Hawkeye AEW.1

[Devilfish]

When the RAF tried to take over British air power by moving Australia on the map in order to prove it could reach anywhere in the world.  Thankfully for the FAA, this ploy was seen through, but unfortunately the CVA carriers had already been cancelled.  As compensation, to replace the ageing Eagle and Ark Royal, two ex USN Kittyhawk carriers were purchased.  When they were received they were devoid of any equipment necessary for operation, so the Ark and Eagle were stripped and their radars and self defence systems added.
Some of the Royal Navy's aircraft were aging, namely the Gannet AEW, so a deal was made to replace, amongst others, the Gannet with US built E-2 Hawkeyes.

Italeri/Kinetic 1/48 kit.  Despite following the instructions and adding 50g (or more) nose weight, it was still a tail-sitter. I found out it still needed another 40g to make it sit properly, which I couldn't fit after the event, so it has a stand under the rear.

20211208_193417 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20211208_193404 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20211208_193425 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20211208_193428 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20211208_193444 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
20211208_193512 by Paul Carter, on Flickr
2021-12-08_07-41-07 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

[Hobbes]

That looks very nice 

[Dizzyfugu]

Very nice!

[su27rules]

 

[NARSES2]

Lovely build, certainly suits that scheme 

As for the RAF trying to move Australia  What do you expect from mere youngsters ? 

[Devilfish]

Lovely build, certainly suits that scheme 

As for the RAF trying to move Australia  What do you expect from mere youngsters ? 

Unfortunately in the RW, they got away with it...

[Pellson]

Great looking E-2  And the others. Is that an F-111B in the left corner, btw?

[PR19_Kit]

Bearing in mind the size of the Kitty Hawk's deck I'd have thought that Shackleton AEW2s could have operated from them! 

A CRACKING model though! 

[Martin H]

Lovely build, certainly suits that scheme 

As for the RAF trying to move Australia  What do you expect from mere youngsters ? 

Unfortunately in the RW, they got away with it...

Its called creative geography........

Love the idea of a pair on RN Kittyhawks, altou I suspect its more likely we would have ended up with Midway and Coral Sea....................

Papers have been found that show the UK were offered up to three Essex class in the aftermath of the CVA01 cancellation. Slightly more manageable in RN man power terms. And they sould at least fit into Portsmouth......

[zenrat]

 

[Devilfish]

Great looking E-2  And the others. Is that an F-111B in the left corner, btw?

It's a navalised A. Buccaneer replacement, as the RAF got F-111K.

20200426_192621 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

Great addition to a lovely alternate RN collection you've got growing there, Devilfish!

[DogfighterZen]

Great addition to a lovely alternate RN collection you've got growing there, Devilfish!

X2! 

[Pellson]

Great looking E-2  And the others. Is that an F-111B in the left corner, btw?

It's a navalised A. Buccaneer replacement, as the RAF got F-111K.

20200426_192621 by Paul Carter, on Flickr

Oooh. Nice pair!!

[AeroplaneDriver]

Very nice!  Not so much as "What If" as an "If Only"....