gary1701

That's looking really good Aubrey. I look forward to seeing lots of pics of it when done. Have you picked out any specific airframe which it will be or is that still to be decided? The colours are a real difficult job to judge, espically now many have been out and back from the desert. I kinda think there's two standards of finish to these - aircraft that have been to the desert - not just Afghanistan but also aircraft that have been in Arizona as well - and those that haven't. The aircraft that haven't gone out yet (and they only draw the Afghan aircraft from the same 30 odd airframes) do look pretty much like the pre-weathered finish you've got to at the moment, where as aircraft that have been out are a lot lighter, very dusty looking and worn with new panels fitted during overhaul easily visible. If you can catch one of these in the late 'golden hour' shortly before dusk that olive drab looks lovely, espically if it's one that hasn't gained the worn look. Don't know if these are any help colour wise but they're bang upto date: 'Army Air 342', (ZJ232) on the circuit late yesterday afternoon. Gary

Hi again. Yes, that's the one. I've checked through a load of references and cannot see it on any Apache, regardless of variant or operator - including prototypes. I can imagine it would be a real pain to try and remove though so understand about leaving it. The raised panel area at the rear where the vertical fin meets is also not visible on any images I've seen. A couple of reference shots that may be of interest. Looking forward to seeing the finished article. Gary

Hi, That looks impressive Mark. Just to add to what Troffa has said there's another little problem area that I noticed. The raised panel on the rear fuselage just infront of the chaff dispenser - it looks like it's on both sides - is certainly not there on any of the WAH-64's I've photographed. I've also pulled some books and can't see it on anybody elses Apaches either, A or D models. Sorry, but I only just stumbled across the thread. Gary

Hi all, I just noticed this thread again and somebody I was intouch with a few days ago was wondering the same question. Dave Rowlands, the military artist painted the Jugroom Fort mission for the AAC and the pilots involved are quoted in the text that acommpanies the print vouching for the accuracy of the painting. It also mentions that 'ZJ224' was one of the two aircraft that landed, although whenever this was 'Macy's' or not isn't clear. The reference to ZJ227 covering HRF in his new book 'Hellfire' isn't much help as the time period covered in that book was during 656's first Herrick deployment, not the second, later one which was the primary focus of 'Apache' and when the Jugroom fort mission took place. The sortie was flown in January 2007 and '224 returned to Wattisham on 18.9.08 (by sheer chance I was there the day she came back). Although it seems a long time, I believe the aircraft deployments are quite lengthy so the timescale fits. It maybe unconnected but the aircraft appears to have retained it's Herrick code - it's the one I posted pics of earlier in the thread coded 'K', which she still carries. It's not conclusive by any means, but it does fit. '224 in the Wattisham hangar the day she was trucked back up from Brize; http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Army/W...gbow/1495825/L/ The painting at Dave Rowlands site. http://www.davidrowlands.co.uk/gallery/gal...arPaintCode=706 Gary

All, This is the best I've got so far, mainly down to my rather poor macro photography's skills than anything else! Give me a Apache half a mile away, no problem, stick one in a hangar right infront of me and I've got problems. First two were ZJ166 in September 2008. First pic is front seat (normal TADS cockpit configuration), second is rear seat. Aircraft overview. Revised front seat configuration on MTADS aircraft. ZJ182 or 183 (can't remember which) in February 2009. All taken with permission and no restrictions. Larger copies are all here, along with many others. http://gary-stedman.fotopic.net/c1648365.html Gary

Hi again all, I'll join the chorus recommending these books. They're both very good reads, and it looks like Ed Macy has a second, called 'Hellfire' out later on this year. It seems it will cover the earlier deployment 656 did intheatre which he references at times in 'Apache'. Just to add to the other comments about M-TADS, but according to a few recent photos, the Dutch have at least some aircraft fitted as well. Just a couple more shot in the second half of the week at Wattisham; Rolling take off on runway 05. Landing at roughly the same spot. See how much difference just a couple of hours change of light makes to these beasts! Not a very good shot, and slighty blurred, as it was a very quick snapshot. I often hear people say you can't photograph here because of the distance involved - it's not always true. That was taken at minimal range on the lens, no zoom and no crop in editing, exactly how it came out of the camera. This crew were doing quick circuits to the 23 threshold while I was just the other side of the fence, when they came straight over the top at me, this was taken just as they cleared the fence, but into sun unfortunately. Gary

Hi Mark/all, Glad the pics are of some help. My own site is a little behind as I've caught quite a few Apaches in recent weeks. I'll catch up as soon as possible. The flickr and A.net images are fairly current. If anybody wants any of these pics larger for reference then I'd be happy to oblige, as long as they're for personal use only (and don't suddenly appear on decal sheet manuals!!). PM me if required. Edit: shot these yesterday evening, and they might be of interest. They're both of the same aircraft, and the first time I've been able to get a clear shot of the undersides of a Herrick coded aircraft, caught while doing autorotations to the runway. Gary

Hi, Thanks for that. I've been out of the modelling game for quite some years now and was not familiar with that name. I've been informed off forum of the postal address of the company and they will be hearing from me formally in due course so I won't mention it any more on the list. It's enough to say that like many aviation photographers who showcase their work on photo databases and personal websites I take unauthorised usage quite seriously and will respond. Thanks again though. Gary

I just opened the link above to Hannants and saw the photos accompanying the WAH-64 instructions. The centre and right images look a little familiar - they're mine! Funny that, as I don't remember being asked and I assume they were probably lifted off Airliners.net - minus the copyright bar obviously. I've had a quick look around the web but can't seem to find a direct contact address with a firm called Model Alliance - would somebody be kind enough to post them if known so I can get intouch with this company. Gary

Hi again Dave, The pylons the guys are talking about are the furthest inboard, between the stations fitted with wing tanks (when carried) and the fuselage. These are purely used for air-to-ground stores and are rarely fitted on training sorties out of Coningsby - even on the block 5 upgraded jets that are air-to-ground capable. Pic below of 17®'s lead jet shows them loaded with Paveway LGB's. That's a airshow load though, as the next stations outboard are usually fitted with tanks. This one shows the RAF's first ( and currently only!) T3 with them fitted and nothing mounted. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Eu...hoon/1377987/L/ Gary

Hi Dave, Hope you don't mind me coming in here but I can help with the FLIR turret on the forward fuselage. Once it's fitted, it's on for good. The last few aircraft from Tranche one were delivered from BAe at Warton with this already fitted and were to the block 5 standard. Airframes were, I believe; ZJ930/933/935/938-943 (938 was retained by BAe, and 943 was declared Cat.5 after the mishap in the US so has been written off). ZJ944 and later are from Tranche two and all carry the FLIR. The older Tranche one (block 2) jets are gradually being cycled through BAe on upgrade and are returned with the FLIR fitted. To date, I believe the following have come back; ZJ917(QO-G), ZJ916(QO-U), ZJ912(AB), ZJ913(AC) - as in Nev's shots - ZJ918(QO-L), ZJ920(BX to Q-OA(not a typo, they put the code on wrong!)), ZJ921(BW to QO-H) and ZJ924(DD). There's several more at Warton and I think the plan is that all will be done in time. Hope that's some help. Obviously, this only covers single-seat models. Gary

Hi, That pic looks quite familiar! The load quoted above is the load I've always seen. In theory, the inboard ASRAAM's can be swapped out for further AMRAAM rounds, as has appeard on BAe trials and also test flown by 17® at Coningsby but 4+4 seems to be QRA standard. I've linked the larger image of that pic below plus a few other QRA shots at Coningsby, the second is a high overshoot showing the undersides quite clearly. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Eu...hoon/1285121/L/ http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Eu...hoon/1259318/L/ http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Eu...hoon/1258768/L/ http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Eu...hoon/1254432/L/ Gary

Hi gents, That's my pic above, I'd been trying to chase that jet down for a long time before I finally got it last year. I believe it has spent a lot of it's time in the maintenance flight - like many RAF Typhoons. It actually gained the two 'Bear' marks first for a while, as it was the jet that was shown in the photo's released to the press alongside a 'Bear' during the first Typhoon intercept a while ago, the 'Blackjacks' came a lot later. I was told recently that one of the decal sets out (I don't which as it comes totally second hand) misunderstood the silhouettes and did four of one type only (can't remember which). Gary

Hi all, Here's another current option for you, ZD714/AJ-W inbound to Marham while with the GR4 wing there. There's very few marked with full 617 insignia, as the majority of RAF GR4s have gone unmarked there's just not many options if going for a current bird. Larger available for reference if required. Gary

Gents, I've just finished updating a revised walkround gallery for the WAH-64 at my site. It's been done with modellers in mind so hope it's some help. The link direct to the page is below. http://gary-stedman.fotopic.net/c1648365.html Gary

Hi Troffa/all, That's interesting stuff. I wasn't aware that the avionics fit on the first 18 frames didn't allow the inital fitment of HIDAS. I'd noticed that in the early years of the AH fleet working up you rarely saw the HIDAS fit, or even in some cases the panels ready for fitment - which fits in well with the first 18 not configured. Until they moved in locally a few years ago I only rarely saw the airframes in the early years of deployment. As you say, they're certainly upto spec now as I caught ZJ166 with the full fit a couple of months ago. I can't make any comment on any of the kits as I've never seen them. The info about the new internal fuel tank and movement of the antenna did come directly from a Wattisham AH pilot. It was a few months ago and it's possible it could have been duff info though - it would hardly have been the first time if that was the case! That wouldn't be the Barking Fox car park by any chance? I saw one last September being delivered back into the hangar after being run up from Brize and you can see the pounding that they've taken while on Herrick. I've also managed to catch a couple with the camera while on REME airtests following return from Herrick and the faded/sand blasted appearance of them is really apparent. Gary

Hi all, This is a first post so I better say hello first. I'm no longer a modeller (ran out of room/time and ability quite a few years ago!) but often find my pics linked by the various modelling forums so have joined up to help out where I can. The WAH-64 is a particular favourite, being based just over the hill and I've managed to build up quite a few pics over recent years. I try and keep upto date with what's going on with the AH so heres some info that may be of some help. Firstly, the HIDAS fitment is frequently swapped around between airframes, regardless of where they were in the build sequence. I've often photographed airframes that are fitted with HIDAS and then find at a later date it has been removed, and vice versa. This applies even to frontline aircraft at Wattisham, not just aircraft assigned to Wallop. I would guess (and I don't know for certain as I've never been able to find out for sure), that there's not enough sets for the whole fleet, and it's rotated around airframes depending on when they're due out to Afghan. I'd say you could accurately model any airframe without HIDAS as it would no doubt be accurate at some point. Example below is one of the last few delivered. I photographed ZJ231 while in the hover on the fence in June last year (minus HIDAS), yet it was previously fitted some time ago, by September the antenna was back again. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Army/W...gbow/1370026/L/ The aerial placement is also in the process of being revised. The rear fuselage antenna is being moved to the end of the stub pylons, facing aft. This is to free up space for a further internal fuel tank as in Afghanistan they have currently adopted the US practise of carrying a reduced load of 30mm in favour of a auxillary fuel tank in the ammo bay. ZJ203 shows the revised placement below although I've seen relatively few configured like this so far. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Army/W...gbow/1357206/L/ I hope that's some help. Gary