bexwh773 Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 (edited) In late 2007, with war ongoing in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the Ministry of Defence realised cuts were needed to support both of these theatres. The RAF thus decided to retire its ageing VC10 K2s, Lockheed L1011 Tristars and the E-3 Sentry fleet by putting all its eggs in one basket and utilising the new Airbus A380 airframe, in order to combine air to air refuelling, troop & cargo transport and AWACS aircraft. With the A380 being such a new aircraft, it was hoped that reliabilty would be very high, with maintenance and fuel costs low and as a final cost reducing excerise, parts and equiptment were to be scavanged from the retired aircraft, rotordome from E-3's and refuelling systems from both VC10's & L1011's. It was also decided that although the A380 has an excellent long range, it would need its own refuelling probe, so these were to be retractable types sourced from retired Tornado's. The only weaponry it would carry are AIM 9 Sidewinders for its own protection, and thus the Airbus A380 MPA (Multi Purpose Aircraft) was born and issued to the RAF's 11 Sqn in January 2010. I have been collecting various bits for this model for 2 years now, so thanks go to Dave T, The Wooksta, Nev, ChancerUK and A N Other for helping me with this project. I will be using the following: Revell 1/144th Airbus A380 "Emirates" VC10 Wing hose & drogue pods VC10 decals Lightning F Mk6 decals KC97 rear refuelling probe E-3 Sentry Rotordome Tornado refuelling probe 1/144th Sidewinders Photos will follow shortly of all parts collected and work done tonight. Thanks for looking Bexy Edited August 27, 2010 by bexwh773 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowmk9 Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Sounds like a really neat project. I look forward to seeing this one progress. Rowan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Crikey! Can't wait to see this beastie take shape! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 1, 2010 Author Share Posted August 1, 2010 Thanks guys, gonna be a challenge as I already know this kit is a complete pig to build but Im game for a laugh, anyways, heres some pics of the bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 Keep the coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hovis Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 3 aircraft in one calls for 3x I reckon :popcorn: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussTnailZ Posted August 1, 2010 Share Posted August 1, 2010 most intriging build Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Thanks Gang Small update then before bed, wings and elevators together, UC bays, cockpit, elevators fitted to the fuselage. Photos in the morning when I get home from the dentist A small note, gotta write to those nice folks at Revell later, as my kit is missing its clear sprue..... ah deep joy Thanks for looking Bexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafalbert Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 This is going to be good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark M Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 welcome back bex! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Gordon Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hope all is well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Sidewinders? Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richellis Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hi, looks nice..... will you be needing the Emirates decs? (still got the 737 and airbus aside for me??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Hi,looks nice..... will you be needing the Emirates decs? (still got the 737 and airbus aside for me??) Thanks Rich, funnily enough, I was gonna drop you a PM later re those kits for you, so will do that shortly, dont worry, theyre stshed away with your name on Re the Emirates decals, theyre yours if ya want them, the only decals I will be using are any important stencils and the doors etc Bexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richellis Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 sound, I have a couple of airbus boxings, so Ill use the bits off the that sheet! PM me when you have a price, and Ill get payment out to ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Anything large fitted with `winders` is ok with me..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Thanks for the comments Gang, so after an afternoon of fondling a large amount of plastic, this is where Im upto Lastnights work: Todays work: Fuselage together, wings & tail planes fitted: Painting and assembling of the engines: Close up shot of the cockpit....... having looked at the base of the tornado refuel pipe, I may redesign this one...... Thanks for looking Bexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micha Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 does the Emirates version have red door lines? I'd need some red doors instead the grey doors of the Lufthansa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 does the Emirates version have red door lines? I'd need some red doors instead the grey doors of the Lufthansa. Im afraid not Micha, these ones are silver Bexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bexwh773 Posted August 3, 2010 Author Share Posted August 3, 2010 After a little deliberation lastnight I decided to remove the lower part of the tornado refuel probe as it looked over scale and ridiculous, so Im having a rethink how I plan to get around this one, but I have a couple of ideas to work on so far The rest of lastnight was spent painting up the engine components for building later on today, and heres a couple of pics to be going on with. Thanks for looking Bexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowmk9 Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 yeah about the refuelling probe. on such a large aircraft, would it be somewhere out infront of the cockpit so the pilots can see the final stage of joining up. Like a VC10 or Hercules? I think... In any case, the build is coming on nicely. I like it Rowan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kspriss Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 hey Bexy. ive had some thoughts on your refuelling probe ideas, will give you a shout later tonight steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 That is looking great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Good work Sis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted August 3, 2010 Share Posted August 3, 2010 Hi Bexy, Good to see you back on here, and sorry I haven't called or PM'ed recently. I was going to suggest a Nimrod/VC10/Hercules/Vulcan/Victor/Belfast (you get the picture) installation for the IFR probe. Just think of all that spare space at the front end of the upper dexck above the flight deck for all that plumbing to clutter up, lol! Is sammy's ceiling going to be strong enough to hang that big beast from? Take care, Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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