The world according to Charlie

[Charlie_c67]

So, being new here, I figured it best to post some of the things I've been up to. 

First up RAF Republic Thunderjet FB.1

"During the Korean war, it became clear that both the Meteor and the Vampire were somewhat lacking when faced with the new Mig-15. After several examples of the Russian craft were captured and taken back to RAE Farnborough, comparison flight testing also showed that the Meteor was more suited to the ground attack role while the Vampire the interception role. These tests allowed suitable tactics to be developed and the lessons learnt applied to future designs. Unfortunately this was too late for Meteor units in the theatre which were, by now, severely short on numbers. To compensate, F-84E's were loaned by the US to ensure that there was no loss in the punishing ground attacks taking place at the time, with the first squadron, No 56, receiving their mounts in mid-1951 which were known in the RAF as the Thunderjet FB.1. By the end of 1953 all were replaced by the Thunderjet FB.2 which was the equivalent of the F-84G, but fitted with RR Avon engines, British avionics and four 30mm Aden cannons in place of the original Browning machine guns. Present at the Queens coronation flypast, these aircraft did not stay in service much past the end of the 1954 as they were replaced with Gloster's new dedicated ground attack Meteor, the Reaper, and so were sold on to other Commonwealth countries looking to modernise their air forces with the new technology.

In addition to Korea, these FB.2's were used by India during several conflicts of the 1950's as well as South Africa in the Border War. The last of these Anglicised Thunderjets were retired by Kenya in 1968"








Enjoy!

[Weaver]

Welcome aboard: that's a great introduction! 

What a cool model: it really looks the part and it's very credible too. Funnily enough, I picked up an aircraft book earlier today, opened it randomly at the F-84 page, and got thinking about RAF Thunderjets too!

[Charlie_c67]

Secondly BAe/McDonnell Douglas Yellowjacket FRS.1

In the 1960's, as Britain was dismantling her Empire and transforming it into the Commonwealth, the States of Malaysia and Brunei were given their independence. Opposed to the union of the North Borneo, Sarawak and Malay states was Indonesia, to the point where tensions were ramped up and minor skirmishes occurred between 1963 and 1966. Action by Britain, Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and New Zealand caused Indonesia and its communist allies to back down allowing the completion of the Federation...in the real world.
 
In mine, Indonesia invaded Sarawak pushing north and west with landings on the Malay peninsula which were rapidly repulsed. When an overambitious General landed on islands belonging to the Philippines causing a great loss of civilian life in the process, the UN started to take notice and issued a directive allowing the full weight of the commonwealth to be brought to bear. From the north British and Malay troops retook the territory lost on the Island of Borneo pushing south into Indonesian territory to remove the chance to organise a fight back from the bases present there. In the east, ANZAAC troops took over the territory of West Papua finding horrendous atrocities had been committed by the troops of Sukharno against the indigenous peoples, whilst in the west, Indian and South African troops launched an invasion from two flotillas based around newly acquired aircraft carriers. The conflict came to a swift conclusion and resulted in the creation of the Federated States of Malaysia and a UN peacekeeping force in Western Papua.
 
Despite the guarantees made to its sovereignty, Brunei retained a deep seated fear that in time, Indonesia would return to its warlike ways. As a result, it invited Britain into a mutual defence pact whereby the oil rich kingdom would buy the equipment and pay for the maintenance whilst Britain would provide the necessary active servicemen and the units remaining within the command structure of  the various British services. This led to the formation of several flights based within the country, starting with two and rising by the time of the second Indonesian invasion to eight. Two dedicated to ground attack, two to air defence, one to maritime strike, one to reconnaissance, one to transport and one, rather uniquely, to flight refuelling. Due to the proximity of the US forces stationed in the Pacific, it was not unusual for the flights to be armed with american ordnance as it was often easier to acquire quickly.
 
In the 1970's Flight 2749 was formed after an unprecedented number of pirate attacks occurred on merchant shipping in the South China sea. When formed the unit was equipped with six Hunter FGA.82's which were based on the T.7 but incorporated upgrades from the RAF's FGA.9 and the ability to carry guided bombs such as the GBU-8 HOBOS, bought from the American military after the Vietnam war. After a brief, disastrous flirtation with Soviet hardware in the form of the Su-22, it was decided to purchase 6 F/A-18's of which two would be twin seaters. Since production had switched to the C/D variants, the order was piggy-backed onto the USN/USM order to take advantage of a lower unit cost. The first aircraft was delivered in 1989 along with a limited number of Harpoon anti-shipping missiles. Something considered essential after the Mavericks used during the Second Indonesian Conflict didn't cause as much damage as first hoped against shipping.
 
Since they were technically in the service of the RAF, the aircraft became known as the Yellowjacket FRS.1 and was initially painted in and all over EDSG with a black radome. The continuation of the flight had been in question in the early 80's, as the RAF had considered ending the arrangement and handing them over to the Brunei forces in their entirety. However, the second invasion by Indonesia, coupled with the expansionist policy of communist China in the South China sea, persuaded policy makers against such a move. This decision was questioned at the time, but exonerated when the civil war in Indonesia spilled over its borders as the country fractured in the wake of its defeat.

[Charlie_c67]

Finally (for now) the BAe/Boeing Yellowjacket FA.2

In 2001 RAFSEAC reviewed the aircraft under their command based in Brunei. Whilst having no direct control over the procurement process, they were at least able to indicate when they believed replacements were required and were allowed to indicate what would be required from whatever was purchased. Since servicing was carried out in good but basic airfields, the top brass in the Brunei military preferred low maintenance craft to reduce the reliance on a long supply chains. However, since Australia had a local production agreement for the F/A-18 Hornet, it was decided that this would reduce the risk of a delays in part replacement. When in 2002 it was decided to replace the FRS.1 Yellowjacket, the natural progression was to move on to the Super Hornet which would be known as the FA.2 Yellowjacket. Although there was the option to upgrade the existing aircraft, the increase in range and payload was too good an oppertunity to pass. Other aircraft were also considered, including the FRS.3 Falcon, SU-24, Rafale and HAL Tejas, but all dropped out for a variety of reasons.

In service with the BrAF/RAF, the FA.2 is able to carry a wide variety of Commonwealth and American weaponary and, unlike the FRS.1, is able to be re-fueled by the two VC-10 K3's based in Brunei, extending its range even further. Since the flight is involved with the multi-country anti-piracy initiative, this increase in range has been seen as a great boon for service and in conjunction with Harriers in the Singapore Navy, were able to take out several previously well established bases of operation. For such a small country, Brunei's military is extremely well armed due to the threat from Indonesia in the south (much reduced since the country split apart), China in the north and the constant threat of pirates, keen to attack the many oil tankers that ply their trade through the South China Sea. As a result it is not unknown for the Commonwealth and America to offer more advanced equipment than may be an option elsewhere due to the need to punch above its weight. This has lead to 2749's craft having the capability to carry the latest versions of the Harpoon and HARM missiles. The SEAD role was previously covered by the various RAF Squadrons that were rotated to out to SEAC, but after it was discovered that the more established pirate groups were acquiring radar to give them advance warning of potential attacks, Military chiefs decided that this would be an area that needed to be addressed.

In a break with what seems to be military convention, the flight have moved from a single shade of low vis grey to a disruptive scheme once again after it was realised that this often made it harder for the aircraft to be observed at low level over the sea.









And the two Yellowjackets together.




Next on the cutting mat, something of a distinctly French metallic flavour... 

[DogfighterZen]

 All 3 look great and the back stories are good too! Welcome aboard!

[PR19_Kit]

Excellent stuff Charlie, both the modelling and the back stories. 

[The Rat]

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice entries, I esp. like the RAF F-84. Welcome on board!

[Rheged]

Welcome home!!   Another modeller  takes up his citizenship of Whiffworld.   It's a fun place to be, but beware of soaring imaginations and passing paradoxes.

[zenrat]

Welcome Charles.
Love the Thunderjet.

So what are your feelings regarding spats and loooooooooong wings?

[Hobbes]

excellent ideas 

[NARSES2]

Wellcome aboard, nice way to introduce your self 

[Charlie_c67]

Cheers guys, just need to find out the best way to produce my own decals for a future long term project.... 

[Captain Canada]

Nice work ! Love the Thunderjet. Straight wings and tip tanks always get me. The scheme is superb as well. Both Hornets are the bomb as well. Not sure which one I like better. Both ?

[Charlie_c67]

As last year was a bit of a dead loss modelling wise I haven't had much to present. However, here is the start of hopefully several completed kits this year. It is the Airfix F-20 kit and was a total pig to build. Not totally happy with it, even now  Still...

"In the late 1980s the RAF began looking for a new supersonic adversary aircraft for their DACT training program, which had been nicknamed "Topdrawer" by wags back in the 60s when the program first started. Employing both sub and supersonic aircraft to act as adversaries, which included some Russian and Chinese aircraft that had been 'acquired' through various back channels. Since Focke-Wulf had purchased the rights to the F-20 design from Northrop with a view to sell the aircraft in both Africa and Asia, the sale was seen as a good advertisement in addition to those earmarked for the Brunei contingent. The aircraft were built in the Hanoverian companies Bremen factories and flown to UK as part of their checks.

Although ultimately a different design, the aircraft was known in RAF service as the Tiger FGR.3 and gave good service until finally being replaced by the Falcon TF.4 in the early 2000's"