Project for the week

[AeroplaneDriver]

It amazes me that nobody on here has ever thought about the possibility of the A-4 in British service, so I thought I'd build one    

No pics yet, because; 1)  The camera needs batteries and I cant be bothered to look for any at the moment, and 2)  The model is still in "as boxed" condition.

The kit is the 1/48 Hobbycraft Argentine A-4B Falklands War kit, but it includes the avionics hump and all the little lumps and bumps for the nose, many of which will find their way onto the A-4R (FG.1).  Decals are from the Airfix Sea Harrier, and the scheme will be fairly colorful as the aircraft will be depicted in 1977 when it was painted for the Silver Jubilee.

The story so far....


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Following the cancellation of HMS Queen Elizebeth (CVA-01) in February 1966 the RN looked at options to stay in the fixed-wing game.  Eagle was to be refitted, and would serve alongside Ark Royal into the 70s, and future V/STOL designs were already being studied.  A study was made to examine the feasability of purchsing 2-4 ex-USN Essex class carriers, but this was ruled out.

This changed following the 1968 Hong Kong crisis, when Britain realised that it would be in the national interest to maintain a viable carrier fleet.  In February 1970, four years to the day from the cancellation of CVA-01, the contract was signed to purchase the Essex-class carriers USS Oriskany and USS Shangri-La.  These two boats were the most modernized of the Essex carriers, and following refit to RN standard the first ship delivered, the Shangri-La entered service with the Royal Navy in August 1973 as HMS Invincible, to be followed in June 1974 by her sister ship HMS Illustrious.

As the new carriers were too small to accomodate the Phantoms now flying from HMS Eagle and Ark Royal, it was decided that the air wings of the Invincible class would be made up of Sea Jaguar FR.3s for fleet defence and reconnaisance, Skyhawk FG.1s for attack, Gannett AEW.3s for AEW, and Sea Kings for SAR/planeguard duties.  

In peacetime the air wings of the two carriers comprised 10 Sea Jaguars, 12 Skyhawks, 2 Gannets, and 5 Sea Kings.  In wartime this could increase to 34 fast jets (in the 1982 Falklands war Invincible carried 16 Sea Jaguars, and 18 Skyhawks), and up to 8 helicopters.

This rennaisance for RN carrier operations was followed by the refitting of Eagle and Ark Royal for continued operations into the 1990s (when they were replaced by the carriers HMS Queen Elizebeth and Duke Of Edinburgh), as well as the contruction of three strike carriers of 22,000 tons each to operate the new Sea Harrier FRS.1 aircraft.  It was two of these carriers (Colossus and Albion) that made such an impact in the Falklands war as they were able to operate their Harriers in the harsh South Atlantic weather that made operation impossible from Invincible for much of the war.

When the Commando carriers Hermes and Bulwark were retired in the early 1980s they were replaced by the LPHs Ocean and Magnificent.  This gave the Royal Navy of the 1990s a capable and respected carrier force of two fleet carriers (QE & DoE), two escort carriers (Invincible and Illustrious), three strike carriers (Colossus, Albion, and Centaur) and two helicopter carriers (Ocean and Magnificent).  

This large carrier fleet has helped Britain in conflicts from Kosovo to Iraq, and has acted as a deterrent in times of tension across the globe.

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More specifics of the Skyhawk FG.1 to come with the finished build...


Nick

[Captain Canada]

It amazes me that nobody on here has ever thought about the possibility of the A-4 in British service, so I thought I'd build one    

Are you seriuos ? Or are you just pulling our legs ?

We've talked about it a million times ! And I'm pretty sure there's a few more out there as well......

[AeroplaneDriver]

It amazes me that nobody on here has ever thought about the possibility of the A-4 in British service, so I thought I'd build one   

Are you seriuos ? Or are you just pulling our legs ?

We've talked about it a million times ! And I'm pretty sure there's a few more out there as well......

Doh!!  CC needs a tune up on his sarcasm detector!!

 

[Captain Canada]

CC needs a tune up on his sarcasm detector!!

Hey, when you don't know, you don't know !

And just for that...I order you to build said Skyhawk not in RN service, but RCN !

 

[AeroplaneDriver]

CC needs a tune up on his sarcasm detector!!

Hey, when you don't know, you don't know !

And just for that...I order you to build said Skyhawk not in RN service, but RCN !

Hmmm....maple leaves would look nice...this one will be RN though, but I have a 1/72 Fujimi A-4 earmarked for Canadian service sometime over the next few months.

[Captain Canada]

Lemme know if you need some of those beautiful RCN leafy roundels ! I've got RCN titles in white and black, as well as the Navy ensign. Those are the full colour ones. If you want modern low-vis, you gotta go CAF leaf, of which I also have plenty.....

 

[AeroplaneDriver]

Well the kit is going together.  This is the first Hobbycraft A-4 I've built and the fit of the nosegear bay and cockpit were a bit disappointing, but the basic structure of the aircraft went together well with little filler needed.  I hate the hard, brittle plastic they use though.

The airframe is unmodified, but the nose carries the Ferranti LRMTS added for RN service.

There is no ejection seat installed, since the ESCAPAC seat would be replaced with an MB seat for RN service, and I cant find one in the spares box yet.

[K5054NZ]

Nice, more please! This'll look good next to Scooterman's RN aircraft...

[AeroplaneDriver]

This afternoon has seen the airfram basically completed.  The Skyhawk FG.1 has had the 2 x 20mm guns removed and a single 30mm Aden cannon installed in the left wing root in a semi-podded configuration similar to the DEFA guns in the IDF Skyhawks.  The other wingroot will see some type of ECM installation.

The nose is complete with the LRMTS underneath and an IR imaging system on top. A RWR receiver has been added to the fin, as with other British aircraft of the period.

I think the engine will be updated from the J52 to a version of the RB-199 putting out about 11,500lb dry, making it similar in performance to the J52, but immensely more efficient.  some sort of scoop related to tehe engine installation has appeared on the aft left fuselage.  It's exact purpose is yet to be decided.

[AeroplaneDriver]

The new gun...

[K5054NZ]

Ooooh more more more!!!  

[AeroplaneDriver]

Last for today...

A-4R (Skyhawk FG.1) primed with a coat of silver.

Scooterman, It's neat to see us both working on similar projects at the same time.  I love all the inspiration on this board!!

Nick

[Scooterman]

Scooterman, It's neat to see us both working on similar projects at the same time.  I love all the inspiration on this board!!

Oh I totally agree with you Nick.  Whenever I get un-inspired I just look thru old threads and find the motiviation.

Love your 'hawk.  Will be neat to see when finished.  What will she be carring?  My FA.6 wil have Snakes and Slammers with the FG.1 getting quad rocket pods.

[AeroplaneDriver]

Scooterman, It's neat to see us both working on similar projects at the same time.  I love all the inspiration on this board!!

Oh I totally agree with you Nick.  Whenever I get un-inspired I just look thru old threads and find the motiviation.

Love your 'hawk.  Will be neat to see when finished.  What will she be carring?  My FA.6 wil have Snakes and Slammers with the FG.1 getting quad rocket pods.

Right now the plan is Sidewinders on the outboards and either 1,000lb GP bombs, Shrikes, or Matra rocket pods on the inners and a tank on centerline, but that plan is fluid.  I love the look of the UK Phantoms with TERs carrying Matra pods, so if I can round up a few more pods I may put the TERs on the inners.

[Damian2]

APD your kits ROCK!!

I too want to build a few RN A-4s and I can't wait to see yours done!!

Ciao
Damian