nt161822 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Took these last month, new contractor on the block.....(I think they are a little sharper if you click on picture) "Celeb" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joe Hegedus Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Scooters forever! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nt161822 Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 Couple more... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JB2013 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Civilian Skooters? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nt161822 Posted August 9, 2012 Author Share Posted August 9, 2012 http://temp.drakenintl.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 (edited) Wow, those birds look nice! If I can source a tail spine from something, I might have a go at doing one of these with an Airfix A-4B and the Freightdog A-4C conversion. I understand Dale "Snort" Snodgrass is one of the company pilots. Is the camo scheme based on anything? Reason I ask is these pictures give us really good side views. But it would be nice to potentially see a top and bottom wing view (although I can make out enough of the wing tops from the side views, VERY nice pictures BTW). If the camo pattern is based on something else though, it shouldn't be tough to extrapolate those views in the absense of decent pictures. Also, I was guessing the color used was white, but seeing the biz jet on the TAC Air ramp behind it in bright white, I am guessing this might be a very light gloss light gray instead. I don't know how effective the camo is (short of winter exercises), but it looks very slick. Edited August 9, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 Wow, fantastic looking Scooters ! A-4s Forever ! -Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Shawn M Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 oh man...that might have to be the scheme I do..... in 1/32 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alternative 4 Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Is this a public or private airfield? Meaning , what are the chances of doing some plane spotting once the former RNZAF Skyhawks are there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a4s4eva Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Soon they'll have another 8 A-4's. Draken have bought the 8 remaining RNZAF A-4K's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Also, I was guessing the color used was white, but seeing the biz jet on the TAC Air ramp behind it in bright white, I am guessing this might be a very light gloss light gray instead. It may be that the fact that it's a naval aircraft clouds my judgement, but the gray color looks like standard Gloss Light Gull Gray to me. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted August 14, 2012 Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) It may be that the fact that it's a naval aircraft clouds my judgement, but the gray color looks like standard Gloss Light Gull Gray to me. Cheers, Andre I don't believe that is so. Looking at the images on my monitor and comparing them with practically every Gull Gray Navy jet picture I have, it doesn't look like Gloss Gull gray (maybe closer to FS light gray perhaps, but glossy). I admit in a couple shots it looks close to Gull gray, but it seems lighter to me. It is much closer to a white shade from what I can see when compared with the gloss white on the gear bay. Strange. I've got an Esci A-4E/F with the spine on the way (not every kit carried that bit). So when it arrives, I am going to have a go at doing one of these birds with my Airfix Skyhawk kits. Edited August 14, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
g0_command0 Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Wow I remember thinking that when VC-8 went away so did my chances of seeing skyhawks fly. But now we have 3 contractor squadrons flying them in the U.S + a few warbirds! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) I found a Youtube video showing a couple of these birds taxiing from the ramp in San Diego. When the lead jet passes close to the camera, you get a pretty good shot of the left wing's underside camo pattern: Edited August 17, 2012 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nt161822 Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 Jay, Go to www.flickr.com and search "Draken Scooter" one of the best photogs around did an air to air shoot with them, lots of topside pics, I'd link directly but they are not my pics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Okay, Ramos shot a decent bottom pic there, so I can now make out the camo pattern rather nicely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunliner Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Wow I remember thinking that when VC-8 went away so did my chances of seeing skyhawks fly. But now we have 3 contractor squadrons flying them in the U.S + a few warbirds! I was pleasantly surprised to see one airborne at the NAS Jacksonville show last year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jai5w4 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Snort flies everything. I love it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Par429 Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Hey- Awesome, great pics! Very interesting website also. It's a tough time to be in the contract air services business, however. These aircraft have all been flying on FAA experimental certs and with the couple crashes over the last year the FAA is considering pulling all the x-tickets and refusing to issue new ones. Then they will have to go through a military airworthiness process, which will no doubt be more time-consuming and costly. It will be interesting to watch. Thanks, Phil Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SimFixer Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Anybody know if the these A-4s came with the APG-66 or was it a retrofit by Draken? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Raymond Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Anybody know if the these A-4s came with the APG-66 or was it a retrofit by Draken? doubtful the A-4ARs had a redesigned nose to fit the radar + electronics, and the a-4k's had the eletronics moved behind the cockpit for space and to allow for proper cooling. Given the size of the charlie nose, it would compound problems further. I believe these guys are buying the surplus A-4Ks wich will contain the APG-66 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Youngtiger1 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 Totally awesome! I too will like to do one. I'll just have to search pic of the bottom/top and if some AM can do decal, then great, other masking will have to do. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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