THE EMPIRES TWILIGHT

[JayBee]

"No man is an Island, unless his name is MADAGASCAR!"

Say no more

[thedarkmaster]

Douglas Skyraider AEW2 on detachment HMAS Sydney 1965

Though the Skyraider was more or less replaced in RN service by the Fairey Gannet in the early 1960's the need of the Commonwealth navies for AEW support precluded them being phased out completly.

For the sake of polotics it was expediant that the aircraft stayed in Royal Navy markings even though the where often flow and operated by Canadian and Australian navies.

The aircraft illustrated is flown from the newly modernized HMAS Sydney during it's first Mediterrainian tour of operations, flown entirly by a Australian crew though all on the Royal Navy's books.

[Mossie]

What do you call the opposite of retro???  Nice to see the Skyraider in later RN colours Tim!

[sequoiaranger]

I like this AEW Skyraider!

By "Old Revell", do you mean the old Monogram 1/72 kit? Is this the combo that I sent you or something different?

As you might know, I am working on a "Skyraider" whif right now (Douglas Decimator), and your model is an inspiration!

Anyway, it looks GREAT!

[thedarkmaster]

Yes mate it's the one you sent,    great kit went together very well

[sequoiaranger]

I see you managed to fix the "dent" in the AEW pod. I know you added all the blade antennae, etc.

You work **F-A-S-T**!

[thedarkmaster]

Supermarine Swift FR9

A development of the F7 the Swift FR9 entered limited service with home based and Hannover ( OTL RAF Germany ) squadrons, the aircraft featured improved undercarrige and uprated engines as well as stengthened underwing pylons and the radical ( at least for the RAF ) overwing pylons wired for the newly entering service Sidwinder missiles.

This new lease of life kept the swift in service until 1985 and as a swan song to its carer the Swift was one of the two types initially based at the Princess Royal airbase in the Falklands.

The model represents the newly re-activated 611 Sqd at the above mentioned airbase in 1985, carrying the updated AIM-9M-1 recently procured from the USA.
































.90th

[chrisonord]

Yet another piece of craftsmanship there Sir
Very nice indeed.
Chris.

[ElectrikBlue]

Very nice Supermarine Swift! 

[pyro-manic]

Superb! I missed the Skyraider somehow - very nice too!

[Weaver]

The Skyraider and the Swift are both very good! 

[MiB]

It seems like very small, which is the scale?
Very pretty!!

[thedarkmaster]

The swift is a 1/72 magna models resin kit, out of the 90 aircraft on the thread only one is not 1/72 and that one is 1/144.
Looking at the photos i can see what you mean it does look a little  " small " , I've no idea why     

[thedarkmaster]

F104 no1 Sqn Air force of République de Djibouti

As the Pakistani Air force retired it's Starfighters in the Early 1980's the Republic of Djibouti was just looking for an aircraft that it's newly formed airforce could use to police and defend it's sky's.

The aircraft were transfered after refurbishment and the 6 flying and 4 spares airframes formed the one and only squadron in the small republic, the aircraft flew without seeing any combat until 1989 when internal dissent and unrest forced the grounding of the aircraft due to lack of spares and money in general.

The airframes sat at the airforce base at Ambouli until after the 91 disaster when informatoin on the area becomes sketchy at best.









































this is actually a Corgi diecast model which i picked up for £7.99 comes in Pakistani markings and NMF finish, so all i did was really changed the decals.........what a cheat am I       

[sideshowbob9]

Love the Skyraider and the AFW Swift is supoib! 

As for the Djibouti Starfighter, a WHIF is a WHIF