safko

Does anybody know, when B Tomcats did their conversion to upgrades? I mean if every machine in the squadron was in B upgrade mod and when it was. I believe VF-32 has had their B upgrade to all the machines from the start to the end, so it seems. For the VF-143 I’m not sure when the machines hat been converted to B upgrade … in 2000?/2001?/2002? all machines were upgraded?... it looks like in ‘01 some machines had upgrades, some not, but maybe ‘03 were all machines in upgrade. VF-11 in the late period were B upgrade, but when? And for all the machines? VF-103 started around 1998 upgrade for all the machines, or only for pair and late conversed to all? Was the VF-102 maybe the same as the VF-103? Some machines were signed F-14B upgrade but many had not. They who had not that sign, looked like had square TID (tactical information display) in the RIO cockpit. I watched many videos, pictures, but this upgrade for B Tomcat is a chaos for me.

MiG-21MF 7713 was in second stage deliveries of all delivered MiG-21 for CSLA PVO. First(1971-1972) and second(1973-1974) deliveries were in early type cockpit. Third deliveries called Greys were in late cockpit production, because in factory also builded the 21bis machines with late 21MF in same time. You must also engrave the big technologically oval hole on top of the wing(see instruction), Greys had not this oval hole.

Wow, great great information !! These 2 photos are maybe the best for inspiration, but if I think correctly, the GE ZA396 machine is after a strike reloaded for the next missions and the B ZD791 is ready and waiting for the strike. Is that correct? Ok, best will be build a Tonka with an open canopy, flaps up (the Dhahran machine had also flaps up on parking position?, or any difference Enzo??), brakes closed, probe closed (open only after attack and reloaded for next mission by the personnel?), weighted wheels. Both Tonkas looks like there is some electric generator switched on, or???

For the parking position I must build the Tornado with little slightly sweep backward wings for Muharraq based machines (Snoopy Airways). It’s great info XVtonker, great..great!! because that completely changes the situation and will do the machine more realistic for its stand in campaign. If I build it with the refueling probe or speed brakes open, that’s means the machine is carried out by the personnel after an attack. After this, the personnel closes everything down and Tonka waits for another action empty or full loaded with bombs? I want to have the canopy open to show the resin cockpit and I’m thinking about what will be the best for showing the atmosphere of the first strike with JP233 attack. Something like - we know we’re going this night, just few hours before attack. Maybe second strike with JP233. I’m thinking about N, but N wasn’t on first strike?

Nice:D Why sometimes Tonkas had open brakes and refuel probe in parking positions??

Thanks. Do you know if any aircrafts from Dhahran were on first strike with JP233 ??? And if, which ones?

Thanks a lot. This is great information, exactly for the EA machine. Unfortunately there are few photos on the internet of Tonkas in this early stage of war. EA and other machines have only standard sharkmouth and noseart photos on the net. Maybe this is a question for xvtonker. Why did many Tonkas have flaps down with speed brakes and refueling probe up? It looks cool, but I believe it isn’t the standard parking position. I think the standard is with everything closed, but I don’t know if it is only when the pilot stopped the machine that released these parts, or it was released during the service check on the machine. I’m grateful for all this information, I now need to find a machine in the first night with JP233 and do decals. I believe Foxy Killer will be a good choice, but there is a problem with the sharkmouth. If EA had different sharkmouth, was it on FK the same?? Or I will do a machine from Muharraq without noseart D,E,F,H .. but in Flightpath there is none of this machine.

I believe that in Tabuk and Dhahran it was the same like in Muharraq. I prefer to build a machine from Muharraq, but it will be problem with the decals. An alternative would be the machine Foxy Killer (without noseart) from Tabuk in flightpath decals. When was the machine loaded for action? I mean, does it stand fully load, ready for action in the parking area, or was it loaded just few hours before action? Flaps down or flaps up on parking mode? Why are there sometimes the speed brakes and the refueling probe up? Was it only for checking the plane or has someone stopped the plane in this position? I asked because I want to know the best standard option for building the plane in the Desert Storm campaign. Every plane has its own specials. I missed the HT model special Tornado workaround book few years ago, is there any good alternative for a good workaround for Tonkas? Thank you.

In this photo is ZD791 without any noseart. Were all Tonkas in the first attack without noseart??, or for example ZA491 had Nora Betty noseart?, and later was renamed to Nikki? This question is the same for all Tonkas.

If I understand it correctly, some planes had sharkmouths when they had their first strike on the airfields, or noseart, of course without sorties artworks. It’s very hard to find some photos from the first days of war. I found many many photos from late phase of war and few photos without the noseart but with JP233 loaded. I think, some photos are from training before war did begin. Some information’s of tailcodes and good photos are on dstorm.eu, but I don’t know if they’re correct. I did read a pretty nice book Gulf War Debrief and there is some info + photos there. The question still is. Were the machines with noseart with JP233 sorties artwork on first strike? (For example, I believe Mig Eater was, but for second, who knows before war begin if EA will destroy Fulcrum in war? That’s why I believe, the EA first strike was without a sharkmouth and of course without nose art and name. Many modelers build EA with a sharkmouth and nose art and JP233, and I think it’s not correct in the early stage of war.) I believe you find answer for all:P boys, as it is very important to know for all who build this great plane in DS camo. Thanks a lot.

I am interested to build a Panavia Tornado in Desert Storm campaign in their first mission 17th January ´91, when they attacked on airfields with the JP233 munitions. But I am a little bit confused, because I saw different photos of Tornados. I mean, lots of photos are nose art Tornados, but what I saw on the few pictures, where Tornados were loaded with JP233 and they were without the nose, art only with tailcodes!! I don't know right now, if the nose art was painted later after the first strikes on Iraq, or if they were painted from the first minutes of the war. If I want to build Gr1 from first strike with JP233 munitions, I have 4 options from flightpath decals. Nikki, Alarm Belle, Foxy Killer, Anola Kay. But my questions are. If these aircraft were in the first strike loaded wih JP233 ( I think FK and N yes, but I don't know) and if they had the nose art when they attacked in first night on Iraq? Thanks.