Centurion AA (Rapier) - Done

[rickshaw]

My ex-brother-in-law (work that out....) was on a Rapier unit in the Falklands and reckoned that they could have nailed quite few more AAF aircraft if they hadn't been sited in silly positions. The AAF strikes came in round the hills below the peaks and by the time they were in sight it was very difficult to track and lock on to them.

I always understood the reason why Rapier wasn't deployed to the Falklands was because their gyros tumbled on the journey south...

[zenrat]

My ex-brother-in-law (work that out....)...

Mrs z's eldest brother is on wife No.4 so I have three ex-sisters-in-law...

<edit - corrected my incorrect pluralisation of sister-in-law.>

[Devilfish]

My ex-brother-in-law (work that out....)...

Mrs z's eldest brother is on wife No.4 so I have three ex-sister-in-laws...

My ex- sister in law (my sisters ex husband's sister) is an old school friend of mine (and we had a "thing"), so that was a complicated one to explain to my wife...  

[PR19_Kit]

I always understood the reason why Rapier wasn't deployed to the Falklands was because their gyros tumbled on the journey south...

 

Apparently there were no spares or support equipment available as they'd been shipped aboard the Atlantic Conveyer.

[Weaver]

I always understood the reason why Rapier wasn't deployed to the Falklands was because their gyros tumbled on the journey south...

 

Apparently there were no spares or support equipment available as they'd been shipped aboard the Atlantic Conveyer.

Also, the launchers were shipped south as deck cargo, despite the fact that the electronics were already well know to be a bit on the fragile side.

[buzzbomb]

Good discussion on the actual use of the Rapier in the Falklands. Tallies with what I have read about the less than ideal siting and the further impact of the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor


Thanks for the interest in this build though.

Been a bit hot and putrid for much shop work, nonetheless a bit has been achieved.

tinkering around with the Turret shape


So turret pretty much sorted out at a basic level, then the Missile mounts.



My practical whiffer vehicle voice in the head says, the missile boxes should be fully enclosed at the sides to offer protection for the missiles in the field.
However, the other voice is saying, then you cannot see they are Rapier missiles and loses a bit of kazing! factor.
Mr Middle ground is offering up sides off and use guard rails. Of course Mr Middle ground always presents the most challenging way forward.

let see who wins

[NARSES2]

Some really nice work going on here 

[Old Wombat]

Big turret for a relatively small missile.

You could always have one coming out of the launcher.

[zenrat]

Or, enclosed sides but with inspection/loading hatches which you pose open on one side?

[Wardukw]

Or, enclosed sides but with inspection/loading hatches which you pose open on one side?

Exactly what I was thinking too..then ya get the best of both worlds..covered so its looks right and uncovered so you can see the missiles 
Love the work so far mate and turret size could be explained with all the electronics needed like a built in targeting system and fire control systems.

[Weaver]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry too much about exposed missiles. The armoured boxes on Tracked Rapier were the exception, not the rule. If you look at Crotale, Roland, Chapparal, SA-8 etc, they all either have their missiles in unarmoured fibreglass tubes or on open rails.

Big turret for a relatively small missile.

The proposed Tigercat turret was pretty hefty (see below). Tank-based SPAAG/M turrets are generally pretty big because the designers usually want to put all the computers in the turret with the radars, rather than trying to connect them via slip rings.

[buzzbomb]

The proposed Tigercat turret was pretty hefty (see below). Tank-based SPAAG/M turrets are generally pretty big because the designers usually want to put all the computers in the turret with the radars, rather than trying to connect them via slip rings.

Funny you said that. Co-incidentally, Tigercats were in my original thought bubble, along with a land based version of the Redtop to stay homegrown British. With the kit of the 1/35 Seadart available, it too was briefly considered but written out as too big (and expensive for a build like this) plus timelines were a bit out. Great drawing you dug out.

As you say, my thoughts are that the turret would contain all the fire control and launch gubbins, plus crew. I might be a tad tall though depending where the missile launch racks go, it might get a trim down. That would be relatively easy.

thanks for the feedback.

[Weaver]

The proposed Tigercat turret was pretty hefty (see below). Tank-based SPAAG/M turrets are generally pretty big because the designers usually want to put all the computers in the turret with the radars, rather than trying to connect them via slip rings.

Funny you said that. Co-incidentally, Tigercats were in my original thought bubble, along with a land based version of the Redtop to stay homegrown British. With the kit of the 1/35 Seadart available, it too was briefly considered but written out as too big (and expensive for a build like this) plus timelines were a bit out. Great drawing you dug out.

As you say, my thoughts are that the turret would contain all the fire control and launch gubbins, plus crew. I might be a tad tall though depending where the missile launch racks go, it might get a trim down. That would be relatively easy.

thanks for the feedback.

I think the height of the turret is fine: compare the different between a Leo 1 and a Gepard to see what I mean. If I had to critique your turret, I'd say the piece that you're using for the radar dome is a bit on the small side: it should be pretty much the whole width of your roof.




If you want to see a REALLY tall boi, check out the Marconi Marksman turret on a Chieftain chassis:

[Gondor]

There are a couple of options for Rapiers in 1/35. David J Parkins does a towed Rapier set in their Firing Line range, £85 and change though. Hobby Fan have done a Tracked Rapier kit back in 2017 so you might be able to find that but probably at a price. Another option would be to fit Hawk Missiles instead as they should be available as AFV Club did them as well.

Gondor

[NARSES2]

That Marksman Chieftain looks very sci-fi, almost a robot thingy. Paint an eye on the radar dish and voila, almost sentient.