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Matchbox Hunter T.66 - Omani Service


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If there’s one thing I really love, it’s a two-seat version of a single seater. Generally, if a two-holer of a given plane exists, I will try to find a kit of it, vs. the one-seater, any day of the week. Amazingly, I’ve had great luck with this! However, there are some two seaters that are harder to find in kit form than others. This is particularly true of some of the weird British trainers of the Cold War.

Thankfully, Matchbox came through for me, making both a Lightning T.55 and a Hunter T.7. I’ve managed to get my hands on both of these , but I liked the looks of the Hunter far more, so I built it first! Looking up stuff on the Hunter lead me to find some pics of it in Omani service, and man, did it ever look hot!

So, with that as inspiration, I dove into the Matchbox Hunter T.7 and converted it to a modernized T.66, complete with Sidewinder conversion! Check it out and tell me what you think; even if the Hunter trainer isn’t your cup of tea, you have to admit it looks darn sexy in that particular paint scheme!

https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/planes/matchbox-172-hunter-t-66/

Edited by Faust
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Does anyone know if the Omani aircraft can carry Mavericks, like the Swiss machines, or was it only the Sidewinder conversion they got?

Also, are these guys still in service? I doubt it, but I guess anything's possible!

Someone needs to make a full aftermarket kit to mod the existing Hunters into the late versions, complete with the right EW fairings, pylons, etc. I think the plane would look great and be a nice addition to any collection, and having one in 1/48 would be nice.

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Sidewinders only, afaik. And they were retired in the early 90's. Some info here: Click me

And I agree with you, we certainly could use a bit more choice when it comes to Hunter kits and accesoires.

Edited by Pete
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I've wanted to do an Omani hunter circa 1980, but I can't figure out if hey had been repainted yet.

I don't know for certain, but I think they were still in the desert scheme by then. That's what I get by "reading between the lines" from various sources. I don't know if they had the electronic upgrades like the new rear-fuselage EW boxes at that point, though.

We need a good, up to date book on third-world airforces!

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I don't know for certain, but I think they were still in the desert scheme by then. That's what I get by "reading between the lines" from various sources. I don't know if they had the electronic upgrades like the new rear-fuselage EW boxes at that point, though.

We need a good, up to date book on third-world airforces!

AFAIK Omani Hunters have never worn a desert scheme, only dk green & dk sea grey similar to UK Hunters and the 2 tone grey of later years.

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Oh, darn.

I would have sworn I saw a reference or two to Omani desert-coloured Hunters; must have gotten confused with Qatari or Kuwaiti, then?

Sorry about that! Glad I was more impressed with the grey scheme, then! I'd hate to have gotten it wrong!

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Oh, darn.

I would have sworn I saw a reference or two to Omani desert-coloured Hunters; must have gotten confused with Qatari or Kuwaiti, then?

Sorry about that! Glad I was more impressed with the grey scheme, then! I'd hate to have gotten it wrong!

Quite possibly, or Saudi & Abu Dhabi had desert painted also, oh & nothing to apologise for.

There was a decal sheet for Hunters that had an Omani desert scheme on it, but it's fictious. I am still going to build it one of these years.

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Quite possibly, or Saudi & Abu Dhabi had desert painted also, oh & nothing to apologise for.

There was a decal sheet for Hunters that had an Omani desert scheme on it, but it's fictious. I am still going to build it one of these years.

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Oh it must have been that decal sheet I saw then! Makes sense!

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