Rafale K * * F I N I S H E D * *

[Mossie]

Ah, Ghana was my bet until I saw the FAB markings, easy mistake (flag & roundel are identical)!

[NARSES2]

Is that Bolivian AF?

Yup

[Radish]

El Salvador had Ouragons...would they have been known as Purugons if sold to Peru??
Can't think why I've typed that

With French colonies...Vichy ones...in the Far East....they flew various nicely coloured aircraft including a Vichy Tiger Moth!!!....why not stretch things a bit....and have French Vichy Japanese equipment....Ki-43, Ki-61, Ki-84.

Alvis did a French Ki-84 once.

The Ki-43 did appear in French colours, in Indo-China in post-war years. They used them for training while the unit was awaiting the delivery of their Spitfires. Most crashed...I have a translated diary...or extracts...in an old "Stafford IPMS Newsletter" somewhere.

[Mossie]

Polygons if sold to Polynesia, or Benin-gons if sold to Benin....

Super Mystere for teh win!

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Not worth posting photo's yet, but a quick progress report:

Rafale:
Started sourcing the loadout; I'm building the two-seater this time, so the weapons options in the RoG, whilst absolutely superb, needed to be 'jettisoned'.

For self-defence, 2 x AIM-9X & 2 x AIM-120C plus launch rails from the RoG F/A-18F. Extra fuel from 2 x 2000l drop-tanks that come with the RoG Rafale M; the same kit also gave-up its' intake pylon which will carry an AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod from the Hasegawa weaps set 'D'. The offensive loadout will be 3 x AGM-123 'Skippers' – the rocket-boosted 1000lb Paveway II 'beam-rider' – enough to give any prospective foe a major headache.

And before anybody asks, no it isn't going to be French, in fact it isn't going to be European !!

Super Mystere:
Started building ! – Took 45mins to get the sub assemblies done, wing halves, drop-tanks, fuselage halves (that includes painting, easy enough as everything in the cockpit is black !) – but I'm at work today on overtime so wont be able to do any more till tomorrow morning. I'm going to build this 'gear-up' and have it 'in flight' on its' stand, so the build itself isn't going to take very much longer at all.

AFN

Ian

[Radish]

Whooop  Looking forward to these, especially the SM

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

36 Hours from War

The Aircraft:

Following the total destruction of the Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) plant at St. Louis, Missouri, by a terrorist nuclear 'briefcase bomb' in 2012, the Air Force of the Republic of Korea (RoKAF) – like a number of air forces – was forced to find either a replacement for, or a complimentary type to its F-15K's. Initially the South Koreans chose F-16F Super Falcons as they already operated standard F-16C/D's but were frustrated. Because of the demand for these aircraft, Lockheed Martin increased the unit price, hoping to cash-in on Boeings sudden and tragic demise. Their plan failed as many of their potential customers simply withdrew their interest and looked to Europe.

The main winner in this unexpected race being a specialised, two-seat 'strike' version of the Eurofighter Typhoon – ordered by Singapore, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Korea also planned to buy twenty-six 'Strikephoons' but because the delivery date would be well into 2014, they opted for the:

AMD Rafale K – A specialized version of the two-seat Rafale D, tailored for the needs of the RoKAF.

Prelude to a second Korean War:

The 'Dear Leader', Kim Jong-il died on the 11th September 2012, and with his death, the leadership of Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), was 'up-for-grabs'. Kim's chosen successor, his youngest son Kim Jong-un battled his uncle, Chang Sung-taek for control of the party, the central committee and the loyalty of the Generals. In the end it was the Generals who emerged victorious.

Kim Jong-un was reported to have died in a road accident whilst on his way to a rendezvous with some of his uncles supporters who were considering changing their allegiance to the 'Brilliant Comrade'. Chang was arrested and charged with his nephews' murder, he was reported to have suffered a heart attack and died whilst in custody awaiting trial. In the absence of any other credible (or strong) civilian leader, a triumvirate of Generals 'reluctantly' took control of the nation and immediately declared marshal law.

In the fear, paranoia and blood-letting that inevitably followed, the Generals – now re-born as the Korean Peoples Committee for Harmony and Unity, attempted to focus the attention of the various factions on a common goal – the forced re-unification of the Korean Peninsula.

As tensions increased along the border, inevitably a series of low-level 'skirmishes' broke out. Warships and gunboats exchanged gunfire, reconnaissance flights from both sides were fired upon, ground forces and border guards shot at anything that seemed out of ordinary. The most serious of these incidents happened on the 1st of August 2013.

A recce configured RoKAF KF-16D was shot-down off the eastern coast, into South Korean waters and although both crew ejected safely the current carried the navigators dinghy northward into the DPRK.

A RoK Special Forces Rescue Team was dispatched to retrieve the downed airman within six hours. Although injured, the F-16 navigator was able to make contact with rescuers at dusk the following evening. A signal was sent and a submarine extraction was timed for 0330 local. Whilst awaiting the submarine in the high dunes close to the coastal highway, the RoK's observed a detachment of DPRK engineers hurriedly assembling what appeared to be a forward command post. They communicated this to their HQ and were told to observe and report. At 2145 local a number of trucks carrying DPRK commandos and Revolutionary Guards arrived. They immediately set-up a secure perimeter and took-up protective positions, within minutes a fleet of staff cars and personnel carriers arrived. The RoK Special Forces Commander reported a large number of DPRK staff officers, Colonels and even a General in urgent discussion before moving into a number of C.3 vehicles.

Within thirty-five minutes of the decision to take the pre-emptive strike, two RoKAF Rafale K's were airborne from Suwon, each armed with three AGM-123 rocket assisted 1000lb LGB's.

Forty-six members of the DPRK General Staff including three Colonels and one General were killed and  a great many (the number never confirmed), senior officers and their staff, wounded or otherwise incapacitated in the air-raid.

Unknown to the RoK Special Forces Team, they had stumbled upon the final briefing for those senior officers who were going to lead the initial attack on South Korea just thirty-six hours prior to its' execution. With the loss of so many of its senior field commanders, the Generals of the Korean Peoples Committee for Harmony and Unity, had no choice but to indefinitely postpone their plan for the forced re-unification of the two Koreas.

Ian

[ChernayaAkula]

Whoa, what a kick-off!  Excellent back story. And Korea is a great option. Very much an untapped source in whiffing.

<...> 2 x AIM-9X & 2 x AIM-120C plus launch rails from the RoG F/A-18F. <...>

The RoG Super Hornet as a parts donor? Interesting. The LHS has one lying around gathering dust. And for only a tenner!

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Not going for a speed build, but to get to this point, including the rubbing down took a total of just two hours or so !! 









As ever, all comments, questions and criticism warmly welcomed. Thanks for taking the time to look.

Ian

[philp]

Looking forward to these.  Got a Super Mystere 2nd hand but no canopy and have had no luck finding a spare.

[Taiidantomcat]

Looking good!

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Been a frustrating couple of days, as I'm at work an itching to get along with both builds. The base colour's for the Rafales' loadout are done, still need the details painted, then the decals and some light weathering/ washes. Haven't even started on the pre-construction painting yet 

The SMB2 has already been sprayed underneath, and the gun blast area & anti-glare panel sprayed matt black. A quick session with the masking tape tomorrow morning and then it's ready for it's base coat of topside camouflage tomorrow evening when the little Hunter-Gatherer's have gone to bed.

Hopefully get some photo's up here when I've got the 'Schloss Jackson' to m'self on Friday.

Ian

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Barley Grey undersides, Desert Pink on the top.... both Xtracolour enamels.









Ian

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

All Xtracolour enamels, RAF 'Desert Pink', RLM02 Grungrau, RAF Lichen Green over RAF Barley Grey:













Ian

[ysi_maniac]

  Love camo