Alcock & Brown Phantom

[Breaker]

In advance of the 1979 event, the IAT commissioned aviation artist, Wilf Hardy to design a special scheme for the Phantom. As Rolls Royce Eagle engines had powered the original Vimy and Rolls Royce Spey engines powered the Phantom FGR.2, the engine manufacturer, agreed to sponsor the special paint scheme. Both XV424 and XV486, from No.56 Squadron were painted at RAF St. Athan in overall Light Aircraft Grey 627, before the Wilf Hardy special markings were applied. While XV424 did not carry its serial on the forward facing nose gear door, XV486 did and while at CFB Goose Bay was zapped by CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) personnel, receiving a small CAF roundel on the forward facing nose gear door in the lower loop of the number eight. Although a photo of both aircraft together at one point was taken without a serial on the nose gear door.

Both aircraft were sent to CFB Goose Bay for the crossing, aided by five in-flight refuellings from Victor K.2 tankers, with XV424 arriving at RAF Greenham Common on June 21, 1979. The crew consisted of Squadron Leader A.J.H. Alcock MBE, a nephew of Captain Alcock (who flew the Vimy in 1919) and Flight Lieutenant WN Browne. The second aircraft XV486 was prepared in case any last minute problems arose with XV424. Following the IAT, both aircraft were to appear at several events during the summer throughout the UK. While Phantom FGR.2 XV424 is displayed in the standard air defence finish and markings at Hendon, the nose of unrelated Phantom FG.1 XV591 was painted to duplicate the XV424/XV486 special scheme for display at the Cosford location of the RAF Museum. For the June 1979 flight, Phantom FGR.2 XV424 carried the toy black cat mascot - ‘Twinkletoes’ - that had been carried on the original 1919 flight. For the Atlantic run, XV424 was flown by S/L A.J.N. (Tony) Alcock MBE (a No.56 Squadron Flight Commander and nephew of Atlantic Pioneer Sir John Alcock) and F/L W.N. (Norman) Browne, the latter a former Phantom Navigator, brought back from his Buccaneer Squadron for the occasion. XV424 is currently at Hendon. This topic will be covered in the November release (Telford) of Vol.2

Patrick Martin

author British Phantoms (AirDoc/Double Ugly)

Excellent, thank you for sharing this with me!

If it is of use for you:

Hasegawa had a HighGrade kit in 1:48 scale which is long sold out but can be found on the bay from time to time. Fujimi did one in 1:72.

CAM decals did 1:48 which are difficult to get - I bought a sheet this year at Bookhurst Hobbies in the US and they still have them, so you can safe a lot of time searching ;-)

CAM also did 1:32 which are more easy to find (Bookhurst have these discounted but Hannants should be cheaper in the end), though you will have problems in finding a suitable Brit. Phantom :-(

And finally CAM also released these in 1:72 - Hannants has them too. There was some other maufacturer in this scale but I am not sure... Modeldecal???

Modeldecal sheet 55 covers this Phantom. I'm guessing it is probably the most accurate as Dick Ward took pictures of the actual plane at the IAT 79 and they were issued shortly after that. He did lots of the Wilf Hardy schemes for various planes for IATs (Boscombe Down Phantom and Dakota for example) and I suspect (but cannot prove - does anybody know for certain?) he may have had access to Wilf Hardy's original drawings for the schemes.

No idea about that but I would not say that it will generally improve accuracy if someone had access to the concepts/artworks as it might well be that these were altered when the planes were "dressed". Of course - takeing pictures of the real thing will be much better IMHO.

I've got my mitts on a Hase boxing of the Alcock & Brown Hi-Grade, cheers!

[Takamota]

Small world we live in. Just hand delivered a commission built model to none other than Norman Browne (said navigator on the Alcock and Browne Phantom!) What a tremendously charming chap too i might add. Lives in Lossiemouth just down the road from me.

[xvtonker]

Thank you, I've found about 10 photos online and I did wonder about this!That would also explain why the intake blanks are different between the two. I'm a 1/48 man, was going to pick the kit up off a member but it had already gone!

If you're interested I just bought the Allcock & Brown kit during a recent trip to the USA.

Let me know and we can work something out.

It's the Premier Hasegawa kit with extra white metal parts and photo-etched cockpit details.

XVTonker

[Breaker]

If you're interested I just bought the Allcock & Brown kit during a recent trip to the USA.

Let me know and we can work something out.

It's the Premier Hasegawa kit with extra white metal parts and photo-etched cockpit details.

XVTonker

Thank you for your offer, I've got a bagged kit in my stash now of this one along with a spare set of decals from a member on here

[xvtonker]

Thank you for your offer, I've got a bagged kit in my stash now of this one along with a spare set of decals from a member on here

No problem.

XVTonker

[JerryMort]

Not a very good photo I am afraid but you can see the pod - RIAT, Greenham Common

[Breaker]

Just thought as well, I've got a Tamiya and a Hase F-16 coming so hopefully one of them will have a baggage pod.

[XV571]

The Hasegawa F-16 will have a baggage pod. Unfortunately it's the wrong type . The one in the picture of XV424 is based on a 150 gallon Aero 1C fuel tank, was designated as CNU-188 by the US Navy and looked like this: http://a4skyhawk.org/2c/a4parts/cnu188.htm (but without the finned tail section). The USAF one was originally based on the BLU-27 napalm tank and is designated MXU-648 and looks like this (but not always with a fancy paint scheme ): http://www.midwaysailor.com/forum/LaCrosse2009-10.jpg .

Two Mikes resin made an Aero 1C tank in 1/48 http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/tmr48015.htm. These could be hard to find though. Freightdog will have one in 1/72: http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FDR72026; you can chop the tail off to make the baggage pod. You might be able to make one using a drop tank from the Airfix A-4B or adapting a 300 gallon tank from a 1/72 S-3, A-6 or A-7 for a 1/48 version.

HTH,

Jonathan

[bentwaters81tfw]

[JerryMort]

Red Roo in Australia do a pair of 1/48 150 gallon Skyhawk drop tanks.

[71chally]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but were XV424 and XV486 ever seen or photo'd together?

Maybe at St Athan?

[Jabba]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but were XV424 and XV486 ever seen or photo'd together?

Maybe at St Athan?

I am sure there is a photo in one of the books that I have, but will have to check when I get home as to which one it is in.

[Jabba]

I have found a picture of both aircraft side by side in a book called "Phantom Squadrons" by Richard Ward, and is on page 38. You guessed correctly in that the picture was taken at RAF St Athan where the scheme was applied. This photo along with a few others of each aircraft are also on Modeldecal sheet No55 instructions.

Edited August 31, 2016 by Jabba

[71chally]

Many thanks Jabba, will look up those shots.

Interested as I know someone who was on Phantom paint at Saints at the time.