Equipping a modern RAFVR ??

[NARSES2]

OK raised in a previous thread. So how would you equip a modern RAFVR or indeed how would you have equiped it since it was abolished ?

Lets keep the politics out of it lads 

[Rheged]

OK raised in a previous thread. So how would you equip a modern RAFVR or indeed how would you have equiped it since it was abolished ?

Lets keep the politics out of it lads 

I must plead guilty to starting this one off elsewhere with an offering of   a BAC Strikemaster (Jet Provost Mk 6 or Mk7) with a couple of 20mm ADEN cannon pods and / or  a rack of cheap and cheerful 60lb Rocket Projectiles.   RAFVR Transport Command  also gives  considerable scope for  your ingenuity .

[McColm]

The Royal Air Force does employ ex or recently retired aircrew in it's reserve squadrons, who have been deployed since the Gulf War 1990-1991. Mainly used in the transport role fixed winged and rotorary.
Their arch-rivals the Royal Auxiliariy Air Force have been deployed in manning the maritime Nimrods, E-3Ds, Chinooks, C-130s, P-3s, Atlantic MK1, CP-140  (not full crews-max of three only) and one lucky sod managed to get clearence to a flight in a B-52.
The nearest I  got was to draft the tasking message with a USAF Major looking over my shoulder.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

I make no apologies for admitting that this is one of my favourite 'cause celebres'. I mentioned in response to Rheged's posting on the 'Stash' thread that the Strikemaster/JP5 would be simply perfect, but only if they were painted in 'high speed silver'.

From an earlier era, I could easily see:
T-33's (Shooting Star T Mk.1/T Mk.1A)

perhaps replaced later by:
MB323's (Kestral T1/T1A), which would be supplemented by the aforementioned JP5's

Later they would be replaced by:
Hawk's or Alpha Jets... But painted overall Lt. Aircraft Grey.
In the same timeframe, should the RAF go almost completely part-time, could there be a role for the G222/
Spartan as a tactical transporter supporting the Auxiliary Air Force Combat Wings' AMX's, which for the benefit of combat survival would be painted initially in wraparound grey/green, then go to Dk. Green/lichen green - might be difficult to get the low-vis decals to work on this though, Hmmmm  

Rant Mode 'Active'
For the love of G*d, Mr Italeri, will you please release the AMX in 1:48 & 1:72... NOW !
Rant Mode 'Safe'

Which in the future would be replaced by the (beautiful, imho):
Yak-130, which would resurrect the high-vis 'county' bars, 'B' type roundels and overall Lt. Aircraft Grey paint.

Ian

ps
Really must check my decal dungeon for that Modeldecal Meteor sheet !

[PR19_Kit]

ps
Really must check my decal dungeon for that Modeldecal Meteor sheet !

Everyone needs at least one, or three perhaps, plus one or more of the Vampire sheets too. Both a veritable riot of colour! 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Completely agree, Kit.

Ian
ps
Note to self: Buy one more of each at Telford !

pps
Thinking 'bout it more, those 'county bars' from the Modeldecal Vampire sheet would be so small, they could be used either side of a small 'B' type roundel on a 1:48 kit....  Hmmm

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Right forget (almost) everything I've just written about the Meteor sheets - been onto Hannants site, they have both the Meteor sheets - no Aux AF units, and both the Vampire sheets - all Aux AF units. Kind of changes what I had in mind !!

Ian
Exits stage right, hands-in-pockets, kicking small stones and muttering...

[PR19_Kit]

Right forget (almost) everything I've just written about the Meteor sheets - been onto Hannants site, they have both the Meteor sheets - no Aux AF units, and both the Vampire sheets - all Aux AF units. Kind of changes what I had in mind !!

But with the aid of a scanner and some good photo software, not to mention the requisite decal paper etc. you could enlarge the Vampire decals to any size you may desire............ Not that I'd ever contemplate such plagarism, oh dear me no, not ever............. 

[TallEng]

Well.....
if I was re-equiping the Royal Aux Air Force, I'd go for the obvious follow on from the Meteors and Vampires,
The absolutely splendid Hawker Hunter;  start off with the F.6 then F.9/FGA.9 and keep modding them up as per the Swiss
(possibly in collaboration with them) which would probably take you into the late teens in mark No's.

Colours - well: glossy grey/green/silver with Sn bars (the C.O.'s with coloured fin and spine) 'D' type roundels, giving way to
Matt grey/green/LAG 'B' type roundels and Sqn Bars as per above and or small Sqn bars on the nose (Ala 58 and 45 Sqn)
then moving onto wrap around grey/green, 'B' type roundels small Sqn markings, and depending on when you retire them,
you could even go to Barley grey/LAG as per the Lightnings.
Of course the later on you go the more 'boring' the Sqn markings will become, with the introduction of 'B' type roundels and
wrap around Camo. but you could always do the Anniversary markings to add a splash of colour. (Oh and the special Hunter retirement schemes, 25 years of hunters (as seen at Greenham common in the 25 Hunter line up provided by the RAuxAF  )) ooh I could go on.....
And when you do retire them step forward the Hawk, in which ever form (Two seater, single seater) you would like.


If you want RAuxAF Decals you could try Kits at War, Freight Dog, Model Art and Xtradecal (X72087 has Markings for 500, 607, 603 and 611)
Or tap someone up for the ones that SAM issued with the Magazine (about a hundred years ago)

Regards
Keith (riding off into the sunset on a hobby shaped horse)

[PR19_Kit]

Or tap someone up for the ones that SAM issued with the Magazine (about a hundred years ago)

I've got scans of those......... 

[pyro-manic]

I would agree on Hunters, then Hawks. Possibly radar-equipped versions of both, for limited all-weather capability. Something cheap and off-the-shelf rather than super-expensive and possibly less than perfect (see Foxhunter and Tonka F.2/3). And keep the bright schemes! Leave the BoGs to the full-timers, and stick with full colour roundels, squadron bars and coloured fins/spines.

[McColm]

Try using the decals from Spitfire or off Hurricane kits.