OK three more done.
I'm calling this the Falklands strike package............
first up is the group shot.
First solo shot, the single seat Bomb truck
Skyhawk S Mk-2 operating off HMS Albion someware in the south Atlantic April 1982.
This was started at the same time as my previous single seater, and suffered an identical fate of a stint on the shelf of doom. Re started at the same time as its shelf mate. But this one opened a Pandora's box as the other two scooters in the first pic were quickly thrown together to join this one. You will note the pair of 500 pounders on the centerline TER and a single BL755 cluster bomb under each wing.....
Speaking of which...........The top cover
Skyhawk F/A Mk-3. Operating off HMS Hermes (still with cats and traps) same place and time as the S-2. You might just make out a white spec under the cockpit. This one has a scooter kill. Well I did mention some Skyhawk on skyhawk action with the S-1 build from a few weekends ago.
I'm saying the F/A-3 were basically bog standard S-2's but wired to take Aim 9's on the outer pylons. During the Punch up down south the enterprising chaps on Hermes painted the noses of their birds Black to try and fool the opposition into thinking that some of the UK skyhawks were equipped with Blue Fox radar. As a result the Hermes scooters spent a fair bit of time on CAP sorties. and escorting the bomb trucks.
Speaking of bomb trucks...........the two seater.
Skyhawk S Mk-5. Also operating off Albion off the Falklands.
The Falklands conflict was to my knowledge the first time the Uk used LGB's in anger. Towards the end of hostilities RAF Harrier GR-3's deployed LGB's on certain missions. with the targets being marked by ground observers (aka the SAS).
In this case the S-5 is a dedicated special mission bird tasked primarily with night attack, Precision (LGB) strike and SEAD with the Shrike ASM.
This one is loaded out with a pair of 500lb Paveway's and a Pavespike pod on the centreline to give the back seater something to do......
All three are Italeri Kits, The single seaters are A-4M's and the two seater is of course an OA-4M. all built pretty much OOB, Not the best kits of the A-4 out there but ok for what I had in mind here.
Paint jobs are over all Extra Dark sea Grey from a rattle can mixed by DJ aerosols to the correct BS formula.
The war loads are from various sources via by spares box. The 500 pounders, BL755's and the pave spike pod came from Airfix Phantom, Harrier GR-5 and Old tool Buccaneer kits. the decals are robbed from various Modeldecal Falklands sheets. some of the roundels are unfortunately out of register. I didn't spot it until after the matt coat went on...........
Every thing else is primarily from various hasegawa weapon sets.
Just for the sake of it. The original pair that started this scooter fixation...........
And the whole damn lot of em together
