Bae Typhoon

[Hobbes]

In December 1983, the air forces of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK announced a programme for the development of a next generation combat aircraft, designated FEFA (Future European Fighter Aircraft), based largely on the EAP demonstrator. Development is done by British Aerospace, and production would be shared by the participating countries.
De project is fairly ambitious, but several safeguards have been built in to limit the risk of delays. Existing systems are used as a starting point, and the airframes are built to be easily upgradeable.
Despite some political squabbling (France pulls out in 1985 because they can't reach an agreement with the others over the aircraft's size), the project proceeds according to plan. The first development aircraft fly in 1988, with engines and avionics from the Tornado. In 1992, a second batch of development aircraft use the EJ.200 and Blue Vixen radar. In 1995, production starts with the Typhoon F.1 model. Ground attack capability has not been finalised, and the engines are limited to 85% of their specified maximum thrust pending further development. Production is limited to 12 aircraft for each of the five nations.  
In 1998, the kinks have been worked out, and production of the FA.2 starts. F.1 airframes are rebuilt to FA.2 standard.
In 2001, a new radar is introduced, using an ASEA antenna and advanced signal processing. This radar is combined with an IRST and a new cockpit which uses state-of-the-art electronics and software to reduce pilot workload by 50%. The FA.3 is exported to several NATO and Commonwealth countries.

The aircraft shown here is an F.1, with 6 Sky Flash and 2 Sidewinder AAMs.  



The model is the (not so good) Revell 1:144 JF-90, with (rubbish) decals from a Revell Tornado GR1. I started working on it in 2005, and I sort of forgot about it while working on other projects. Finished it this week. Thought I'd post it mainly for the backstory, maybe this'll inspire a few (better) 'early Eurofighter' projects.  

[John Howling Mouse]

I'm finding it nearly impossible to believe this is a 1:144 scale model!
Wow, what control you have in your painting.  What a load-out, too!
Can you please provide a "scale reference" pic for my addled brain?
Maybe a dime or a pencil next to it for reference?

[Hobbes]

Comparing with a pencil and a 1:72 TSR.2:



About the paint job on the Typhoon: I masked and airbrushed everything except the black lines on the missiles. With the demarcation as it is, masking is easy enough. In the first pic, you can see that the white paint has seeped under the masking tape, though.  

[NARSES2]

I'm finding it nearly impossible to believe this is a 1:144 scale model!

Have to agree with that    Looked really good and then saw it was 1/144 - Stunner  

Chris

[Hobbes]

You should see the more recent 1:144 Revell models. They're much better than this kit (this is a 1989 release).  

[John Howling Mouse]

Thanks, Hobbes.  That really puts the quality into perspective.

Wow!