Trainers With Teeth and COIN Group Build

[Brian da Basher]

Has anyone come up with suitable prize or prizes for this group build? 

Will it be model kits or something else? 

Well, we need to get the votes out so this one wins when it makes the GB Poll first.

Should it get a slot on the Official GB Calendar, I'm sure I could find something suitable from my stash.

Brian da Basher

[upnorth]

Woo hoo! Don't normally announce ebay aquisitions until they roll up on my doorstep, but I can't keep this one quiet! I just went to My Ebay to do something totally different, clicked on the wrong auction (a Novo FD.2 which I didn't win) by mistake, and then clicked on the "find similar auctions" by mistake AGAIN! And what popped up?

A Master Hobby 1/72nd scale PZL TS.11 Iskra 200, with no bids on it and 46 seconds to go.

Not only is this a trainer that you don't see kits of every day, but it's the single-seat attack version to boot, with hardpoints and a 23mm! Cost? £3.85 including P&P 

Deep joy............

This arrived today.


It's a cracking little kit: nicely moulded and detailed, and has the option of single or twin seat versions, both with canopies that hinge (little kid Oooooh factor 10  ) It even has, wait for it, a detailed, 3-piece engine, even though there's no provision to see it when it's fitted! Only things I can see wrong now are abysmal crew figures (worst I've ever seen) and one or two sink marks in awkward places. The decals are crap too (a shame, since there's lots of them).

The Iglish on the instruction sheet is quite amusing:

"Construction - wings of double lifted construction, halfcrusted, endowed with ailerons, flaps with two chinks and aerodynamic brakes. The whole uplifted in chains on a trunk. Drive - one jest (sic) engine SO-3 or SO-3B of 981 daN. Armament - one steady 23mm gun at the front of trunk and nonguided missiles, guns, fuel tanks or bombs hanged on four underwing bounds."



I will NOT be modifying this physically (although I'm tempted to find out how the bay opens in order to show off that engine) since it's quite obscure enough already, but I will probably do it in whiff colours of some small, possibly non-existent TPLAC.

To be completely fair to the imperfections in your Iskra kit, remember it is a reworked and reissued version of a KP kit that dates back to the early 70s. Master Hobby has reworked and reissued several of the old KP kits over the past few years. I was eyeing up a KP issue of the Iskra a while back but decided not to buy as the canopy was fogged beyond all concievable polishing and Future dipping. It looked very nice otherwise.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Would it be in good form to include the two seat fighters in this group build?  I am referring to aircraft such as the TF-18, TF-8, TF-9, and other similar trainer versions of the front line fighters and attack aircraft.  Even the F-4 was provided with twin sticks on occasion so it too could be qualified as a 'trainer' if you put a second stick in the back seat. 

[nev]

I would hope not - the zoomies get all the glamour and publicity, but I'm not in charge of course

[Weaver]

Would it be in good form to include the two seat fighters in this group build?  I am referring to aircraft such as the TF-18, TF-8, TF-9, and other similar trainer versions of the front line fighters and attack aircraft.  Even the F-4 was provided with twin sticks on occasion so it too could be qualified as a 'trainer' if you put a second stick in the back seat. 

I would say no.

Twin-stick fast jets are still "major war" hardware, whereas I think the spirit of this GB is COIN and bush wars: small, cheap aircraft adapted for simple weapons, often improvised.

[Mossie]

Yeah, I agree with Nev & Weave, frontline aircraft as trainers are more 'teeth as trainers'.  They're more to instruct pilots on that particular airframe, I guess the spirit here is something that is a more generalised trainer?  Other than frontline aircraft, there are many trainers that have been adapted from other roles.  The Dominie comes to mind, built as a bizjet but used by the RAF & others as a trainer for larger types.  Is the stipulation that the aircraft must be designed as a trainer, or just that it's not a frontline aircraft?

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Spent Wednesday morning over at my mums' house, clearing out the garage for her. Threw out a LOT of old broken-down models, but FOUND amongst the detratus a never opened Airfix SA Bulldog..... It's very possible that this could find its' way into the GB...... but then so could my (mentioned elsewhere) Airfix Hawk 100...... I'm also stalking a 1:48 Heller Alpha Jet on eBay just now.

Even if the GB doesn't go-ahead, I'll be building these anyway...... but the GB would be great, wouldn't it

Ian

[nev]

Maybe that could be the follow-on GB?  2 seat F-22 etc

[philp]

New Poll is out and we are running strong for 1st with 5 being picked this time.  If you haven't already, get over there and vote.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

...... I'm also stalking a 1:48 Heller Alpha Jet on eBay just now.

Even if the GB doesn't go-ahead, I'll be building these anyway...... but the GB would be great, wouldn't it

Ian

Got the A-J now (collected it at Telford)...... Already have the decals & loadout ready-to-go..... You have been warned !

Ian

[Brian da Basher]

I've got a Stearman biplane, Ryan PT-20 and a Bleriot IX I've been saving for this baby!

Brian da Basher

[chrisonord]

Is there any chance I could bung a few of my aircraft in here? COIN/CAS  aircraft are my favourite subjects.
I can make another COIN/CAS F-84 if that is allowed or perhaps another Toucano, or maybe one of my current projects a jet powered S-2 Tracker coin aircraft.I have some OV-10 NOGS kits and some different versions of OV-1 Mohawks, or......perhaps a turbo prop OVP-2 Neptune Coin aircraft.
I have all sorts to have a go at really.
Chris.

[Brian da Basher]

Is there any chance I could bung a few of my aircraft in here? COIN/CAS  aircraft are my favourite subjects.
I can make another COIN/CAS F-84 if that is allowed or perhaps another Toucano, or maybe one of my current projects a jet powered S-2 Tracker coin aircraft.I have some OV-10 NOGS kits and some different versions of OV-1 Mohawks, or......perhaps a turbo prop OVP-2 Neptune Coin aircraft.
I have all sorts to have a go at really.
Chris.

Assuming this GB ends out making the cut, you'd be more than welcome to join in, just be sure to direct any specific eligibility questions to the GB moderator once the official GB topic is posted.

The more, the merrier!

Brian da Basher

[chrisonord]

Nice one, I think I should have something that will do, unless I build em all first lol.
Chris.

[chrisonord]

Well I think I might just have found a good candidate for this GB. A canadair tutor, in 1/72nd on EEK(how much)Bay. It has by tjhe looks of ot 2 fuselage pylons but i am sure I can make some more for the wings, and give it a gun pod, Hellfires and some rocket pods. Am I allowed to put a FLIR pod on it?? and maybe some wing tip sidewinders??
Chris.