RN Skyhawks

[Devilfish]

In 1960 the Royal Navy bought the A-4B for use as a lightweight nuclear strike aircraft, to fly off the Centaur Class light carriers. Designated the Skyhawk S.1, they carried no other stores than just a single Red Beard bomb.
Kit is the ancient Fujimi 1/48 offering, which is terrible! Red Beard is from the Airfix TSR2

20190903_205415 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205423 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205430 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205445 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205450 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

As the Nuclear role was passed to the Submarines, the need for the S.1 diminished and the aircraft were almost scrapped in the early 1970's. However, it was noted that the Americans were using them as aggressor aircraft.  Realising the small size and manoeuvrability made them idea fighters, they were modified using a new Ferranti radar, updated avionics and RWR, mated with Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles to produce the Skyhawk F.2

Kit is the later Hobbycraft 1/48 one.

20190903_205504 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205512 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205531 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205519 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20190903_205537 by Paul Carter, on Flickr


20190903_205403 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

[rickshaw]

Interesting.  It would be easier to view the images if you limited their size when posting by adding "width=800" to the first [img] tag.

[Devilfish]

Interesting.  It would be easier to view the images if you limited their size when posting by adding "width=800" to the first [img] tag.

I have no idea how to do that

[Dizzyfugu]

They both look very good, I esp. like the white "Nuke-Hawk". 

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

They both look very good, I esp. like the white "Nuke-Hawk". 

As do I 

[Tophe]

I was very surprised by the title, because in my country (France) RN now means Rassemblement National, which is accused to be Nazi (by opponents), and I was very surprised they may have an air force. But I understand seeing the pictures this is Royal Navy, obvious for British readers (only), sorry...
Congratulations for the models

[Doug K]

They both look very good, I esp. like the white "Nuke-Hawk". 

I agree, the white looks great

[chrisonord]

I like  both, they  are so different  to each other 
Chris

[rickshaw]

Interesting.  It would be easier to view the images if you limited their size when posting by adding "width=800" to the first [img] tag.

I have no idea how to do that

When you are placing the link to your photos in your post, edit the first [img] tag to be [img width=800].

[Weaver]

Well done - those look great. There's something hauntingly familiar about the first one though... 



Airfix 1/72nd A-4B/P with an A-4C nose conversion and a Red Beard, both from Freightdog (the Red Beard was intended as a Buccaneer accessory)

[zenrat]

We had a debate about "toss bombing" tactics when you posted that didn't we?

[Old Wombat]

I certainly remember reading such a conversation.

[Scotaidh]

Well done - those look great. There's something hauntingly familiar about the first one though... 



Airfix 1/72nd A-4B/P with an A-4C nose conversion and a Red Beard, both from Freightdog (the Red Beard was intended as a Buccaneer accessory)

Wow!  Nice work!  I gotta say, though, it kinda looks like the bomb is wearing the aircraft ... Could the A-4 lift that kind of weight?

[Weaver]

Wow!  Nice work!  I gotta say, though, it kinda looks like the bomb is wearing the aircraft ... Could the A-4 lift that kind of weight?

It's not as heavy as it looks. Red Beard only weighed 1,750lb, the Skyhawk's centreline pylon was rated for 3,500lb and with two tanks it still had 3,000-odd pounds to spare in total.

Remember:

1. The original design of the Skyhawk had it carrying a tac nuke on the centreline, so this is it's original mission, not an ad-hoc adaption,

2. A nuclear bomb is a lightweight shell, mostly full of elaborate, low-density electro-mechanical gubbins, not a solid 'lump' of explosives and steel, so they're often lighter than they look.