Sopwith Camel of the Red Arrows display team - 1920

[perttime]

Thanks chaps! I've just got A.I. to render one of my images to make it look realistic

That picture does bring it to life. Like a postcard, or something. It also resembles the way some of the other talented people here photograph their models in front of large photos of sceneries - and perhaps edit that image to make it look aged.

[su27rules]

      

[zenrat]

 

[Weaver]

That's beautiful, both the building and the writing. The latter feels really authentic to the style of the time. Very well done!       

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

[The Rat]

First rate whiffery, build and story! 

[Rick Lowe]

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

Yeah, what He said! 

[The Rat]

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

Agreed! And what would be next? The S.E.5 served longer, into 1922, so that's a possibility. Or the AW Siskin, which entered service in 1923. If RAFF-35 feels overwhelmed by the task ahead, we could start a seperate thread for discussion, and do our own.

[Weaver]

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

Agreed! And what would be next? The S.E.5 served longer, into 1922, so that's a possibility. Or the AW Siskin, which entered service in 1923. If RAFF-35 feels overwhelmed by the task ahead, we could start a seperate thread for discussion, and do our own.

Well the Sopwith Snipe seems to have been a common replacement, but I'm not sure if there are any models.

My feelings for later are:

1920-1927/8ish - don't know
Bristol Bulldog
Gloster Gladiator (Spits and Hurricanes being in too short supply to spare for aerobatics)
Suspended during the war
Vampires
Hunters

After that, front-line fighters become too expensive to run, so the options are either:

1. Rejoin the real-life timeline with Gnats followed by Hawks

2. Re-write history so the RAF used different trainers. Some possibilities:

a. If the original plan for the Jaguar (i.e. mostly trainers) had been followed, then the Reds would have ended up flying those.

b. If the UK had bought US hardware more, they might have ended up in T-37s, T-38s or F-5Bs.

c. If the UK had been more enthusiastic about NBMR.1, then they might have ended up in G.91Ts or G.91Rs.
(I tried to build a Red Arrows G.91 once, but I cocked up the paint)

d. If the UK had been more Euro-minded, we might have joined the Alpha Jet program and the Reds would have flown them.

e. If the UK had focussed on a certain engine manufacturer's interests to the detriment of the airframe industry (perish the thought... ), the Reds might have found themselves flying Mb.326s followed by Mb.339s, with their Viper engines.

[RAFF-35]

That's beautiful, both the building and the writing. The latter feels really authentic to the style of the time. Very well done!       

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

Thanks! I really appreciate that! 

I think your idea of Bristol Bulldog, Gloster Gladiator (then post-war Spitfire), Vampire, Hunter, Gnat, Hawk sounds pretty plausible. Although I've always loved the idea of the Red Arrows having Lightnings and Harriers too.

[RAFF-35]

Of course, you've made a rod (arrow?) for your own back now, since we simply must see how the Reds developed over the intervening years. 

Agreed! And what would be next? The S.E.5 served longer, into 1922, so that's a possibility. Or the AW Siskin, which entered service in 1923. If RAFF-35 feels overwhelmed by the task ahead, we could start a seperate thread for discussion, and do our own.

Never overwhelmed,  but definitely happy for people to join in and always excited to see the results!

[RAFF-35]

First rate whiffery, build and story! 

Muchas gracias

[PR19_Kit]

Although I've always loved the idea of the Red Arrows having Lightnings and Harriers too.

Both would have been totally awesome on VERY different  levels.

The Lightnings just on the sheer 'speed and power' thing, but a 9-ship of red Harriers doing one of their amazing formation changes while effectively standing still in the sky would have been MIND BENDING!     

[Weaver]

Although I've always loved the idea of the Red Arrows having Lightnings and Harriers too.

Both would have been totally awesome on VERY different  levels.

The Lightnings just on the sheer 'speed and power' thing, but a 9-ship of red Harriers doing one of their amazing formation changes while effectively standing still in the sky would have been MIND BENDING!     

Slight tangent, but I've always had this glorious vision of the Blue Angels' nine Convair Pogos doing a formation vertical take-off with perfectly synchronised rolls at 100 feet.

[PR19_Kit]

Slight tangent, but I've always had this glorious vision of the Blue Angels' nine Convair Pogos doing a formation vertical take-off with perfectly rolls at 100 feet.

LOVE that idea H.   

I have a couple of KP Pogos still in The Loft too. 

Reminds me of the FAA Scimitar team who finished their display at Farnborough by landing in formation pairs from OPPOSITE ends of the runway! As they approached each other at around 100 kts or so they all folded the wings and passed through the appropriate gaps!!! 

ATC would have a collective heart attack if someone suggested doing that these days!

[Weaver]

Slight tangent, but I've always had this glorious vision of the Blue Angels' nine Convair Pogos doing a formation vertical take-off with perfectly rolls at 100 feet.

LOVE that idea H.   

I have a couple of KP Pogos still in The Loft too. 

I have three - one KP and two Mistercraft (which are the KP moulds).

I should make an effort to get decals for them: Blue Angels Skyhawks should be about right.