAF) don't use AGM-88 HARM missiles,we only use ALARM's & you wouldn't in reality find a RAF jet loaded with ALARM & Brimstone at the same time,the ALARM missiles can also be carried on the outer stub pylon of the inner pylons. ALARM missiles have also recently been withdrawn from service. Spike (RAF Tornado Armourer)

Apart from the MACE fairings,yes. These are the MACE fairings either side of the pylon,between the bomb fins.German & Italian Tornado's done have these.

No,Saudi Tornado's are basically the same as our GR1,& have been upgraded to a GR4 standard (see below). You'll need to add MACE fairings to the shoulder pylons,upgrade the cockpit for ones post TSP,add the extra aerials & source UK weapons as we don't use the same weapons as used by Germany & Italy.

£18.39 here,about $30.77c US money... http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/revell-148-tornado-ids/

RAF Operated; GR1- Strike/attack role GR1A- Reconnaissance role GR1B- Maritime Strike role,operated by 12 & 617 sqn at Lossie GR1T- Two seat trainer GR4- Entered service around 1997ish,with the final one being delivered in 2001 GR4A- As above GR4A was effectivly retired with the introduction of the RAPTOR Reconnaissance pod & these aircraft were pooled to other squadrons.Main cockpit difference between the GR1 & GR4 was the pilot lost the round wet film moving map & gained a square TAB screen,Navigators upgrade to TARDIS was delayed until many years afterwards.Each squad

I have friends who work for MBDA after leaving the blue suit behind.

You'll probably find that what looked like a normal Brimstone was actually a data recorder & camera retrofited into the body to record the test firing,like in this British 1000lb bomb casing for test drops from an RAF Typhoon;

Thanks for the replies chaps,very useful info indeed. The kit I'm making is the Lindenberg F-8J which is basic to say the least!..The pit's non existant to the point of laughable,so that's why I'm going the pilot route,something I normally don't do as I like to show the pit off. Thanks again lads. Merv

Currently building the above kit & using an aftermarket seat with pilot,the cockpit's very basic to say the least so decided to go this route,using the item below; http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QAB480075 It lists the flight suit as orange,would this be correct for the jet below; Ta, Spike

No,all the aftermarket sets are for the GR1/ADV version apart from the Flightpath set that has the correct pilots CRT screen instead of the central round wet film MMD.Airwaves to a set that's easy to midify to GR4 for the Arifix kit. http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AEC48047 GR4 cockpit; GR1 cockpit; You'll also need to change the seats as the headbox is different o the GR4 than the GR1. HTH, Merv (RAF Tornado Armourer)

Most of the safety pins you see on the Tornado on the weapon pylons are not to prevent the weapon from going off,rather they are safety interlock pins to prevent some idiot releasing the stores on thaat wing.On most jets the is what we call a WOW Switch,which stands for Weight on Wheels,that isolates the power to the weapon systems as soon as the aircraft touches down,we also carry out a No Volt check on the ERU's of an aircraft prior to loading any weapon,to chec the are no volts in the system. As to bombs like the LGB,you'll find the are steel cables that attach to the weapon pylon & ar

Top picture shws the weapon computer access panel,bottom one is the Mauser cannon access door,that'd only be open on gun change or loading.Unlike modern guns the rounds have to be manually cocked into the chamber & the gun can bite back! (I have the missing thumb tip to prove it!) Also the bombs shown are inert bombs used for load practice & are not for flight in most cases.These panels in the pics you wouldn't nomally see open on the Tonka,the only one you'd see is just forward of the Starboard undercarriage bay for the ground computer,refueler hose,power connection & one under t

Quick build,straight outta the box apart from an aftermarket seated pilot to replace the aweful kit ones!It's basic & showing it's age.... The kit; The Growbag;

Looking good John! Here's a couple foto's I took at RAF Cosford last year,hope they're of use to you...Note the multilingual text on the warning triangle.

I concur,I've looked at a few of the photo's & they're mostly drill rounds (no fins fitted) or aquisition rounds.I cant recall seeing Tooms with less than 4 missiles fitted.Anyway,I'd leave them off as 90% of RAF aircraft are normally unarmed unless on QRA or training/excersises. Merv (RAF Armourer)

Except none of the blokes (some of them SNCO's in the Training Cells,I've spoken to have ever seen or handled the fuze before 1989,that includes armourers working in bomb dumps where the fuzes would be stored or prepped for use,in the UK & RAFG..

We weren't taught it on the Bombs & Comps phase in 84,& none of the blokes I've talked to,including SNEC's from the WTC at Gutersloh,Larrparts & Bruggen had either until 89/90 as well as some who were in the UK at the time & were introduced to it while down the sandpit for Granby.

If that's the case then; 1-Why weren't we taught them on my Mechs course in 1984? 2-Why weren't we taught them on the Squadrons & the WTC at Bruggen before the first time we saw them in 1990/91? (nor any time between my mechs course & the first time we saw them..) Just checked with a few other Armourers & they concur,they entered service around 1990.One of the lads was involved with the trials in 1990 & trained other armourers from RAFG stations at the WTC (Weapon Training Cell) at Bruggen.& they started teaching the fuze at RAF Cosford in 1989,confirming what I knew.

That was the 'official' reason,real reason was we were running out,heck we even loaded them to the Tornado because we were running out & was thinking of switching from LGB's to dumb bombs & CBU's because the phase of the war that required LGB's to take out precision targets was drawing down.

The tail doesn't look right to me,the's no cut out in the center for the impelor.They're also slick,non retarded tail units,also the nose does't have the Mk-960 MFBF so they'd be all but useless on Tornado,Harrier or Jag after 1991,when the fuse came into service,unless you modify the nose shape.The 960 is fitted in a fairing that covers the nose forward of the yellow HE marker ring. Photo credit to D.L. Slick tails; Retarded tails; 960 MFBF; Merv (RAF Armourer)

Neither. The Hobbyboss kit is based on the GR1 Trainer,which was not used during the war,as it has a rough approximation of the trainer rear cockpit.Also,you need a Skyshadow pod (not included in the kit) 90% of the differences between the IDS/ECR & GR1 is internal or to do with the weapon system,our GR1 weapon system is different than the IDS/ECR The only stores in the HB kit of use on the GR1 os the ALARM missiles or BOZ 107 pod.The was also 2 types of GR1 in use at the time,the GR1 & the GR1-A which was a reconnaisance version. Merv (RAF Tornado Armourer)

Jags carried mainly BL755 & towards the end of the war,American CBU'S when we started to run out of BL755's.Tornado (which I worked on) started off with JP-233 area denial weapon then went onto carrying 2 1000lb LGB's & a TIALD pod or 3 1000lb LGB's with a second Tornado or Buccaneer designating the target. 1000lb dumb bombs were mainly carried on TSC's (Twin Store Carriers) with each jet carrying 8 bombs.We had just gotten the Mk960 Multi Function Bomb Fuze for dumb & LGB's as well as ALARM missile at the start of the war.Initially only a few jets were ALARM capable & had to

What are they for?...I can tell you what is appropriate for whatever.. Merv (RAF Armourer)

I did find this on Google;