Tornado F6

[PR19_Kit]

Having taken delivery of an Italeri Tornado F3 as mentioned elsewhere I can start this project. It's not going to be part of the RAF 100 GB, although it would fit nicely, as I've got enough on my plate with the other four I'm still working on!

This idea popped into my head when I got hold of a C Scale conversion for a Tornado F3 for a silly price (like £1!) at the MK Show earlier in the year. It's designed to fit the Airfix Tornado GR1 of course, but my thought process went 'If this kit would lengthen a GR1 to an F3, it would also lengthen an F3 to an 'F4'. So that's the plan, who knows if the bits will fit or not? I suspect not, but that's usual with my ideas, but some PSR should sort it out, eventually.

Oh yes, I'll make the wings a tad longer too, it's an intrinsic part of my thought processes. 

Here's the bits.





The only two bits I should need for the conversion are the two fuselage extensions ringed at the bottom, who knows what I'll do with the rest of them?

[AS.12]

One thing I've never discovered about the IDS is ... why it was the length it was. 

The ADV had lower drag due to better fineness-ratio, so there must have been some specific reason that the IDS was constrained to 17 metres.

[McColm]

In my Royal Auxiliary Air Force days the maritime boys of 18 Group wanted the exact aircraft.
They lobbied hard for the longer F3 Tonka with the avionics of the GR1 and nose cone.
Even when the Sea Harrier Mk2 was in service one of it's radars was tested in the Tonka as an alternative to the F-18.

[PR19_Kit]

Size of the RAF's tactical HASs perhaps?

Turning an ADV back into an IDS without making it shorter could be an interesting exercise too.

[Nick]

One thing I've never discovered about the IDS is ... why it was the length it was. 

The ADV had lower drag due to better fineness-ratio, so there must have been some specific reason that the IDS was constrained to 17 metres.

The ADV was made longer to allow the fit of 4 Skyflash missiles under the fuselage.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado_ADV

Given that this made the aircraft slipperier and let it carry more fuel I wonder why they didn't adapt this for the GR versions?

[JayBee]

Back when the Tornado 2000 upgrade was being talked about Flight International had reports that as it was essentially an ADV version with extra stealthy bits added, the plan would have been to upgrade the IDS versions in the same way, thus making it more aerodynamically clean. 

[Thorvic]

if your lengthening the wings kit then you would ideally put the fuselage insert aft of the wing pivot point but that not an easy job as the main fuselage tapers back from the intakes to the to exhausts.

[kitbasher]

Fuel was a consideration, the UK Air Defence Region (ADR) being pretty huge compared to the other European ADRs.  And don't forget the Tornado ADV was built to meet UK-only needs.

Fuel capacity and range exercised the minds of German defence planners.  In the IDS they wanted/needed a capable strike aircraft but also one with a range that wouldn't be percieved by the then Soviet Union as posing a direct threat to the Motherland.  So the IDS would very much be a 'frontal' aircraft that would be difficult to put to strategic effect.

My Tornado whif idea would be to take an F3, fit a GR1/GR4 radome, fin and stores and call it a GR5.

[PR19_Kit]

if your lengthening the wings kit then you would ideally put the fuselage insert aft of the wing pivot point but that not an easy job as the main fuselage tapers back from the intakes to the to exhausts.

There's no option where it goes really, the conversion kit has the foreward extension immediately aft of the cockpit and the aft one just forward of the burner nozzles. That'll mean the tapers won't match properly, or they won't until AFTER the PSR anyway........... 

My Tornado whif idea would be to take an F3, fit a GR1/GR4 radome, fin and stores and call it a GR5.

Another option among the myriad WhiffWorld Tonka options. 

[PR19_Kit]

The construction sequence will be a tad complex as I can't really cut the horizontally joined fuselage until after it's glued together, and with a Tornado you can't do that until the wings are assembled and in position.

Hmmmmm, could get interesting..........

[The Wooksta!]

My Tornado whif idea would be to take an F3, fit a GR1/GR4 radome, fin and stores and call it a GR5.

A few people have considered that as a viable whiff, myself included after subtle prodding, but it's one that no one's yet done.  I've lost interest in RAF parafin burners for now.

[McColm]

I suppose you could change the  exhaust pipes to a pair of Speys

[Dizzyfugu]

With the GR.4 in service, would't an F.5 make more sense... 

[comrade harps]

Turning an ADV back into an IDS without making it shorter could be an interesting exercise too.

Kind of: http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=17413.0

[PR19_Kit]

With the GR.4 in service, would't an F.5 make more sense... 

Hm, yes, you could be right.

It'd depend on the relative dates of my 'F4's' and the GR4's introduction. I'll have to look it up......... 

Cutting and gluing may start this week.