THE EMPIRES TWILIGHT

[sotoolslinger]

MMMMMMMMMM Sabre puppy

[Taiidantomcat]

Nice camo!

[thedarkmaster]

Mc Donald Douglas DC10, Armee de L'air, Saigon 1973

Ordered almost off the drawing board by the french Govenment as flying hospitals the six dc10's operated by the french airforce where all present during the last few chaotic weeks of the final assault by the north Vietnamease upon Saigon.

Operating with clear Red Cross markings the aircraft none the less attracted quiet a large amount of ground fire from the encircling forces and even harrasment from North Vietnamease aircraft as they flew onwards towards Japan, it is suspected though this has never been confirmed that the french aircraft were singled out for this harrasment because of the previous colonial involvement of france in the former colony.

Three days before the final fall of the city Aircraft 330 ( as illustrated below ) was carrying a full load of over 257 women and children as well as 22 French air force and Medical staff when it was brought down by a newly placed 57mm anti aircraft battery. Every person on board was killed in the crash as well as an unknown number on the ground when the plane fell upon a residental area of Saigon.

Despite serious and ongoing diplomatis requests it took until 1984 for the return of the remains of the crew to France, and was only achieved after final threat of armed action from france.

The rest of the fleet has over the years provide stirling service in the name of France around the world, saving hundereds of lives and rescuing hundreds more innocents from danger and despite losses during the 91 diaster they still remain at their alloted posts to this day.




































well this model has took me longer to do than any i have ever done before, I started it in 1980 when i was 14 so thats 30 years to do this     


As it is the Pink Princess's 2ND birthday today, i let her look at " Daddy's" models








distracted by an ant









ac 129

[sotoolslinger]

Both Beauties

[Taiidantomcat]

Both Beauties

too true. Love the Two tone grey and white on the first one though 

[hurricanemk1c]

Loving them!

[royabulgaf]

I thought for a second looking at the photos, we would see a "post crash" photo.  Anyhow, I really enjoy your thread.  Have you given any thought to doing something with the Central African Federation, formerly the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyassaland?

[beowulf]

dad!.....DAD!!........is it supposed to be that colour?


nice pics as always, mate 

[pyro-manic]

Good stuff yet again, TDM - The two-colour DC-10 is very attractive indeed.

[thedarkmaster]

Should have aircraft 130 (      ) on tomorrow when i can get some pictures done.

It's an aircraft only in service a few days before the 91 disaster and from a country not on the thread before.

[Weaver]

Just catching up with this thread: the Hawkeye, Sabre Dog and DC-10 are all excellent - nice ones!

I think the PP is counting the windows to make sure it's accurate.....

[oliv30330]

Ooh a baby has scale 1:1 !!!   

[thedarkmaster]

Airbus Industries , Black-crowned Tchagra ( A320 AEW ), Algerian Air Force the day before the 91 disaster

The Airbus industries A320 AEW varient initial customer was the new govenment of Algeria following the fall of the Bendjedid govenment in 1988, it was a fusion of airbus airframe and a French Radar system based upon the radar and softwear of France's Hawkeye's.

Called the Black-crowned Tchagra after a native specsis of bird that made a loud call when danger was near the A320's where only delivered to the Algerian Air Force a month before the 91 disaster and has only started crew familierisation flights the day before the start of the conflict. Algeria played no part in the 91 disaster but afterwards was not sble to keep the aircraft airbourne due to lack of training and spares, leaving the aircraft to be captured mothballed but intact by french forces in 2009.






































kit is a Revell A319 in 1/144, the radome comes from a Hawkeye and the decals are from the box and spares, I don't usually like grey aircraft but i suppose someone in the world wolud paint one that way one day     

[JayBee]

Well done Tim, I mean what else can I say

All your models, and ideas, are brillig!

JimB

[beowulf]

now that works surprisingly well