rossm

@Mika Jernfors - Hannibal as well if possible please

The ORB for27 Sqdn for June 1945 mentions that some Beaufighters were used to escort the rescue missions. Carriage of rockets is not mentioned and does seem unlikely.

I think I haven't updated this with the thought that some aircraft may have had MSG rather that Sky - the thread below has the details

I have some spares from the ancient Airfix kit but memory suggests they were also too skinny. I'll try and find them to check, you're welcome to them if they look ok.

According to my old Aeroclub price list they were 3 blade 13' DH right hand also used by the Lancaster II

Hannants also sell RAFDEC red codes with yellow outline in 48" https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7203?result-token=MY53E and 36" https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/RAF7204?result-token=MY53E

The Osprey book gives pilots as Nguyen Van Coc on 18th Nov 1967 claiming an F-105D and Nguyen Dang Kinh on 19th Nov 1967 claiming an EB-66, the latter not confirmed by USAF records. So that's two of the nine pilots mentioned by Wikipedia.

Hope you all get through the experience without any drama, Ross

The Opsprey Aircraft of the Aces series number 135 on MiG-21 Aces of the Vietnam War has a colour profile showing the same scheme as the box art. There is also a photo showing the starboard side with the kill markings.

I'd love to see one built. I had one but sold it unbuilt many years ago as it didn't fit my Devon/Cornwall theme.

Looking forward to seeing this one finished, PM me if you want some references.

I'll sit in too, I'd like to see how the Airwaves set pans out. My only advice - beware the rear fuselage/fin joint, I've broken them multiple times!

He did, and it's the NF14 one that's too long. My only memory of problems with this is the attachment for the rear fuselage/tail fin can be a bit weak and the guns on mine were broken when I opened the box.

I have one built, don't remember much about it but I always thought it looked good so let's see all of them built if you can do it.

Originally started in 2012 this is taken from the original build thread but with new photos to show it hasn't made it to the 25% yet! Early in 1968 the Wild Weasel SAM suppression program was in trouble, the F-4C Weasel was two years late and the number of two seat F-105 Thunderchiefs was dwindling fast. The USAF was forced to look around for another two seat high performance jet that could be used to fill the gap. The Saudi order for the BAC Lightning was coming to the end of its production run and in spite of a potentially cramped cockpit this was decided to be the best choice. Contracts were signed on 1st April 1968 and a T.55 was taken from the production line and shipped to the USA for conversion. For speed the avionics were taken from the F-105G program with the split jamming pod grafted on to the fuselage sides using the external cable ducting already in place and half the bay for the missile electronics (Firestreak/Red Top were NOT required) was used for additional Weasel mission equipment. An Aden cannon (as fitted in a pair on early Lightnings) occupied the other half of the bay. RHAW was attached to the fin and other antennas added. The dormant plan to fit missiles to the wingtips was used to allow the carriage of Shrike and Sidewinders for defence were fitted on the fuselage side pylons. The underwing pylons of the export variant were converted for the Standard ARM, a plus over the F-4C which could not carry this missile. The overwing fuel tanks were fitted as range was crucial (design work was begun to stress them for combat and to make them jettisonable but this was not ready for the prototype). The full volume of the underfuselage fairing was used for fuel. In flight refuelling on the prototype had to use the probe and drogue method being phased out by the USAF but work to convert the wing mounting for the probe into a receptacle for a boom was initiated. By the September of 1968 the prototype (with WW tailcodes but disguised with an F-105G identity and a 'slip of the pen' F-115G designation to avoid budgetary questions) was transferred to Korat for evaluation in a combat environment. Only a few missions were flown before President Johnson called a bombing halt over North Vietnam in November 1968 and the project was shelved as the attrition rate for the Thunderchief reduced significantly. This will follow behind my Twotter build with a planned (re)start date of 1st April! Work done so far is the cockpit - Aeroclub seats, Trumpeter side consoles, panel from Modeldecal 2nd line Lightnings sheet