CF-IDS Resurrection

[Modelling_Mushi]

Hello

I started this 2 years or so ago and haven't worked on it for so long I can't find the thread I posted it to 

Anyhow, I've started her back up. She's a 1/72 Italieri IDS Tornado that is being converted to a Canadian VTOL long range ship. Wont bore you with the dramas re the wings and my first attempt at setting them in, suffice to say the wings are now fixed in position.

Managed to find the backstory to go with her.

Backstory

In my confusingly long backstory mind, I'm basing the build upon the failure of the YF-17 to progress beyond the LWF fighter flyoff. It lost the USAF LWF fly off, and subsequently participated in the US Navy VFAX programme against the YF-16, Grumman's F-14X low cost Tomcat and others. The VFAX winner was the F-14X (in this universe actually being low cost and having commonality withthe F-14A in service). So by 1973 the YF-17 was dead, and the F-18 series still born.

So in 1977 when Canada looked to replace its Canadair CF-116 Freedom Fighters, Canadair CF-104 and Lockheed F-104 Starfighters and McDonnell Douglas CF-101 Voodoos no F-18 option was available to compete against the F-14, F-15, F-16, Mirage 2000 and Panavia Tornado. Although the then government of the day under Pierre Trudeau had initiated the decision to replace the fighter force in early 1978 an abrupt about face was made due to public and budgetary pressures and the replacement procurement cancelled. It was not until early 1987, when the state of Canada's ageing fighter fleet was of serious concern, that the new Prime Minister Brian Mulroney reopened the competition. Unlike the 1977 competition a key requirement was innovation in submissions, with leading edge technological solutions to Canadas requirements for long loiter, high speed and ability to utilise semi prepared airstrips being encouraged. In amongst the group of contenders were all the 1977 competitors, including Panavia. Panavia recognised that, when facing down the manufacturing and soft diplomacy muscle of the USA, the Tornado was at a distinct disadvantage. By 1987 the 500th Tornado was scheduled to be delivered to West Germany, and the end of the production run of ECR/IDS/Gr/ADV variants was expected to peak at just under 1,000 with final deliveries to Oman and possibly Saudi Arabia by the middle of the 1990s. In addition development of the Eurofighter and the JSF in the USA seemed to confirm the end of the Tornado's production life.

Facing what seemed to be an insurmountable hurdle with the standard Tornado, Panavia submitted a bold redesign to try to win over the Canadians. It was decided to use the Canadian process as a technology demonstration, consciously pushing the edge of the Tornado's basic airframe design and matching it with cutting edge technology, whilst at the same time paring back purchase and life cycle costs to the bone in the hope of reinvigorating the program and attracting new orders. What was presented to the Candians was a four engined VTOL development of the basic swing wing airframe, matching high speed with extended range, cavernous internal weapons bay, and the ability to "plug and play" load out and swing roles between air to air, air to surface, ECM and ELINT whilst airborne. A fly away cost of $28 million per airframe was estimated, and lucrative sub-manufacturing agreements with Canadian businesses were held out.

Although not having flown and with only the broadest of technology demonstrators available, in late 1989 the Panavia entry was declared the winner, and a contract for the supply of 150 airframes plus 25 options (with heavily punitive clauses for nonperformance) was signed in early 1990. Total capital outlay for 150 aircraft, spares and support was $4.3 billion.

The first aircraft was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force in May of 1992, with production and delivery of 175 airframes completed in late 1998. On commissioning the Canadians adopted Panavia's designation for their new aircraft, it becoming the CF-IDS Wolverine in service.

Pics below show where she is up to, ready for first major PSR sessions. One top view, one under view, and one showing the wing tip mounted jet pods (pick the Vostok components  )

White bits are plastic card and filler.







I'll bookmark this to post progress.

Ciao

[Dizzyfugu]

This looks epic.

[PR19_Kit]

Jeepers! 

I hope BAe re-did the wing stressing..............

[Captain Canada]

This sure looks interesting ! The story sounds good as well.

[sandiego89]

Ok, you have my attention....

[TheChronicOne]

MM, this is looking glorious!


Swinging the wings like a boss.   

[DogfighterZen]

I love what you did to the intakes, makes it look so different to my eyes...

[Modelling_Mushi]

Ok guys, Im now back on the horse so to speak so here is some slow progress on the IDS Tornado. Specifically, undercoat part 1 of the PSR dance.





Ciao

[DogfighterZen]

Love the look of that thing!