Will2K65

Still go - the first RSAF Typhoons may be delivered as soon as next year, the airframes being diverted from the RAFs tranche 2 orders so as to meet the Saudis requested delivery dates. Whilst that sounds like its stiffing the RAF a bit, apparently it will mean increased development and weapons integration (paid for and wanted by the Saudis) for the aircraft the RAF eventually receive.

Theres been an RAF recruitment advert on TV that features a very short clip of the Eurofighter from an angle and distance that seems similar to that which you'd expect here! I expect the still photographs are slightly misleading though, and theres an element of foreshortening in the perspective - the plane probably wasn't *quite* as close as it appears (in a similar fashion to the synchro air element of many jet display teams being further apart than they actually appear :D).

Whilst I'll agree thats a great looking load, I'd question whether its one that would ever be used in combat - the Storm Shadows 'stand off' ability is designed to let the aircraft attack the target from great distance, outside the range of air defences, which would render the carriage of ALARMs superfluous! Would look damn cool though, and its your plane, so go with what you like best :)

The Sky Shadow pods are getting a bit long in the tooth and thus serviceability is becoming something of an issue - they are thus left for use on operations. The Tornado needs roughly symetrical loads on its outermost pylons, so two BOZ pods (or, I've read, one dummy pod partly filled with concrete, and one real pod) are often loaded up during training sorties, with the Sky Shadow reserved for use 'in the field'.

Thanks for the replies again folks...looks like I have something of a future shelf-sitter on my hands here. Will try to get hold of another A or C model Hornet cheaply, though alas most of those popping up in the for sale forums here are from US based sellers who don't always like to ship abroad. A shame, since US prices for most models is significantly lower than those in the UK :(

Damn...was hoping this'd be the more recent kit. I assumed that since it came with Finnish markings it'd be the newer one, since Finland didn't buy Hornets until 1992! Maybe one to 'recycle' via ebay I think :lol: Thanks anyway guys

Slightly out of date now but should help...compiled this a while back <_< Stations 3 and 5 on the diagram have both forward and back parts - quantities indicated are for each section e.g. station 3 can carry six Brimstones, 3 on the front attachment point and 3 on the back. Hope this is clear :) There have been some strange loadouts recently - have seen photos of GR4s carrying a TIALD on station 5 (forward left under fuselage), a JRP (Joint Reconnaisance Pod) on the centerline, and a 1000lb Paveway II LGB on the right *rear* under fuselage station. Also Tornado GR4s have started

Recently I bought a Monogram 1/48 'F-18A' off ebay, as it was going pretty cheap. My intention was to build it as an F/A-18A+, probably in VFA-201 markings. It was a boxing I hadn't seen before, a black type of box that personally I've never seen used by Monogram, and with markings for one Finnish aircraft. I thought it slightly odd in that Finland operates C model Hornets, not A's, but what the hey, £3.99 is £3.99.... Anyway, got the kit today, and the parts breakdown is different to what I expected - the canopy is a single piece moulding, rather than split, and the tailplanes are mould

Nice photos there mate, got any more? I have a half finished 1/48 GR1 thats going to be a Granby bird, just have to decide which one to model. I'd like to do 'Nikki' but sods law dictates thats one of the ones I haven't been able to get decals for (I have managed to scrap together enough decals to any one of Anola Kay, Mig Eater, Gulf Killer, Armoured Charmer, Debbie, Helen, Sally T, and Amanda Jane!). Anyone know if anyone did Nikki in 1/48? :)

Merlin, two seat Gripen and the Chinook in 1/48 are must for me - British schemes all round methinks (the Gripen will be the ETPS bird :o)

I hope you don't consider this question imprudent - but how important would you consider *any* camouflage scheme them? :unsure: I'm intrigued at some of the hi-vis stuff the US Navy adorns its CAG aircraft with (the VF-102 diamondbacks anniversary scheme is one that springs to mind) scheme stands out like a sore thumb to look at in photos. Does such a scheme increase the range at which you can visually acquire the aircraft by any amount thats significant in air to air combat (presumably any advantage, no matter how small, gained by spotting the guy sooner, is a good thing)? I realise

The Apache was also delayed somewhat because of concerns about the rockets used by the British version (afaik they are essentially the same as the CR7 which can be used by the RAF fast jets, and higher velocity than the rockets used by all other Apache users). The boffins at Boscombe down were concerned that the rocket backblast could cause some damage to the tail rotor and tail boom....obviously given the rocket pods currently fitted to the aircraft, one assumes the risk was deemed acceptable or non existent!

Yep, but have just been reading and I think the Falcon 20 is also slightly wider in wingspan (by ~2-3 m) and taller than the Falcon 10, as well as longer...which complicates things further, if you want it to be perfectly accurate. I've noticed that the FRA ones only have two windows per side with the rest being blanked out, which would simplify things a little compared to your USCG example though :) Personally I'd not be too bothered about accuracy on a subject like this, its not the sort of thing where people will go ape over the details being wrong like they would with a Spitfire of F-16!

Looking good...may follow your path with one of these, assuming my ebay purchase goes well. Can't decide on markings though, not many F/A-18A+ options out there compared to 'C' models. VFA-201 or 204 favourites at the moment! EDIT: Just bought meself a Hornet (1/48 Monogram F-18A, black boxed version with markings for a Finnish jet...not seen this version of the kit before, and its odd since Finland actually has C models...but it was cheap so I figured I'd take a risk) ;)

Looks great ;) Am tempted to follow this path to get a FRA Falcon 20 built up, but that'd be even more complex I expect...would need to scratchbuild the electronic pods, and make my own decals, neither skills I pride myself on :S. But the subject matter is cool and different!

In January 1991, I wa , errr, 5 years and 3 months old....so don't really remember anything from the war. My earliest 'memory' of news coverage in Iraq was from 1993, the establishment of the no fly zones...I remember watching old footage of AAA over Baghdad on the BBC as part of their coverage, planes taking off, and photos of Saddam Hussein, and my dad saying not very nice things about him! Strange how that stuck in my mind, being only 8, but this was when I first started getting into aviation I guess and my dad would call me into the living room when the news was on so I could see the pla

I wish somebody (Neil??! ) would do a 100% LERX as an aftermarket item, for us to do some late GR7s or GR9s without having to rob from the AV8-B+ kit! Ready to be confused? Its confusing enough as it is (what with the early production ones having the small LERX then some being new build with the big one, and some apparently being converted).I'd suggest that ZG479 has had both types of LERX at one time or another though. See here, a 1995 photo... http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0224836/M/ ZG479 is the second aircraft in that formation, now to me that looks like it has a small LERX, noti

Looks nice, gotta get me some Super Hornet(s) at some stage....Jolly Rogers or Red Rippers 'F', and a low viz E for me I think! Does the Hasegawa kit provide you with all those fuel tanks? I have to say, from a personal point of view, and not intending to offend anyone who likes the Hasegawa kit, that the Revell kit seems far better - yes it doesn't have wing folds, or more than one fuel tank, but a more detailed, non decal cockpit and more complete weapon load....and with the enormous price difference surely its gotta be the better option? ;)

Nice progress so far ;) Does the Blue Angels boxing (presumably you got one 'o these judging by the blue plastic!) come with all the usual weapons pylons and fuel tanks? I'm asking as a Blue Angels one tends to pop up on Ebay fairly often and goes pretty cheaply, but I'd rather build it as a 'fleet' bird than a display one, yet I had read that the Blue Angels boxing doesn't come with any weapons pylons or fuel tanks, where as the standard A and C boxings do!

I'm after a few display stands similar to these.... http://www.scalecraft.com./index.asp?PageA...&ProdID=795 ...and was just wondering whether there is anywhere based in Britain that sells stands like these (preferably online)? Whilst I am aware scalecraft.com will ship abroad, I'd rather not spend $60 on shipping (!) if such stands could be source this side of the pond! If I wanted to order 7 stands then its 'only' around $90 value for the goods, but then $60 on shipping...sheesh!

Gotta love 'the original' Rhino (or was there an even earlier one ) a real beast of a plane! Why are they flying these still though - what does FCF mean? Are they preparing then flight testing them before converting them to target drones or something?

Go with the DrPepperResins ones if you're after LAU-128s and want them asap! They're pretty good by my reckoning (pressure casted ones much better than the first lot I had).

MiG-21U 'Mongol' I believe (a twin seat 'fishbed').

Just a quick note to say thanks to Sean....we swapped his AIM-9Xs for some GBU-24s a while back. A very pleasant guy to deal with, Sean went to the trouble of digging out the 'winders for us despite having just moved house, so I expect finding some missiles for another modeller wasn't the first of his priorities in getting things sorted...but he went the extra mile

Another vote for Erik's work - excellent quality castings, amongst the best I've seen. I bought the set for the Monogram hog some time ago, after contacting him via ebay....a really pleasant guy to deal with