Raf Scooter Loadouts

[Shasper]

The Israeli Scooters had/have 30mm DEFA guns which because of their bigger breech assembly have the guns in pods under the wingroots with the breech in the std. cannon bays.

This should teach me NOT to think until after I have my morning tea! :dum:  

Shas B)

[Archibald]

And On Martels...

Just to finish off, TV Martel needed a data link pod, Anti-radar didn't. French Jaguars and Mirage uesd the ARM, while the Buccaneer S2B had a TV screen jammed onto the nav's floor and could use both. It wasn't a very friendly weapon for single-seat operation, unless you were prepared to stooge about at medium level for a while while you concentrated on guiding the missile in.

Yep, Mirage IIIE and Jags pilots found rather difficult to use the thing.
On the other hand, it perfectly worked a certain day of 1987 over Tchad, smashing this lybian radar...

[upnorth]

Thanks all!

So, lets see...

Upgrade to Adens....
Ditch the Martels....
Consider rocket pods...

Make a slight adjustment to back story to accomodate the hemp over grey scheme it will be wearing at a time when the bulk of the Scooter fleet wore dark green over light green (a la early Harrier GR.5)....

I figure the hemp over grey on the RAF Scooters started as a special scheme for a mid 80s Red Flag excercise and eventually, somehow, became the standard scheme by the late 80s.

[GeorgeC]

Hemp was used on tankers and Nimrods - might stick out over Europe or even the desert.  What about a nice, temporary finish like the Buccs?

Desert Bucc - Red Flag 77

[Shasper]

You 'could' modify that scheme by leaving the dk green and replacing the dk gray with a suitible tan, 'course then you'd have to worry about blending in with any REDAIR Scooters from the naval Adversary sqns!

Shas B)

[Mossie]

I'd echo what George said about Hemp over Light Aircraft Grey, it was used purely as a high level scheme, hence it's use on tankers & recce aircraft.

His link also shows a winter scheme.  Although the official documents said that the Dk Green portions shold be overpainted in white, it often happened the other way round, RAF Jag's particularly being seen in Dk Green/White in exrcises in Norway.  Completley by accident, I found examples of two different winter schemes on Jaguars, one in all over white, one with 'splotches'.  Never knew of these before, will be good for future whiffs!

White Jaguar
Jaguar with white splotches
Jaguar in white/dk green
Jaguar in white/dark sea grey

[upnorth]

Hmmm...

Those arctic schemes are quite tempting

I think I'll use the Harrier GR.5 two green scheme as my base for whatever I do with it.

I didn't even think about the possible confussion with American aggressor Scooters in Red Flag  

[ysi_maniac]

Hi Simon,
Those schemes are wonderful  

[Shasper]

I didn't even think about the possible confussion with American aggressor Scooters in Red Flag

Not sure if any of the Navy adversary scoots made an appearence at Red Flag, but if the RAF A-4 was used on BLUEAIR he could sneak up into a formation of REDAIR Scooters and get a few kills before they even knew WTF happened!

Then again, the RAF Scoots may be used by REDAIR instead.


Shas B)

[Mossie]

Hi Simon,
Those schemes are wonderful

Hi Carlos, they're very nice aren't they?  The Dark green/white & Dark Sea Grey/white schemes have been used on several RAF types including Jaguars, Buccaneers & Harries (possibly Tornadoes) on exercise in Norway since the early eighties, (possibly late seventies).  The Dk Sea Grey/white is the 'official' scheme, but the Dk Green/white has been use on more than one occaision, usually on Jaguars.

The relevant parts of the airframe are covered in white 'ARTF' (Alkalii Removeable Temporary Finish) paint, i.e. washable.  It often partially covers unit markings, stencils & such.  The paint is the same type as the 'Desert Pink' (correct name Desert Sand) that was used in the 1st Gulf War & wears rapidly, so you can go to town on weathering effects on the white portions too.

Sloppily applied ARTF on a Harrier T.4
ARTF weathered/partially removed on a Harrier GR.7

The other two schemes were a pleasant suprise to me, I wasn't aware of them before I browsed Airliners.net.

[Archibald]

Au fait, would an unreheated RB-199 fit onto a Scooter fuselage ?    The RB-199 was really in the same league as the F-404 fitted to the Singapore
A-4s (I saw one of them at Mont de Marsan air show last weekend... Scooters rocks!!)  

[ysi_maniac]

Hi Simon,
Those schemes are wonderful

Hi Carlos, they're very nice aren't they?  The Dark green/white & Dark Sea Grey/white schemes have been used on several RAF types including Jaguars, Buccaneers & Harries (possibly Tornadoes) on exercise in Norway since the early eighties, (possibly late seventies).  The Dk Sea Grey/white is the 'official' scheme, but the Dk Green/white has been use on more than one occaision, usually on Jaguars.

The relevant parts of the airframe are covered in white 'ARTF' (Alkalii Removeable Temporary Finish) paint, i.e. washable.  It often partially covers unit markings, stencils & such.  The paint is the same type as the 'Desert Pink' (correct name Desert Sand) that was used in the 1st Gulf War & wears rapidly, so you can go to town on weathering effects on the white portions too.

Sloppily applied ARTF on a Harrier T.4
ARTF weathered/partially removed on a Harrier GR.7

The other two schemes were a pleasant suprise to me, I wasn't aware of them before I browsed Airliners.net.

Hi, Simon

In a few days I will begin my Supersonic Gnat and I am cosidering these schemes, the Gulf war's and the classical desert (dk earth, mid stone and azure blue the BAe Hawk used). It will probably be in RAF roundels but I am also considering India AF.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Au fait, would an unreheated RB-199 fit onto a Scooter fuselage ?    The RB-199 was really in the same league as the F-404 fitted to the Singapore
A-4s (I saw one of them at Mont de Marsan air show last weekend... Scooters rocks!!)

Splendid idea there Archibald!  Since you brought it up...
mating the RB199 to an A-4 airframe sounds like a very good idea, especially if you have the parts available.  I just happen to have a few spare exhaust parts from several Airfix Tornado GR and F series that were sacrificed to the deity responsible for parts acquisition.  Now I have to check-fit to see if the A-4 can accomodate the RB199 exhaust without too much modification.  Might be time to consider the Hawk 200 series wingtip mounted missile rails as well if you are going to tart up the little beastie.  

[Shasper]

I think the wingtip AAM rails were discussed earlier in a previous thread, with negative results. Still the RB199 is a great alt. to the F404


Shas B)

[elmayerle]

Just a thought on stores, how about the combined Matra pods/fuel tanks that the Mirage II and other aircraft used?  Add some external fuel capacity in addition to extra rocket pods.