Evalman

Apparently a Nimrod is booked to do a few approaches to St Mawgan at 1300L on Tues 30th March, also hopefully a flypast over Newquay.

It is indeed a very nice scheme, made its public debut at Northolt's Nightshoot this week;

I've just recieved the latest BW Models list and this is shown as available; BW305 - AEC Mammoth Major 3000 gallon aircraft refueller - £29.00

Looking at the photos I have sussed where these vehicles are from, but I cannot find any references to them. I can only assume that the six wheeler is either a one off build or conversion commisioned by the customer.

I have the BW Models Jetranger, it is definately a Jetranger, not a Mk 11. According to Barry at BW he is working on the Mark 11 and Mark 12. For some reason MOD establishments like Boscombe Down purchase their own equipment idependently, for example St Athan have a new Carmichael Cobra (as do Boscombe Down). gingertitan, where are these vehicles based, it might help.

Very nice!

Broplan did this kit, I'm not sure if it is still available. Try Aeroclub or these people; http://www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=l&ai=C...ublisher%3DBROP

The 4 wheel vehicle is the same type of RIV currently used by the RAF / RN / AAC, (What is the crest on the cab?) Unfortunately I haven't seen a kit of this yet. I'm struggling with the 6 wheeler, as you say it looks like a Carmichael Jetranger but it's not identical to the ones I've seen or the BW kit. Perhaps it was rebuilt at some stage.

This was one of the best of the recent special schemes, and you've done a lovely job!

Beautiful models!

This is the Alvis / Unipower RIV, first delivered around 1999 to replace the TACR2a and Mark 10. The Mark 10 'story' is a bit more complicated as a number of versions were delivered to the RAF and RN from about 1982. They were replaced by the RIV and MFV by 2000 ish. This is the basic Mark 10; (BW138); During the 1990's the Mark 10s had new cabs fitted due to corrosion, these were known as the Mark 10E (BW174). This photo shows exactly the same vehicle as above after conversion; The Royal Navy used the Mark 10C, these had larger engines and are easily distiguished by the larger rear engine compartment; (BW181): The Mark 10B used by the RAF also had the larger engine compartment. If your vehicle is / was a Mark 10, it is possible that it was rebuilt by Angloco after the MOD disposed with it. It would be handy to see a photo. Cheers, Pete

If your smaller 6 wheel truck was one of these; It is a TACR2a (Truck Airfield Crash Rescue, Mk 2a) which is available from BW Models; This is what the RAF and RN currently use, would this be your larger 6 wheel truck? This is a MFV (Major Foam Vehicle); Updated ones have a yellow stripe (MFV2) Unfortunately you can't get current MOD Crash Vehicles such as the MFV or the smaller RIV (Rapid Intervention Vehicle) as a 1/72 or 1/76 kit. BW models do most of the vehicles used up until about the year 2000. If you work somewhere like Boscombe Down you will have something totally different.

Are they ex MOD? Have a look through these; http://album.sixappealwheel.org/Petes-Album Cheers, Pete

That's right (code is 10); the photo was taken at St Mawgan a couple of years ago (May 2008) when the NSW were down for a week with 3 Harriers, ZD329 was a GR7 at the time. The nearest Harrier is GR9A, ZD322 / 03A.

Same as the Aldergrove pics, most noticeable when next to each other.

Here is a link for Flightpath; If you scroll down to the bottom you will find the Houchin. http://home.clara.net/djparkins/fltpath/fp...postwar_raf.htm Apart from the Airfix Tactical Refueller, I don't think you will be lucky with a modern bowser. Cheers, Pete

Are you modelling Military or Civil? Most of the stuff on Flightpath is Military, but they do Ground Equipment such as these Houchins. I have seen these with RN Merlins; Both Flightpath and BW Models do this Houchin, the RAF / RN replaced them about 15 years ago but I have seen them at Civil Airfields; Playing around my new camera tripod and the old Airfix Lynx model; For vehicles try BW Models, I have just got this Hallam Tractor from them; They were with the RAF from the mid 1980's but many have now been auctioned off. Also have at look at this for some other vehicles from BW http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44852 http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44894

Shown as new releases on the Model Alliance website, however I can't get the images to show. I wonder if anyone has them yet and could post some photos? Cheers.

Not that I am aware of. Fire brigade models do a 1/48 Scale Carmichael MFV; http://www.freewebs.com/firebrigademodels/...1990/FBM50.html Pete

On a similar track to the modern RAF vehicle thread, here is one for Royal Navy airfield vehicles and ground equipment. It is only recently that the RN and RAF have standardized their fleets (eg MFV, RIV, Schopf Tractors, MAN refuellers etc). Prior to this each service tended to deal with vehicle procurement individually. One vehicle used by both the RAF and RN was the TACR1 (Truck, Airfield Crash Rescue, Mark 1) based on a Land Rover chassis. They were first delivered during the early 1970's and not finally replaced by the TACR2 until the late 1980's. RN TACR1's were initially painted a rather garish flourescent orange colour with a black bonnet however towards the end of their Naval career they were repainted red as in this photo taken at RNAS Yeovilton in 1988. This TACR1 has all equipment removed and was awaiting disposal. The TACR1 is available in 1/48 Scale (Hart Smith Models) and 1/76 Scale (BW Models); here is the BW Kit; Another vehicle ordered by the RAF and RN was the Mark 10 series built by Scammell / Carmichael. The Royal Navy opted for the Mark 10C which differed from early RAF Mark 10s by having a more powerful engine and a larger rear engine compartment. The Mark 10C was introduced into RN service during the mid 1980's and was replaced by the Alvis RIV towards the end of the 1990's. They operated from most RN airfields including Culdrose, Yeovilton, Portland, Merrywether and Predannack. This photo was taken at Yeovilton during 1988, the Mark 10C operated alongside the TACR2 and Mark 12. The Mk 10 is available in both 1/48 scale and 1/76 scale. Here is the BW models 1/76 scale kit. An item of Ground Equipent in use with the Royal Navy which differs slightly from the RAF version is the Houchin 48kVa ground power unit. These have been around since the 1980's and are still in use with both services. The RN version is 'powered', ie it can be moved around without a tractor, the main visible differences are the extra lights on the roof of the RN version. They were commonly seen with Sea King HAS and AEW versions, Merlins and other visiting aircraft such as Tornados, Nimrods etc. The Houchin is available in 1/72, 1/48 and I believe 1/32 scale from Flightpath: here is the 1/72 scale kit;

I hope this is posted in the right place! There have been a few requests for information about RAF Ground Euipment and Vehicles in the 'Military Aircraft' section, it seems the main problem is that many Aircraft Modellers are unaware of 'what is out there' and what vehicle or piece of ground equipment would be appropriate to display with a particular aircraft. I recently recieved the latest BW Models catalogue after losing touch with them a few years ago was surprised at just how many items suitable for 1/72 scale aircraft modellers are available. Other companies such as Flightpath also produce some first rate items. Although all BW products are 1/76 scale, they do not look out of place when displayed alongside 1/72 scale aircraft. Looking through the BW catalogue, the first item on my 'want' list was the TACR2A (Truck, Aircraft Crash Rescue, Mark 2a) based on a six wheel Range Rover chassis. The TACR2a was introduced into RAF service during 1988/89, they replaced an older version of the TACR2 which had served from about 1977 and were rapidly wearing out by the late 80s. Most RAF airfields had at least one of these vehicles and they were often seen driving around; their main role was to be first on the scene of any aircraft incident and initiate the rescue of aircrew before larger vehicles arrived. TACR2a's were usually painted red, as with this one at RAF St Mawgan, however a few (destined to accompany Harriers when on deployment) were painted green or a green/black disruptive pattern. The BW model looks to be an accurate depiction of the original, and with the exception of the vacformed windscreen and other glazing goes together easily with Superglue. The vehicle in the background is a Thornycroft Nubian Major Mark 9. These large trucks were introduced into RAF sevice during the mid 1970's and were finally replaced by the Carmichael MFV during 2000/2001. They were a common sight on most RAF airfields for 25 years, painted red when first delivered but soon toned down to green with standard yellow stripes. During the mid 1980's they were repainted in their original red colours. The Royal Navy also used the Mark 9 from the late 70's until about 1990. BW Models produce the Mark 9 but I attempted to build the Capricorn Miniature version back in the mid 1990's, the first image shows a mini version of the real 28 AJ 49 (above) as seen at RAF St Mawgan during the mid 1990's. The following show two vehicles in the earlier green / yellow stripe scheme. I am not sure if the Caprcorn Miniature kit is still available but the BW kit should produce a similar result. If this is useful, I will cover some more RAF and RN vehicles.

I have just looked at the Aviation Workshop site and they have a Royal Navy Douglas Deck Tractor shown for release during 2010 (both 72 and 48 scale. The product code is SS-7205 for the 72 scale version.

I suppose the whole team is quite a big walnut! I guess there were only a few occassions when the twin rig was required at St Mawgan so it was quite often used for smaller aircraft, I saw it refuelling Sea Kings fairly regularly.

Glad about that, there is an older edition by Terry Gander with even more drawings including the 3000 gallon AEC Mammoth. I didn't know about the base toys cab, do you know if either of these cabs are available.

I can think of a couple of occassions when I have been told not to photograph inside Typhoon intakes. The groundcrew were happy for me to photograph everything else close up (except the cockpit). But as you say, how many thousands of people have head on taxi shots of Typhoons at air shows!