xvtonker

Haven't been able to identify any info regarding the C-123 FAC role but found a great link that provides some hi-rez images of the cargo area. https://airheritage.org/aircraft/fairchild-c-123k-provider-thunderpig/ XVTonker

Thanks for the clarification on this Alex. Was this taken when the 31 Sqn jets came back to the UK after the Squadron disbandment earlier in 1976? John aka XVTonker

Hi Stephen, just found this picture by Peter Nicholson dated 1976 showing XV501, a 31 Sqn jet with an AIM-9g & ACMI pod mounted on the left hand inboard pylon. Looking at the picture it was taken during one of our detachments to Decimommanu. XVTonker

If any of you require crew ladders for some of your subjects drop me a PM as I have produced a wide range of 3D printed resin ladders. Some examples below (1. Sea Vixen, 2. Sea Venom, 3. Jaguar (UK), 4. Buccaneer). XVTonker

My apologies, I stand corrected. After looking at the pictures I took of the Tornado's both back at Laarbruch and in Bahrain the wheels are clearly LAG and not white as I previously mentioned. XVTonker

They were white when I worked on them in RAFG!

All the 1/72 scale ladders are available via Air Graphics. The larger scales, 1/48, 1/32 & 1/32 are still available via myself. XVTonker

WHITE!!!! I spent 3 years working on these ladies from 1989-92 and can confirm that they were white. XVTonker

Yes, but you try brush painting a blue engine stand with yellow paint!!! 😬

Throughout the history of the post war RAF ground equipment colours have changed on a regular basis. If you look at pictures of aircraft such as the Hunter, Javelin. etc the crew ladders were painted red, as were the Buccaneer's which were red up to their retirment (so were the Hunter's). Up to the early 1970's, most ground equipment was painted blue however, in it's ifinite wisdom the RAF issued a signal stating that all ground equipment would now be painted yellow! Several years later a similar signal was received stating that ground equipment would be painted dark green....as per crew ladders on Harriers, Phantoms, Tornado, etc XVTonker

One thing that should be noted is that the Jaguar often had black Flexane applied to the nose tips of the underwing tanks & CBLS's to reduce the effects of erosion. Certainly on the Jags of 14 Sqn in the 1980's XVtonker

I can only go by memory of my time on QRA in the early 80's, but the fit comprised of a single WE177 carried on an adaptor pylon on the fuselage pylon. The only other items were two underwing tanks. The only pictures I know of are of a Jaguar in-flight carrying a CBLS on the special weapons adaptor pylon. XVTonker

Great information, and I've gone into Gemini AI but am struggling to find out how to generate a line drawing from an image, can you provide us with a walkthrough please? XVTonker

I'm trying out Hitem3D at the moment, using pictures I have of complete aircraft. Initial results are a bit hit and miss but it gives you the ability to save in STL format. https://www.hitem3d.ai/share/3d-models-generator/a/CHZ9BEC This was a picture of a Sepecat Jaguar, and while it looks pretty ragged on screen, the actual STL file wasn't that bad. Problem is that it's a bit pricy, but for $9.99 US you get a months use with loads of credits that will give me plenty of time to play around. In the meantime, I will followthe route albergman is taking to see what is capable of being produced. XVtonker

I've just done a general search on the internet for Tornado GR.1 9 Sqn AK and every picture comes up showing it to be ZD748. Hope this helps XVTonker