crazy Cat person builds...

[AeroplaneDriver]

After a few hours of poring over various kits in the stash I kept coming back to Rally's recent Naval Jaguar profile on the Alt History forum.  So, out came the Jaguars from the attic.  A little thumbing through my well-worn Winter 1992 issue of 'World Airpower Journal' revealed 3-4 pics of the Jaguar M prototype, and it looke like converting the existing landing gear to the carrier configuration isnt much of a task.  As for the radar, my detailed study made by comparing the noses of SHARs and Jags in 1/72 reveals that the Blue Fox radar will fit with a bit of milliput and imagination, so off we go to build a Sea Jag!

My problem, as usual, is deciding on a time period/color scheme/warload for my build.  So far I'm considering:

1.  RN Sea Jaguar FRS.3 c.1977.  EDSG over White, perhaps with a colorful silver tail/spine for the Silver Jubilee.  AIM-9Bs and Martels or Matra rocket pods.

2.  RN Sea Jaguar FRS.3 c.1983.  Post-Falklands all-over EDSG with either Sea Eagles on the inner wing pylons or a single WE177 on the centerline.

3.  RN Sea Jaguar FG.5A c.2003 Operation Telic SEAD fit with AMRAAMs and ALARMs.

4.  RAN Sea Jaguar FRS.3 c 1984.  HMAS Melbourne refitted instead of going the HMS Invincible route.  A-4 airwing replaced with Sea Jags.  Sidewinder/Harpoon weapons fit.

5.  USMC F-20 Jaguar c.1978.  Gull Gray over White with lots of Snakeyes.

6.  USMC F-20 Jaguar c.1991.  All-over Ghost Gray with Desert Storm weapons fit of CBUs/LGBs.

The above choices are about all I'm considering based on decals in the stash, and since I have 3 1/72 Jags in the stash, I may doing a production line build of several!  

As always, any and all input is welcome!

[elmayerle]

The landing gear is pretty straight-forward to fix from a good spares box.  Nose grear from an old F-4K kit (circa 1967 one from Revell or Hasegawa/Frog) & main gear from a Mitsubishi F-1/T-2.  I figure to take the radar from either a Super Etendard or a Sea Harrier FRS.1 if I don't want to wait on the rumored upcoming conversion kit.

[ysi_maniac]

I would increase wing span but not much, just to allow another hardpoint. Perhaps a light raise of cockpit, just for the shake of kitbashing.

What you ask: no matter the country/unit but a lot of dumb bombs.

 

EDIT: Sidewinders in wingtips.

[AeroplaneDriver]

The landing gear is pretty straight-forward to fix from a good spares box.  Nose grear from an old F-4K kit (circa 1967 one from Revell or Hasegawa/Frog) & main gear from a Mitsubishi F-1/T-2.  I figure to take the radar from either a Super Etendard or a Sea Harrier FRS.1 if I don't want to wait on the rumored upcoming conversion kit.

From the pics I have it loks like taking the kit main gear legs and cutting off the trailing link portion, then attaching a single (larger) wheel to the end of the resulting strut, then possibly rotating the gear leg forward a fee degrees will look very much like the gear on the prototype.  For the nose, it looks like a similar operation, cutting off the existing wheel fork, extending the strut with brass rod, and attaching two wheels will approximate the prototype.

As for the radar-it looks like the SHAR radom would work great, but I dont want to chop one up, so it will be milliput  sculpted over the kit's Jaguar A nose.

[AeroplaneDriver]

I would increase wing span but not much, just to allow another hardpoint. Perhaps a light raise of cockpit, just for the shake of kitbashing.

What you ask: no matter the country/unit but a lot of dumb bombs.

 

EDIT: Sidewinders in wingtips.

I considered a honking great LERX like on the ACT demonstrator, but I dont feel like too much scratchbuilding on this one, so I'll probably go with the stock wing.  I also considered wingtip rails, but to me the overwing rails are so distinctive on the Jag, so I'm just sticking with them.

[elmayerle]

The landing gear is pretty straight-forward to fix from a good spares box.  Nose grear from an old F-4K kit (circa 1967 one from Revell or Hasegawa/Frog) & main gear from a Mitsubishi F-1/T-2.  I figure to take the radar from either a Super Etendard or a Sea Harrier FRS.1 if I don't want to wait on the rumored upcoming conversion kit.

From the pics I have it loks like taking the kit main gear legs and cutting off the trailing link portion, then attaching a single (larger) wheel to the end of the resulting strut, then possibly rotating the gear leg forward a fee degrees will look very much like the gear on the prototype.  For the nose, it looks like a similar operation, cutting off the existing wheel fork, extending the strut with brass rod, and attaching two wheels will approximate the prototype.

As for the radar-it looks like the SHAR radom would work great, but I dont want to chop one up, so it will be milliput  sculpted over the kit's Jaguar A nose.

Well, since I've got the kits in stash to do the swap I suggested, I intend to do that.  Mind you, I've got the old Heller 1/50 jaguar M to use as a reference.

[mrdj]

I am almost finished an Aeronavale Jaguar M. I started with an 1/72 Ariex Jaguar A (Airfix). I just used straight oleos from the spares box (1/48 Seafire), and some spare wheels. The nose gear I think cane from an Arrow that didn't survive a move. I also trimmed down the fin cap.

This was more of a proof-of-concept. I want to transfer this to a 1/48 Jaguar.

I will finish up the details when I locate Aeronavale roundels.

DJM

[mrdj]

Fron the front

[Leigh]

1.  RN Sea Jaguar FRS.3 c.1977.  EDSG over White, perhaps with a colorful silver tail/spine for the Silver Jubilee.

R.N. Edsg over white is the black mini dress of paint schemes, it makes any jet look sexy, but when you put it on a good looking bird like the Jaguar, grown men will be tripping over their tongues and fainting with desire.

[GTX]

A little thumbing through my well-worn Winter 1992 issue of 'World Airpower Journal' revealed 3-4 pics of the Jaguar M prototyp

Any chance of you posting those pics?

Regards,

Greg

[mrdj]

Jaguar

[AeroplaneDriver]

Thanks MRDJ for the pics.  A few of those are in the book I have, but there are a few new ones there that will be very useful when working the landing gear.  It looke even more like I can rework the existing mlg into the carrier version with a little cutting and trimming.

[mrdj]

Check airwar.ru, they have some diagrams that may be helpful.

Drawings-Modern fighters-Jaguar #2