SimonR

Yes Mike, wasn't being serious! They even filled the old apron up with sheds as well! Although I'm not sure how many Hunters you could fit in the old 22 Sdn SAR Hanger!!

The Marines must have some spare hanger space at Chivenor, now that would be something, Hunters returning home - obviously wont happen though 😒

Any guesses where the Reds will end up? I guess the options are few and far between - Valley or Coningsby?

Or worse still, a prison like Coltishall 😞

Hi Paul, great stuff - look forward to seeing them! Theres some really knowledgeable guys on here so just ask if you have any questions, somebody will know the answer! My dad left the RAF sometime in 67 after 23 years, I guess their paths may have crossed at some point! Cheers Simon

Yes, Steve, thats where I messed up, should have loaded some weight in there before closing the fuselage up! Cheers Simon

I'm now building mine as an FB5, goes together nicely, but never going to get enough weight in the nose to stop it tail sitting 😞

Wow, that is simply amazing 😲 Stunning build, thanks for sharing! Cheers Simon

Yeah, maybe Keith - looks worse in the photos than in the flesh but could maybe have done with being toned down a bit, not losing sleep over it though! Cheers Simon

Picked one of these up today in my LHS (the lovely Langleys in Norwich) - what a great little kit! If I want to build an FB5, what are the main differences chaps? Cheers Simon

Hi all, I originally started this during the 2016 Hunter group build but bit off far more than I could chew and its sat on the shelf of doom for a couple of years - until about a month ago that is. I decided to crack on and get it finished only to come up with serous decal issues. The kit decals had perished, I originally bought this cheap about 10 years ago and the box had suffered some water damage, this had obviously affected the decals. I'd planned on doing this in 79 Squadron markings from Chivenor in the late 60's so already had the xtradecal sheet with the squadron markings, but needed roundels, which is where fellow britmodeller David Womby came up trumps and airmailed some from the states (Thanks David!). So here it is, minus most of the stencils which I will add when I can get my hands on some and the rocket pods which are in the paint shop! 🙂 Cheers Simon

Thanks Chally! These were built some time ago, currently working on a big Revell 1/32 scale FGA9, hence the question about the rocket pods! Cheers Simon

Great stuff guys! David Watkins book on Chivenor is a good reference point, there are some superb shots of the flight line with 145 Squadron F4s with the Knights templar emblems on the rear fuselage and slightly later on the nose of F6's. Also Alan Halls Warpaint book has profiles of all the Chivenor Hunter squadrons as well. Ive already modelled a number of Chivenor Hunters, heres a few: 145 Squadron (Academy 1/48) 79 Squadron (Revell 1/72 - note the serial number should be black) 63 Squadron (Aeroclub 1/48) 229 T7 (Revell 1/72 odds & ordanance conversion) Cheers Simon

Well thats interesting Wes, always assumed it was just 79 & 63 in the late 60's!! And yes, just done the same google search and some great photos. Cheers Simon

Just dug out my book on Chivenor, 63(R) replaced 145(R) in 1963 and 79(R) was formed in 1967!

Hi Wez, yes they were originally 145 & 234, sometime in the mid/late 60's they changed to 63 & 79 - 145 was transferred to Lightning OCU. I think there were only ever 2 squadrons at Chivenor in the post-war period at least (excluding 22 SAR). When the RAF returned with Hawks in 1980 they eventually became 63 & 151 as 2 TWU. Cheers Simon

Hi Selwyn, My understanding of 229 OCU at Chivenor (before the base was mothballed in '74 and the unit moved to Brawdy) was that 229 OCU was made up of 2 Reserve Squadrons of 63 & 79. 229 at Chivenor had no separate markings as far as I'm aware! My dads final squadron at Chivenor was 63 when he came out of the RAF in 1967. Cheers Simon

Yes pylons, having a bad day lol Its a 229 OCU 79 Squadron Hunter from Chivenor! Cheers Simon

Yes, Selwyn, I do mean MATRA - my mistake spelling - now about to correct the title lol Thanks for that, just deciding whether to add some to the outer pods!! Cheers Simon

Hi all, My dad could have answered this in as instant as he was a Hunter armourer, but unless I employ a medium I'm not going to get an answer! Did the RAF FGA9's ever carry the MATRA Rocket Pods at all, I can find hardy any photographic evident on tinternet? I'm building a Revell 79 Squadron Hunter circa late 60's. Thanks in advance! Cheers Simon

Stunning collection Piero, thanks for sharing!

Hi David, That would be superb! I'll send a PM shortly. Cheers Simon

Hi all, I'm currently building a 1/32 Revell Hunter FGA9 - I'm at the decalling stage and I have a massive problem with the kit decals, its an old boxing of the kit and firstly the decals are taking ages to come off the sheet and secondly when the finally do seperate they are off register, so you get a nice white edge to the roundels :-( I have the xtradecal sheet for the squadron markings but need new roundels & stencils. Does anybody know if Revell will send out another sheet if I contact them or does anybody have some in the spares box they don't require? Thanks in advance! Simon

Thats a stunning result from an old kit Serge, massive well done! cheers Simon

Thats fantastic work, having just completed the same kit myself I can say you've done a superb job! Cheers Simon