I've Finished!

[Nick]

I've finally finished!!! Thanks to Trev for the Argentine markings which I put on my lovely Forger at Doncaster yesterday. That'll teach me to assume the set in my stash are usable and won't crumble into shreds at sight of water....

Pictures will follow on Monday when I sort out my Photobucket and plug the pics in from my camera. Would do it today but work calls.....

Story details......

On the 14th May 1982 50 SAS troopers attacked the landing strip and Argentine forces at Pebble Island airstrip. Reports had been of Pucaras and Turbo Mentors being based there, along with transport types and up to 200 troops. The previous nights observation from high on First Mount had led to a strange conversation between the 2 watching soldiers and a report back to HMS Hermes which would reverberate all the way back to Moscow....

"Sarge, that's a funny looking Pucara."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it looks like a Harrier but not, if you know what I mean?"
"What you on about?! Give me them binoculars, you need your eyes testing...... Oh. Hell!"

The attack went ahead as planned with an added emphasis on collecting  photographic and physical evidence of the Yak-38 Forgers in their winter camo and Argentine markings. The 4 based there were destroyed that night with all the other machines.
It would later emerge that 12 of these VTOL aircraft had been bought by Argentina to operate from the Vienticinco de Mayo in 1981 but later transfered to airstrips on the Islands as the Navy feared losing their only aircraft carrier. The rest were either shot down by Harriers or ground fire, 2 being captured at Port Stanley in unflyable mode with bomb damage from the Vulcan raids. One can be seen at the Imperial War Museum next to Hope, the sole surviving Gnat defender.

****************

June 1986

The major defense review that followed the Falklands Conflict led to F-4 Phantoms being based at Port Stanley until Mount Pleasant Airfield was completed. Later reviews would see the Phantoms being replaced with Tornado's in the Air Defence role and BAe Hawks in the ground attack and point defence roles.

For the ground and sea defence role the Mod/RAF committee chose to employ single-seat Hawk 200s, aka the Hawk GR.1. Six of these are based at RAF Mount Pleasant with 4 more twin-seat Hawk FT.1s, these being used for training new pilots on the area. All Hawks are wired to carry a range of weapons such as AIM-9 Sidewinders, 250lb bombs, Rockeye clusterbombs and the belly mounted Aden gun pack.

The Tornadoes operate as 1435 Flight and the Hawks are 1450 Flight but plans were announced in 1986 to have them operate as 21 Squadron. This would have the benefit of resurrecting one of the oldest RAF Squadrons who previously served in the defence of the Island of Malta in 1942.

Nick B)  

[Excalibur]

Looking forward to seeing your pics, I'm still wanting to do another Falklands Whif but this time on the Argie side. I'll look for your pics on Monday.

[Nick]

A Funny Looking Pucara.....

Weapons include 2 rocket pods and 2 air-to-air missiles, markings from the MB326 kit via Trevor.

[Nick]

Hawk GR.1, RAF Mount Pleasant, 1987.

Weapons are 4 Rockeye clusterbombs and the 30mm Aden gunpack underneath. Internal guns were removed to provide room for targeting equipment.

[Captain Canada]

I like it ! Them, I mean I like them ! The Forger looks a beauty, and I'm sure the SHAR boys would have had a blast knocking that Soviet wannabe Harrier out of the sky ! Would have been fun to capture a few as well, really hot things up with the Rooskies.

Nice looking Hawk as well. Always liked that bird, the 200. Shame we couldn't get a better kit of it.

 

[nev]

I do like that funny looking harrier B)

[Brian da Basher]

Those are two really sweet builds, Nick! I really like your camo paintjob on the Pucara! It has a very realistic "field applied" look. Excellent work!

Brian da Basher

[Archibald]

Have you noticed how your Pucara looks like a Forger ?  
Brilliant idea!