Near the height of the Cold War numerous V/STOL projects were undertaken to allow dispersed aircraft operations at remote airstrips, roadways and other hide sites. It was reasoned that fixed airbases in Europe would be early targets in any Warsaw Pact offensive, but V/STOL fighters and attack aircraft could disperse to remote sites. The Germans recognized that transport aircraft could also be beneficial for such remote operations and developed the Dornier Do-31 which used lift jets and an early versions of the Pegasus vectored thrust engine for V/STOL flight. The RAF, not to be outdone by the Germans, and recognizing that the Harrier would require a bit more support than a "ladder, toolbox and a fuel bowser" suggested in some literature, desired a large aircraft to carry fuel, munitions and other supplies directly to the Harrier support sites. The US also became interested with their pending Harrier AV-8A program...
The plan: C-130 with 4 vectored thrust Pegasus engines, and other modifications.
The Kit: Airfix C-130E, 1/72