Ratch

Thanks for your generous comments gents, I really appreciate them.

Great work here

Thanks Steve. My final completion for 2014. #84 Airfix 1/48 BAC TSR.2 (A10105)

The BAC TSR-2 has undertaken many roles since entering RAF with No. 40 Squadron at RAF Conningsby in the autumn of 1967. Many Canberra squadrons were re-equipped with TSR.2 B.2 Eagles as were several of the V-Bomber squadrons by the mid 70’s. By 1983 11 squadrons were equipped with the TSR.2 B.2 and GR.1 Eagles with a GR.3 variant undergoing development. The West German Air Force equipped two squadrons with B.2 Eagles. The "standard mission" for the TSR-2 was to carry a 2,000 lb (900 kg) weapon internally for a combat radius of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km). On that mission 100 nautical miles (190 km) was to be flown at higher altitudes at Mach 1.7 and the 200 nmi (370 km) into and out of the target area was to be flown as low as 200 ft (60 m) at a speed of Mach 0.95. The remainder of the mission was flown at Mach 0.92. If the entire mission were to be flown at the low 200 ft (61 m) altitude, the mission radius was reduced to 700 nmi (1,300 km). Heavier weapons loads could be carried with further reductions in range. The range of the TSR-2 was increased by fitting external tanks: one 450 Imperial gallon (2,000 L) tank under each wing or one 1,000-Imperial gallon (4,500-L) tank carried centrally below the fuselage. If no internal weapons were carried, a further 570 Imperial gallons (2,600 L) could be carried in a tank in the weapons bay. It was equipped with de Havilland Firestreak missiles; a rear-aspect, fire and forget pursuit weapon, with a field of attack of 20 degrees either side of the target, and was eventually replaced in service by a developed variant, the Hawker Siddeley Red Top. West German TSR.2s were unique in that they carried both missiles for a period. Red Top was originally a rationalised, upgraded version of the earlier Firestreak air-to-air missile. In 1956, de Havilland Propellers started work on the Blue Jay Mark 4 (its development codename) and Firestreak Mk. IV. Such were the changes that it was effectively a new missile. It arranged its components in more logical fashion than the Firestreak (which had its warhead in the tail), with an improved "Violet Banner" seeker, "Green Garland" IR fuze, and a more powerful "Linnet" booster rocket. It also had a larger warhead, at 31 kg (68.3 lb) against 22.7 kg (50 lb). The Red Top was faster, and had greater range and maneuvrability than the Firestreak, and its more sensitive infrared seeker enabled a wider range of engagement angles. Being more sensitive it could home in on a target that had been warmed by air friction heating. The Red Top entered service in 1964 and with further development continued in service until 1998. 9519 wears this distinctive livery for the Tigermeet at RAF Upper Heyford, United Kingdom, 12/09/1990 - 17/09/1990.

It says to me that some are never satisfied and that the manufacturer can never issue the correct mark, or that modellers are impatient and cannot wait for their mark to be produced - rather odd considering that patience is a virtue required when modelling

It really should not surprise me, but why is it, whenever a kit is announced that so many folks want to know how to convert it to something else

Thanks again guys, these are all recent toolings and go together well

Thanks guys

I managed to scrape these three in before the end of the year Airfix A50158 BBMF Gift Set

Thanks very much for your generous comments folks, I appreciate them

Nice variety and well built too

Excellent.

Thank you.

For the RN I'd say HMS Victory and for the USN probably the Missouri.

Thanks guys, I was unemployed for most of this year, so could dedicate all my time to modelling,

Neat builds

Classy Olympic airliner

I like that black MiG

Good work here

A neat set of builds Paul

Nice builds Mish

Sweet collection Steve

A fine set of builds

Great output Tim