25 de Mayo (ex-USS Randolph, Essex Class) Malvinas/Falklands 1982 *Finished*

[sandiego89]

I have some doubts about your sanity Dave.

Me too! Mrs Sandiego89 asked if anyone would really notice these small bits, I told her being a Whiffer is tough!

[zenrat]

TBH I probly would have felt compelled to do the same.  Can't have your air group wobbling about on their bellies.

[Dizzyfugu]

Very cool.  I'd personally add an F-8 to the bunch, too... 

[sandiego89]

There's no help for me fellas! I'm a gonner, go on without me!!

1/530 drop tanks from sewing pins.....



They do look better with the drop tanks, and they will be needed to find the British task force....

[NARSES2]

There's no help for me fellas! I'm a gonner, go on without me!!

1/530 drop tanks from sewing pins.....

[Rheged]

Is it just my imagination, or is there a Sea Vixen making occasional guest appearances in the air wing?

[sandiego89]

Is it just my imagination, or is there a Sea Vixen making occasional guest appearances in the air wing?

Maybe, or that could just be a deliberate disinformation campaign from the Argentinian Junta to throw off British intelligence.... 

[sandiego89]

Air-wing about done, one more type to scratch up.

A-4 Skyhawk, kit (4) and aftermarket (6), scratched up drop tanks
F-8 Crusader (3) Folded wings
S-2 Tracker, kit. (4)  Folded the wings on several
S-3 Sea King (4). Several with folded rotors from scratch sheet styrene.
Super Entendard.  (4) Kit-bash from Scimitar and Cougar, scratched up drop tanks and Exocet. 

In my scenario, the Crusader was about done in Argentinian service as accidents, corrosion, and the US embargo was taking a heavy toll, but they were able to get a few in service for the Malvinas, including one flown by a very senior officer.   

[sandiego89]

25 de Mayo (ex-USS Randolph, Essex Class) Malvinas/Falklands 1982





Periscope sighting! ASW launch of S-2 and S-3's



A-4 Recovery, April 20, 1982





Tracker, Super Entendard/Excocet surface partol mission, May 26, 1982

[PR19_Kit]

An excellent job there Dave. 

A good thing they didn't have that carrier or air wing down South in 1982!

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Very impressive! You must need a long lie down, now.

[Leading Observer]

An excellent job there Dave. 

A good thing they didn't have that carrier or air wing down South in 1982!

Great work. If she'd have been in service, she'd have been at the top of the Royal Navy Submarines target list

[Rheged]

An excellent job there Dave. 

A good thing they didn't have that carrier or air wing down South in 1982!

This being Whiffworld, one could reasonably imagine that Eagle and Ark Royal had been refitted , allowing AEW Gannets to warn the Phantoms of fleet  air defence   and the Buccaneers to strike back.

Perhaps it's just as well neither of these scenarios happened!!

[PR19_Kit]

Perhaps it's just as well neither of these scenarios happened!!

Indeed, I'd fear for the state of downtown Buenos Aires otherwise. 

[sandiego89]

Yes the UK subs would have been looking intently!  And the Argentinian Trackers, Sea Kings and surface units would have been pinging and listening....or stayed close to home....

For this build I purchased "A Carrier at Risk" book by Mariano Sciaroni about the 25 de Mayo and ASW operations, and the UK Submarine operations during the war.  Have not finished it yet, but more involved than to I had realized and a good account.  Nice to hear from different perspectives.   

Thank you for the comments!  Good to get back to a ship, where I really started my whiffing years ago.