A French Fancy

[Leading Observer]

Having remembered the Hobbycraft Yak-38 Forger in my stash and stumbled across a set of French Aeronavale decals in my spares box, I thought why not a French Forger? As SWMBO was out for the day, I started work on the kit this morning and made [for me] fantastic progress:





I now need to think up the back story   TBC

[Captain Canada]

Love those big old empty Hobbycraft boxes ! Looks good so far. That's a kit I've always wanted to build.

[NARSES2]

That will be interesting in Aeronvale markings. French weapons as well ?

[Dizzyfugu]

That's cool. I might add another French contender, I had an Aeronavale A-4 Skyhawk on my idea list for years. And since the GB has been prolonged, it might finally take shape.

Already wonder about the Forger's livery?

[NARSES2]

And since the GB has been prolonged, it might finally take shape.

Not officialy, not yet anyway 

I'll be publishing a first call for extensions about now

[Leading Observer]

Almost done:

[NARSES2]

This might be the first build I've seen of this kit, looks good 

[Leading Observer]

Dassault-Breguet Faussaire, No.17 Flotille Aeronavale 1989

Following the success of the Harrier during the 1982 Falklands Conflict, the French Admirals took the view that a similar aircraft might well suit the French Navy. Of course the Harrier was out of the question as the very idea of buying anything from the British [who were quite willing to sell to the "Old Enemy"] was an anathama to the French Government. As the French Government of the time was re-forging links with their Socialist Brothers in the Soviet Union, the CCCP were approached with a request to supply the Yak-38. Negotiations ensued, and a deal was struck for Dassault-Breguet to produce the aircraft under licence from Yakolev. Initial aircraft were assembled from kits shipped to the French factories until the point where French manufactured parts could be used on an assembly line. The aircraft manufactured in France turned out to be somewhat superior to the original Soviet supplier versions as the French were able to use superior materials which lead to [a] a weight saving and increased power from the licence built Tumansky R-28V-300 and Rybinsk RD-38 engines. The aircraft, now named Faussaire [Forger] entered service with the Aeronavale in 1988. The superior performance of the French engines allowed the Faussaire to carry two Matra Super 530 missile together with a pair of Matra Magic air-to-air missiles.

[Dizzyfugu]

This might be the first build I've seen of this kit, looks good 

For me too - and it looks just as wrong as the Kangnam kit, which is much too spindly. Esp. the front end looks very un-Forger-like, so it's perfect whif-fodder. The Hobbycraft Su-25 is similarly non-authentic, BTW. 

Looking forward to see this one with markings! 

[DogfighterZen]

A nice idea and that camo looks very good, dark and mean, it's gonna look good with those markings on. 

[zenrat]

I have an A Model 2 seater.  This looks wonderful in comparison.

[Cobra]

This is a Top Notch Build was the Kit hard to Build? I've Been interested in one but was Unsure,have Never Built Any kits from That Company. Can't Wait to see More Dan

[Dizzyfugu]

I have an A Model 2 seater.  This looks wonderful in comparison.

Anything looks wonderful when sitting next to a Yak-38 two-seater... 

[Knightflyer]

Just looking at the top-shot. How does a Harrier wing compare to the Forger wing? Obviously not on this model, but could you mate a Harrier wing to a Forger fuselage? It's own wings just look SO out of proportion 

[Leading Observer]

This is a Top Notch Build was the Kit hard to Build? I've Been interested in one but was Unsure,have Never Built Any kits from That Company. Can't Wait to see More Dan

Thanks for the  - The kit goes together fairly well - needs some filling etc and there are moulding ridges/pits on a lot of the smaller parts. There's no cockpit detail at all, but that never bothers me as it usually can't be seen anyway You'd probably want to source some aftermarket missiles as the ones in the kit are quite basic in shape