Her Majesty's Royal SLUF

[AeroplaneDriver]

Here she is.  I'm a bit disappointed in the finish, since the Future coat went pear-shaped and had to be stripped and redone, and it never really looked right afterwards.  The pics arent the greatest either, once again, because I was in a hurry.  I'll try to put some better ones up tomorrow.  Oh well, my own fault for rushing, but hey, at least I finished a model!

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As the SEPECAT Jaguar M program ran into delays in 1974, the Royal Navy began looking at other options for a carrier-borne light strike aircraft.  After a short evaluation period an order was placed for 28 Vought A-7 Corsairs, 22 single-seaters, and 6 two-seat models..  The RN A-7s were broadly similar to the USN A-7Es, with the same RR Spey engine, but with UK avionics, Martin Baker Mk9 seat, and wiring for UK weapons.  The 20mm Vulcan cannon was retained, as it maintained ammunition commonality with the podded Vulcan cannon entering service on the RN's Phantoms.  Officially the RN Corsairs were designated A-7Ms in the US and Corsair FG.1s in the UK.

The first Royal Navy Corsair FG.1s entered service at RNAS Yeovilton in January 1977.  By the end of that year 700 NAS were deployed on their first operational Corsair cruise aboard the newly refitted HMS Hermes.  Though the Sea Jaguar FRS.1 finally entered service in 1980, the Corsair remained in RN service until 1995.  This gave the Fleet Air Arm of the early 1980s a very capable stable of Phantoms, Buccaneers, Sea Jaguars, Corsairs, and Sea Harriers operating from the carriers Hermes, Illustrious (ex USS Shangri-La), Ark Royal (ex USS Oriskany), and the new STOVL carrier Invincible.



In 1984-85 the Corsair fleet were upgraded to FG.1A standard with a Smith's Industries HUD, new navigation system, and integration of the BAeD Sea Eagle anti-shipping missile.  Though Corsair's were not deployed to the South Atlantic in 1982 to deter an expected Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, they did see combat in the Persian Gulf during the brief 1988 crisis and again in the 1991 war with Iraq.

This model depicts a newly upgraded Corsair FG.1A during one of the last "close calls" of the Cold War.  In December 1984 the entire Soviet Atlantic fleet suddenly left port and steamed westward across the Atlantic.  In response to this unexpected and  aggressive Soviet move, NATO forces went to high alert.  During this crisis the Sea Eagle missile was rushed to the carrier squadrons , even though final trails of the new missile were still ongoing.



It is now known that this massive mobilization was a Soviet attempt to stop a renegade ballistic missile submarine Captain from attacking the US.  This madman was eventually stopped by a joint US-Soviet operation, the details of which were later revealed in the non-fiction bestseller "The Hunt For Red October" by Dr. Jack Ryan.

[BlackOps]

Looks great!  Had to do a double take, for a second I thought that was the Anheuser-Busch logo on the tale  


Jeff G.

[Brian da Basher]

Yeah this one really sucks.

Sheeesh how do you do it? If you're "disappointed" by this one I'd be afraid of one that "exceeds expectations". Your "disappointing" builds are enough to make me consider taking up macrame instead of models! Great stuff, AD!

Hoping your birthday was the stuff of legend,
Brian da Basher

[Leigh]

Yeah that looks right

What kit is it?

[Archibald]

It is now known that this massive mobilization was a Soviet attempt to stop a renegade ballistic missile submarine Captain from attacking the US. This madman was eventually stopped by a joint US-Soviet operation, the details of which were later revealed in the non-fiction bestseller "The Hunt For Red October" by Dr. Jack Ryan.

Great fan of the book, albeit Sci-fi sometimes (the Forger shooting a Tomcat )
Lovely model! Nice alternate Royal Navy carrier fleet

[MartG]

Sweet !  

[Gary]

Beauty!

[AeroplaneDriver]

Yeah that looks right

What kit is it?

It's the AMT/Ertl A-7E.  Not a terrible kit, but the detail is a bit soft.  Kind of like looking at a Fujimi A-7 kit with your glasses off.

[anthonyp]

Looks great!  Had to do a double take, for a second I thought that was the Anheuser-Busch logo on the tale  


Jeff G.

I didn't see it until I read this comment!  

Very nice build, really great backstory!  And like Leigh said, it really does look right!

Congrats on a very nice 3-day birthday build!

   

[NARSES2]

Lovely model Mr Driver  

[F-32]

Beautiful!

Give that man a cigar.

[Radish]

           

It looks right. Terrific  

[Aircav]

Look great in those colours Nick        

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Ohhhhhh do I like that  

Ian

[Ollie]

Wicked Nick!