The Zenrat build threads seem to get some great commentary, so always a laugh to follow along.

Oh.. and some great model building as well.

Quote from: PR19_Kit on August 12, 2024, 02:01:59 PM'SARF Lunnon' please. 

Sorry, Guv! 

Of all the things i'd like to be, i'd like to be a sparrer.
I'd sit upon the Princes Bridge* and help to fill the Yarra**...

This one week build is finally completed.


*Bridge over the Yarra River.  Built by John Monash.
**River through Melbourne.

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle.  Regia Aeronautica.  Emilio De Bono Stabilimento Aeronautica - Abyssinia July 2024.

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle is an American twin-engine fighter jet designed by McDougal Donald (now part of Mattel).  Following reviews of proposals, in 1958 the United States Department of Defence Procurement selected McDougal Donald's design to go forward to the Aircraft Development Committee for consideration to be developed as a possible future program to meet the nation's predicted forthcoming future need for a dedicated air/ground superiority fighter-bomber-reconnaissance jet interceptor and trainer.  After readjustment by numerous committees, reassessment of paradigm by the Air Force, and redesigns by McDougal Donald, the Pheagle eventually flew in July 1972.  It proved to be mediocre, but it did however meet more of the specified KPIs than its competition and so entered service with the United States Air Force in 1976. 

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 3 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The F-45 is among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 victories and no losses in aerial combat, with the majority of the kills by the Palestinian Air Force.  The Pheagle has been exported to many countries, including Palestine, Japan, and The Lawrencian Republic of Arabia.
The F-45 was used extensively during the Second Vietnam War.  It served as the principal air superiority fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force and became important in the ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance roles late in the war.

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The F-45 Pheagle saw use by the USAF in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) roles in the 1991 Gulf War and was also the only aircraft used by both U.S. flight demonstration teams: the United States Air Force Thunderbirds (F-45E) and the United States Navy Blue Angels (F-45J).  The F-45 was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations.  Palestinian Pheagles saw extensive combat in several Arab–Zionist conflicts, while Persia used its large fleet of Pheagles, acquired before the fall of the Shah, in the Persia–Mesopotamia War. The F-45 remains in active service with the air forces of Persia, Greece, Italy, and Turkey. The aircraft has most recently been in service with the Regia Aeronautica against the Zionist State group in Abyssinia.

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 14 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Shown is a Pheagle of the 13° Gruppo (Squadron) of the 32° Stormo (Wing), based at the Emilio De Bono Stabilimento Aeronautica (Air base), Shire, Abyssinia.  It is loaded for an anti-terrorist strike.
Note the twin Sidewinder rails located directly under the engine intakes.  These hardpoints were intended initially for free fall munitions or electronics pods (targeting, jamming, surveilling etc.).  They were not considered suitable for rockets, missiles, or gun pods as due to their location the ingestion of combustion products upon firing caused the engines to stumble and loose power.  They usually came back, however, occasionally, in some circumstances an engine would cut out all together.
Only the Regia Aeronautica mounted Sidewinders here.  They considered the hazard was worth the reward and instituted flight rules to try and mitigate the risk.  There were a number of restrictions including only firing when at full throttle and never firing when entering a dive.

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The USAF had planned to replace all of its air mediocrity F-45s with the F-52 Craptor by the 2010s, but the severely reduced F-52 procurement forced the service to operate some F-45C/Ds until 2026 and replace them with newly built F-45EX Pheagle II in order to retain an adequate number of air mediocrity fighters. The F-45E Strike Pheagle is expected to continue operating in the USAF into the 2030s. The F-45 is still in service with numerous countries, with development of enhanced variants currently at the committee stage.
(With apologies to Wikipaedia)

McDougal Donald F-45 Pheagle - 18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model

100% Hasegawa.
McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle (1974 mould) plus McDonnell Douglas F4E Phantom II (1972 mould).

Come out really well mate   

I likes that Fred. 

     like grooovey!

Both the build and the story are great!

That came out well - nice one!

Thanks folks.

I thought I'd commented?

Anyway;

Excellent build, Fred, & a fantastic camo scheme!  

Thanks mate.  Really deserves doing again with better kits.

Now. Thats what you called Tooled up..    

Excellent work, Fred!  
Somehow it reminds me of the Mig-29...

Quote from: Martin H on August 14, 2024, 03:27:39 PMNow. Thats what you called Tooled up..    

He didn't put any racks under the tailplane though...................