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Dropped flaps on RAF Buccaneers?


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It was not uncommon to see Buccs parked with dropped flaps, especially when the wings were folded. Pictures exist of a/c with flaps up and down, so I suspect it is the usual drop off in hydraulic pressure. Although the Bucc had drooping ailerons for landing, I have never seen these in the 'drooped' position when the a/c are parked.

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It really depends on the era and setting you want to depict. For the RAF, more often than not they were parked with flaps down and airbrake open to reduce hydraulic loading as seen here on a 12 Sqn. Bucc in 1987:

www.scalemodelworld.net/yauj2m

FAA Buccaneers were commonly parked with the flaps up and wings folded as seen here on a 809 NAS Bucc in 1978:

www.scalemodelworld.net/yebl7u

My photo collection indicates that it was more common to see the FAA Buccs with flaps up but this is not an absolute rule with FAA Buccs or RAF Buccs. Here is an RAF Bucc parked with everything closed up:

www.scalemodelworld.net/w5gxv

and an FAA example with flaps down but airbrake closed:

www.scalemodelworld.net/tvhrc

These last two shots are from air shows and, therefore, not exactly representative of operational appearance. You can get away with going either way, but for a late RAF Bucc, down is a bit more likely of a scenario for something parked on the ramp. I have done it both ways. The Paragon bits are very helpful for this task. The modification is a bit of a pain though as you do have to replace part of the fuselage.

What era/scheme are you planning? Feel free to PM me for any assistance; this one is my favorite subject and I have a good bit of reference material and am happy to share.

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I remember seeing a Bucc start up on departures day at RAF Fairford a few years back.

The a/c had been parked up in the static lineup - and there had been a torrential downpour on the Sunday.

The pilot started up the Speys, then folded the wings.

What seemed like gallons of water fell from the wing fold area - to be followed by steam as the BLC system was engaged.

Like some old labrador dog shaking off the water from its coat. :cheers:

It made quite a site.......

Ken

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What era/scheme are you planning? Feel free to PM me for any assistance; this one is my favorite subject and I have a good bit of reference material and am happy to share.

I am sorry I missed this question. I am doing an RAF bird from Desert Storm.

Regards,

joe.

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It was quite common for the bomb bay to be opened on taxing after landing.I remember while Kinloss was getting a new runway about 88ish, we(the entire Nimrod fleet,us plumbers & NLS) were detatched to Lossiemouth a Bucc was taxing & opened the bomb bay spewing lts of jet fuel all over Lossies runway as he was returning with a fuel leak!

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What era/scheme are you planning? Feel free to PM me for any assistance; this one is my favorite subject and I have a good bit of reference material and am happy to share.

Do you happen to have some 4 view drawings of the Red Flag scheme? I'm in the process of building one and I have some questions about the pattern...particularly the bottom view.

TIA.

Jeff

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Do you happen to have some 4 view drawings of the Red Flag scheme? I'm in the process of building one and I have some questions about the pattern...particularly the bottom view.

TIA.

Jeff

Hi Jeff, I have some pretty good photos from all sides of XV352. I have a few of the other three too. PM me for details. I have a feeling that your question likely has something to do with the demarcation on the bottom between the desert camo and the gray; it came to a point at the arrestor hook. This is incorrectly portrayed on many color profiles. Cheers - Jack

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