Nils's 1/144 aircraft build series

[NARSES2]

Nil's your ability with these tiny models is just getting better and better - love the Tonka 

[McColm]

The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy would have loved the Sea Tornado.

[Spey_Phantom]

TA-6E Intruder, Marineflieger, MFG2
Nordholz, 2012.

in 2011, the German Navy was looking for a new jet trainer to train new carrier pilots.
attempts to buy back a number of ex-Luftwaffe alfa-jets has failed, and there were no other carrier capable trainers available.
an the end of 2012, the German ministry of defence was looking a recently retired New Flanders Navy TA-6E Intruders to fill the gap until newer trainers become available.
the TA-6's have been kept in flying storage since the end of 2010 and were in perfect condition following refurbishment and upgrade.
the RNVM were desperatly trying to get rid of the aircraft witch were made redundant following the demise of carrier operations in 2010 and following the cancelation of its new planned carrier.

in December 2011, the German Navy signed a $50 million deal for the aquasition of the remaining 6 aircraft with spares and support equipment.
the aircraft are expected to be handed over in february 2012.
they will be based at Nordhalz Airbase, and will operating of the carrier "Graf Zeppelin II", when it is expected to come back from a refit at the end of 2012.

Model: Dragon/DML A-6E
Decals: spares from Revell TF-104G and Tornado ECR

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, with the end of the year, and with many more future models to come.
i decided to shorten and modify the topic name, sure beats renaming the thread everytime.

anyway, no new models for 2011, but let me give you a preview for whats coming in 2012.

at the moment, im doing a bit of research in converting a revell 737-800 into a 737 Wedgetail AEW.
havent decided to make a RW or WHiff yet. im using an old 737-800 from the scrapyard to find out where to perform the "Plastic Surgery" for conversion.
research and measuring on the MESA antenna design has already begun, using info from various sources on the web.
a new 1/144 737 will be bought as soon as the larger models in the stash are gone.

im also planning on installing the same radar on a Airbus A319 i got in stash, maybe even make it a french AF aircraft.

here's a research pic, hope to see you all in 2012  

(ps: tape indicates areas that should be removed)

[Spey_Phantom]

well, new year has come, and a new year means new what-if projects.

at the moment, im still finishing up a Danish F/A-18E Superbug, but at the meantime, im also designing a new Awacs version of the A319 with the Northrop Grumman MESA antenna.

its destined to become an Airbus A319-AEW&C, painted in Armeé de L'aire markings.
here's a design of the scaled down radar with the fuselage of the A319, im still looking into the fitting of aditonal sensors and closing up most of the windows 

[Spey_Phantom]

update:

research and development is as good as complete, i think i got an idea how to make the modifications.
here's a profile of what i got planned when its finished 



and i just finished making a replica of the NG MESA radar. made from scratch (4 pieces of 2mm thick plasticard and sandwiched together).
after a lot of shaping, carving, dremel-ing and sanding, the result looks very good.
according the Northrop Grumman video on youtube, the system is 35 feet long and 16 feet high.
so, after doing some math, in 1/144 that would make it 76mm long and 32mm high (roughly), as for the width, i had no idea, so after a bit of analysis of the 737 wedgetail, i though about 18mm wide would be sufficient.

[Spey_Phantom]

Airbus A319-AEW&C, Armée de L'aire, 2025.

in 2015, the French air force decided to look for a replacement for the Boeing E-3F AWACS.
contenders in the competition were the Boeing 737-AEW Wedgetail, Sukhoi/Beriev A-60 Moler (superjet 100 derivative) and the Airbus A319AEW.
it was decided in terms of cost, that Airbus offered the best deal and an order was placed for 6 aircraft.

Airbus worked close together with Northrop Grumman for the inegration of its MESA radar system on the A319.
the first flight of a fully configured A319-AEW&C was on August 6, 2018. the ADL recieved its first operational aircraft on February 15, 2022.

Model: Revell A319 + scratchbuild MESA and various parts from the spares box
Decals: kit (stenciling) + Heller 1/72 Mirage III (markings and serials) + revell 1/72 Airbus A400M (titles) + Esci scheet (tail markings)

[NARSES2]

Come out really well Nils 

[RussC]

Super Conversion ! 

[McColm]

Cool, I might convert my AMT 1/72 EC-135. 

[Spey_Phantom]

ok, its been a while, but im still going strong with this buildtheme 

since im stuck at home for a few days due to a cold and a light throat infection, i got back on the bench and started on these 3 revell Rafale-C's (converted from Rafale-M's)
one will be a Belgian AF fighter, another will be waloon and the other a Belgian solo display aircraft 

[MilitaryAircraft101]

Looking pretty Nils

[Cliffy B]

I love how easily you can assembly line those little kits.  Can't wait for paint, they should prove very neat 

[Spey_Phantom]

Dassault Rafale-C, Belgian Air Force.
1 Wing, 350 squadron, Florennes AB, 2025.

this is aircraft number 2 in my 1/144 sub-build theme "Belgian Air Force 2025".
in RealWorld, the Rafale is being concidered as one of the contenders to replace the F-16.
but i dont think this will happen as the Rafale is incompatible with the mostly American systems used by most other NATO nations.

this model depics a Rafale-C, Flown by 350 Squadron "Ambiorix", based at Florennes AB in Wallonia.
the paintscheme is the same as that currently used by the F-16.

the model is a Revell Rafale-M, converted to a C-model by removing the tailhook, and replacing the nosewheel with that modified from a DML Tornado GR4.
armament consists of 2 MICA's, 2 Scalp-EG/Storm Shadow's (from DML Dragon Tornado GR4) and 2 GBU-12 LGB's (spares)
the FLIR targetting pod is from a Revell F-18D, fitted on a scratchbuild pylon.
Decals are from the kit (stenciling) and DIY (markings).











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Dassault Rafale-C, Force Aerienne Wallonie
1e Escadrille, Florennes AB, 2012

When Neighbouring Flanders decided to order 9 new Eurofighter Typhoons in 2007, the Force Aerienne Wallonie (Wallonian Air Force) decided to upgrade its fighter force aswell.
after the seperation of Belgium in 2006, Wallonia leased 6 Mirage 2000C fighters from France to provide the FAW with a air defence/strike capability.
but the lease contract was only a temporary sollution, when financian resources finally became available in februari 2008, the FAW placed an order for 7 Rafale-C fighters from France, a few month later, a second deal was signed for 3 2-seat Rafale-B's.
the first Rafales was delivered to Wallonia in november 2010 and were integrated into 1e Escadrille at Florennes AFB near Dinant.

the model:
model is a Revell Rafale-M, converted to Rafale-C. only this time the nosewheel came from the sparesbox, but it appears a bit shorter drooping the nose down a bit (but it looks better IMO).
weapons are from the kit, Decals are from the kit (stencilling) and DIY (markings)
for the paintsheme i decided to with the 2-tone camo from the Rafale-B prototype.

[MilitaryAircraft101]

Wonderful work Nils!