Jump to content

GMK

Gold Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,109

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by GMK

    1/72 - Atreides Ornithopter (Dune) by Meng - April 2024

    in The Rumourmonger

    Posted

    In a follow up to their box-scale ornithopter kits released late 2023, Meng has announced a 1/72 kit. 
     

    Box art:

     

    spacer.png

     

    1/72 compared to their box-scale release. 
     

    spacer.png

     

    “MENG will release the DS-007 1/72 Dune Atreides Ornithopter model kit officially licensed by the Legendary Pictures. The model has a wingspan of 720mm and a length of 318mm once assembled. This kit includes transparent parts for the cockpit canopy, fine decals, and a display stand. Let’s check the details.

    DS-007 Dune Atreides Ornithopter
    Scale: 1/72
    Available in: April 2024”

     

     

    • Like 8

    Merkava 4M gets cope cage.

    in Real Armour

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Kingsman said:

    HAMAS copied the Ukrainian idea of dropping HEAT munitions from adapted commercial drones. 

    This was first done in Syria in 2015. There was also an incident in Mosul in 2015 against coalition special operations; which was first is a bit contentious by a few days. Ukraine adopted this idea. 

     

     

    7 hours ago, Kingsman said:

    The "Cope Cage" (where did that name come from?) will not protect much against pop-up top-attack weapons which dive onto the top surface with some energy if they are still under propulsion and have not gone ballistic - as Russian forces have found.

     

    “Cope” is a gamer term encouraging someone to get over it, more or less. The likely ineffectiveness of the cage, seemingly fielded in response to the pre-Feb 2022 supply of Javelin to Ukraine, makes the meme-level name of “cope cage” nickname almost inevitable. 

    Merkava 4M gets cope cage.

    in Real Armour

    Posted

    Defeating drone-dropped or first person view (FPV) drone ordnance (an ordinance is a bylaw, ordnance is a munition) is certainly a challenge not anticipated by first generation active protection systems. Like all emerging threats, a mix of technologies & procedures will likely be the answer. 

    M1A1 AIM(SA)/M1A2 Abrams (03346) 1:72

    in Kits

    Posted

    G’day Mike,

     

    Thanks for the review. This boxing includes T156 track (chevron blocks), instead of the correct T158LL track (rectangular blocks). T156 is incorrect for all HA, HC, AIM, & A2 models, which is a bit annoying! The Australian 1st Armoured Regiment vehicle should also have a fridge in its bustle rack & a bustle rack extension, among some other details which have been excluded. 
     

    hth

     

    Cheers. 

    • Like 1

    Australia to accelerate Taipan retirement

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    Quote from LinkedIn from a colleague who commanded 5th Aviation Regiment. 
     

    “As I prepared to launch my MRH90 Helicopter off HMAS Adelaide's Flight Deck on 26 June 2019 to coordinate the ADF's largest-ever amphibious helicopter mission, I took a moment to reflect on whether I had addressed all the risks. Little did I know that just a few days later, a mere 5mm of carbon would prevent us from losing an aircraft and its crew into the Pacific Ocean.


    I was determined to ensure the safety of MRH90 operations, but I wasn't alone in this endeavour. 
    I had the support of thousands of individuals from the Army, Navy, and Defence Industry. 
    However, the support and engineering system at the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) level was failing.
    This failure had been ongoing for several years. 
    But it was becoming increasingly worse.


    Despite these challenges, as we embarked on the mission that day and continued flying throughout the afternoon and late into the night, we demonstrated the aircraft's capability.
    My helicopter served as the command and control (C2) for the entire mission.
    With the assistance of a moving map with tactical overlay, weather radar, five radio networks, and a data link back to the ship, we executed the mission flawlessly.
    We successfully inserted several hundred soldiers onto the target, lifted M777 Artillery Guns with Chinook, conducted escort and strike operations with ARH Tiger, and carried out Medivac missions.
    All accomplished while performing multiple hot refuels off the ship and flying late into the evening using Night Vision Goggles.


    At the beginning of the year, our unit, the 5th Aviation Regiment, had a fleet of 19 MRH90s. 
    These helicopters were crucial in supporting various operations such as the North Queensland floods, the Solomon Islands election, and now the Amphibious exercises. 
    The demand for our fleet was high but had been anticipated.
    However, the sustainment and engineering support system could not meet the demand.
    Especially as our sister unit, the 6th Aviation Regiment, was also starting MRH90 operations.


    Consequently, the number of operational aircraft rapidly declined. 
    Parts were wearing out much earlier than expected, and we faced difficulties sourcing replacements from Europe.
    To keep certain helicopters flying, we had to cannibalise parts from others.
    Additionally, we encountered challenges in obtaining answers for complex maintenance issues.
    Despite our team's world-class expertise in maintaining and operating the MRH90, there were limitations to what we could accomplish.”

    • Like 2
    • Sad 4

    Australia to accelerate Taipan retirement

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    1 hour ago, junglierating said:

    Hmm thats strange im pretty sure the RAN used the Sea king Mk50 for quite a long time .. made (under license but well modified) in the UK.

    Perhaps the Aussies should have bought Merlin....the Noggys seem happy


    A stretch to call Sea King modern. Either way, the Westland Sea King is an American design, as is the Wessex 🙃

     

    EH101 was entered into the Blackhawk replacement comp back in the day & screened out quite quickly due to cost & size.
     

    RAF were quite keen to divest themselves of their Merlins quite quickly, keeping them for less than 15 years. That’s not indicative of a happy customer, tbf. 

    Australia to accelerate Taipan retirement

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    45 minutes ago, tempestfan said:

    But the original statement was a different one: "choppers: NEVER buy European!"

    I only use “chopper” during Arnold impersonations, though. 

    It wasn’t a nuanced position, true. How about this: “generally speaking, for military tasks, modern European military helicopters have proven unsuitable for Australian conditions, distances, use cases, & availability.”

     

    5 minutes ago, GiampieroSilvestri said:

    From the pictures found doing a internet search most air ambulances and police helicopters in Australia are Bo 105,BK 117,EC145,Dauphin and Ecureuil and not US manufactured.

     

    Saluti

     

    Giampiero


    Absolutely - none of those applications are military. 

    • Like 1

    Australia to accelerate Taipan retirement

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Jay Gee said:

    I think the main issue is never buy a battlefield helicopter that is made from composites. I've heard of some instances where a chopper lands out bush and a tree stump/rock/fence picket punches up through the floor. Easy(ish) fix with an aluminium airframe, but a lengthy process with composites. Plus the issues with the mounting of machine guns doesn't help it's role as an Army chopper either, apparently the side doors couldn't open if the guns were out.


    The floor issues were mainly from soldiers boarding damaging the floor, seats that weren’t designed to accommodate soldiers wearing their equipment, guns precluding fast roping or rappelling operations, plus the overall difficulties in repairing a composite monocoque airframe. Couple that with low parts availability as Airbus could either deliver new aircraft (to other customers) or deliver spares, & you’ve got an unavailability nightmare exacerbated by a tiny fleet size.

     

     

    7 hours ago, Slater said:

    It looks like Blackhawk will be around for a while, even considering the age of the aircraft. The US Army's new V-280 tiltrotor is apparently not going to replace 100% of th Blackhawk fleet. 

     

    The USAF does seem to have concerns about it's new(ish) HH-60W being survivable in a future Pacific conflict. 

     

    Different role for the HH-60W. Long range combat search & rescue is problematic across the northern & eastern pacific, that’s for sure. 
     

    3 hours ago, alt-92 said:

    On the condition you invest in local (license) manufacturing of (sub) assemblies, yes. Your decision makers seem to forget you're at the end of a very long supply line. 
    Something that was very obvious 80 years ago, and seems to be forgotten.


    Which is why belonging to large, standardised global fleets like MH-60R, CH-47F, C-130J, C-17, AH-64E, & C-17 is so important. Minimal modifications, minimal customisations, maximum commonality to the point of interchangeability. 
     

    The US Navy, for example, is now having Australian maintenance facilities doing depot-level servicing of their MH-60Rs. 
     

    spacer.png

    • Like 4

    Australia to accelerate Taipan retirement

    in Real Aviation

    Posted

    3 hours ago, tempestfan said:

    Strange - when I google Bo 105 Australia and EC 135 Australia, I get a number of hits. The EC even being used by the Australian forces., according to the official webpage of the RAN. But that's probably either fake news or doomed European junk.

    If you mean "not suited to Australian needs", you should perhaps state that and not "never buy European".

    EDIT: But I agree the NH90 is quite a disappointment...

    Didn’t see the EC135 on your original list? You’re right: it has an aircrew training role, though originally was provided at Airbus’ expense to cover shortfalls in availability…of the MRH90. 
    MRH90 was a political decision, imposed on Army & the RAN by the government of the day.

×
×
  • Create New...