Fokker F27 Troopship Mk.II in Australian Coast Guard Service

[rickshaw]

Fokker F27 Troopship Mk.II in Australian Coast Guard Service

After the Tampa affair, and the declaration of the War on Terrorism, in 2001 Kim Beazley announced that the Australian Labor Party, if in government, would establish an Australian Coast Guard "responsible for conducting Australia's coastal surveillance and meeting Australia's maritime protection needs, including in relation to illegal immigration, drugs, fisheries, and quarantine-related issues". This plan met with criticism. Defence Minister Peter Reith under the Liberal-Coalition Government criticised Beazley for stating that an Australian Coast Guard both will and will not be an "answer to the question of people smuggling". The plan was criticised by the Australian government, on the grounds that it would either be prohibitively expensive or inadequate to the task. Later, the motives for the establishment of an Australian Coast Guard were interpreted by some as "a plan to extend the capabilities of the Australian Federal Police."

After the defeat of the Howard Government in the 2003 election, the ALP Government, let by Simon Crean instituted the Australian Coast Guard – a subsidiary organisation, run by the Australian Federal Police and intended to protect Australia's coast line from incursion by illegal  people smugglers and drug runners and to rescue wayward seafarers.   Equipped initially with mainly cast off equipment from the RAAF and the RAN, the ACG was intended to secure the coastline out to 1,000 km.

In this case, we have a Fokker F27 Troopship Mk.II.  The Fokker was originally used by the RAAF as a light, tactical transport and was designed to be common with the civilian F27 Friendship.  The RAAF was the launch customer for the Troopship Mk.II which introduced a large ramp at the rear to facilitate tactical loading directly onto the back of a medium truck.

By the time of the formation of the ACG, the RAAF were looking for replacements for the elderly Troopships.   They were considered perfect for Coast Guard use and were adopted in squadron strength, where they still serve today.








The Model

The model is a combination of an Esci 1/72 F27 Friendship and a Heller 1/100 Transall.   The model was painted with a hairy stick using Tamiya and Vallejo Acylics.  The Decals came from the spares box and Kit Speckman Enterprises.

[zenrat]

Very good.

[PR19_Kit]

Ahah, THAT'S why the 'SAR' decals need to be so huge! 

Another great idea, but how did you so the tail door please? It's very subtle.

[loupgarou]

Ahah, THAT'S why the 'SAR' decals need to be so huge! 

Another great idea, but how did you so the tail door please? It's very subtle.

Yes, where do the 1/100 Transall come in?
Did you use his tail for the tail door? Photos during the build would have been interesting.

[Gondor]

Ahah, THAT'S why the 'SAR' decals need to be so huge! 

Another great idea, but how did you so the tail door please? It's very subtle.

Yes, where do the 1/100 Transall come in?
Did you use his tail for the tail door? Photos during the build would have been interesting.

If you look very, very carefully you can just see a subtle change in the contour of the rear fuselage where the Transal tail has been added to the Fokker fuselage.

Gondor

[rickshaw]

Gondor has it basically right.  The Transal tail has been grafted onto the front fuselage of the F27.  It took quite a large wedge of plasticard to match the two fuselage diameters.

How did I do the rear door?   With the same self-adhesive tape I did the pin-stripes with.  There is no door, just an outline.   I felt a door was necessary for paratrooping and so added one.   

I have to admit, Kit that I've been a little lazy about your extra titles.  They are on the model but I haven't bothered with any photos of it wearing them.   Perhaps the next time I take photos of something else?  Perhaps the F-15? 

[TomZ]

Looks great 

TomZ

[PR19_Kit]

I have to admit, Kit that I've been a little lazy about your extra titles.  They are on the model but I haven't bothered with any photos of it wearing them.   Perhaps the next time I take photos of something else?  Perhaps the F-15? 

An Australian Coastguard F-15? 

That'd be SERIOUSLY 'protecting Australia's coast line from incursion by illegal  people smugglers and drug runners'!

[chrisonord]

Nice, me likely military turbo props
Chris

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice, the tail surgery is very subtle - but it looks REALLY great, and makes sense, too! Any WiP pics from the marriage?

Great idea - earmarked for an F27 in the stash! 

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Oh this is so funny! At the moment I too am working/hacking away on a Fokker F-27. And I did exactly the same with the tail. Only I used the Fokker's origiinal tail for the build. It still is far from finished but it will be very different from this one here or the original. I like this one too, the colours are great and well, being Dutch, I cannot help being a little chauvinistic about this magnificent little beast. That upward tail looks really good on an F-27, doesn't it?
Nice work, Rick!

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Great idea - and a good-looking model!

[Weaver]

Nice one - looks good! 

Presumably 'Kit Speckman Enterprises' is run by Kit's South African cousin....

[PR19_Kit]

Presumably 'Kit Speckman Enterprises' is run by Kit's South African cousin....

Hehehe, I can do the accent if you like? 

[NARSES2]

That's worked really well Brian