SaintsPhil Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I always thought it was a display jet, didn't realise It had siblings! CBLS sounds the most likely then. I don't know what more kits don't come with them, they're the most usual 'stores' to be carried! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I'm sure I read somewhere that there was a "increase low-level visibility" campaign at some point following a number of air-prox incidents. May have imagined it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 I'm sure I read somewhere that there was a "increase low-level visibility" campaign at some point following a number of air-prox incidents. May have imagined it. The original one was for the Sqns 75 anniversary, and after that the others may have been part of the visibility thing as several Tornadoes were painted with white or red fins at that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Started to apply the decals last night including the tail lightning flash, plus the roundels which the underwing ones required a bit of splicing to get them around the pylons. I still need a touch of tidying up around the flash and I am not quite happy with the red that I painted to match the decal red. Will continue with the decalling over the coming week. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 I always thought it was a display jet, didn't realise It had siblings! CBLS sounds the most likely then. I don't know what more kits don't come with them, they're the most usual 'stores' to be carried! Does anyone know where I can get the appropriate CBLS from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasacop Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Freightdog do packs of 2 CBLS100. Very nice they are too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 Freightdog do packs of 2 CBLS100. Very nice they are too! He may have done, but they are not available on his web site at this present time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 Heritage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 You'll be wanting this decal sheet then, 4 Sqdn GR3 Great choice of scheme. Didn't our own Enzo Matrix have something to do with it? I did indeed. I designed and painted the original fin on XV738/B in 1987. Jabba is doing one of the later jets. Oddly enough, the Modeldecal sheet is more suitable for the later jets than it is for XV738. The original flash was slightly bent on the port side. The flashes on the later jets were regular because they were masked and sprayed by the painters and finishers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 22, 2014 Share Posted June 22, 2014 This is not actually a display aircraft, but a normal line jet and I think that is 1 of 6 that were marked in this way. I remember whilst being based at Gutersloh (not on Harriers though) that several of these marked aircraft would be flying about. During 1989 a Tornado (ZD891/BB of 14 Sqn) was involved in a mid-air collision with two Luftwaffe Alpha Jets. This was the third mid-air collision in 18 months that was attributed to the camouflage scheme being too good. Therefore, various measures were tried to improve visibility. Various RAFG aircraft participated in a trial which involved painting the tails in red or white for tactical aircraft, red or blue for air defence aircraft. There are numerous photos around showing RAFG Phantoms with red or blue tails. These weren't squadron markings, the aircraft were participating in the trial. IV(AC) Sqn was on APC at Decimomannu at the time and so none of our aircraft participated in the trial. When we got back to Gütersloh, the wing commander was a bit miffed that none of his aircraft had colourful tails and so three aircraft were selected and had their tails painted in the squadron colours, in an identical scheme to the one that XV738 had worn. The difference this time was that the station paint shop did the painting and so the lightning bolt was nice and straight! Your model depicts one of the later batch which can be distinguished by the fact that they carried a code letter on the fin. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Your model depicts one of the later batch which can be distinguished by the fact that they carried a code letter on the fin. The aircraft that I am going to do is XZ970, which has the added bonus (from the pictures that I have seen of it) of having no tail code. Heritage? Thanks I will give them a try. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 The aircraft that I am going to do is XZ970, which has the added bonus (from the pictures that I have seen of it) of having no tail code. Aha! According to my records, that jet was painted specially for an RCDS static display in May 1989. However, after the display it did have a tail code applied but your choice is certainly accurate. Be aware that Harriers also carried their code letters on the outrigger covers. In the case of XZ970, the code was H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) Heritage? The problem with the Heritage CBLS is that they are of the short tail type specifically designed for use on Jaguar centreline pylons. (the short tail allowed two to be carried in tandem) and not seen on other aircraft. The Type used on Harrier had the long tails. Flightpath do the correct type but in their Hawk detail set which is a bit expensive for just two CBLS! You could of course add the longer tail to the heritage items with a bit of scrap and lots of sanding! Selwyn Edited June 23, 2014 by Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xffw45343tg Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 Thanks for that info Selwyn. I didn't know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Aha! According to my records, that jet was painted specially for an RCDS static display in May 1989. However, after the display it did have a tail code applied but your choice is certainly accurate. Be aware that Harriers also carried their code letters on the outrigger covers. In the case of XZ970, the code was H. What colour was this code letter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintsPhil Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 You could email/PM freightdog, to see if they're going to restock on the CBLS any time soon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 What colour was this code letter? Yellow, as I recall. The fin codes were also yellow in the early 80s but changed to black around the late 80s. Here are some photos of 4 Sqn jets. http://sg-etuo.de/Squadrons/No4SquadronGR3?p=6 This one shows your jet in the markings you are building, without the fin code. It is interesting in that it is in "Stinger" fit with a Phimat pod on the port outer and a Sidewinder on the (unseen) starboard outer. http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1346188/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 The problem with the Heritage CBLS is that they are of the short tail type specifically designed for use on Jaguar centreline pylons. (the short tail allowed two to be carried in tandem) and not seen on other aircraft. The Type used on Harrier had the long tails. Flightpath do the correct type but in their Hawk detail set which is a bit expensive for just two CBLS! You could of course add the longer tail to the heritage items with a bit of scrap and lots of sanding! Selwyn I did find them on the Heritage web site, and I was going to buy them until I saw your info. I do actually have the PP Aeroparts update set for the Hawk, but the CBLS have already been taken by another model. I did however find an Aviation Workshop CBLS set, but that again only has one in the packet the other one used elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) Yellow, as I recall. The fin codes were also yellow in the early 80s but changed to black around the late 80s. Here are some photos of 4 Sqn jets. http://sg-etuo.de/Squadrons/No4SquadronGR3?p=6 This one shows your jet in the markings you are building, without the fin code. It is interesting in that it is in "Stinger" fit with a Phimat pod on the port outer and a Sidewinder on the (unseen) starboard outer. http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1346188/ Thanks for the info a possible interesting weapons fit. I have just had a look through my Airfix/Heller weapon sets, and yes the Phimat pods have gone. I think that the search for what to fit on these outer pylons goes on, it just depends on what stuff I find first. Another quick question. Was the Ser No under both wings at this time? I do remember that on Nimrods the Ser No under one wing was removed in the mid 80s. Edited June 24, 2014 by Jabba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 I have now got most of the decalling done, but I still have to apply the fuselage Ser Nos as I have to use separate decals and I need a clear head to do this. It will probably get done tonight. I am still not quite sure of the red colour on the tail as it still does not quite match up with the decal colour. I may have to experiment. Anyway some piccies. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 That is looking great - the tail design is so cool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted June 30, 2014 Author Share Posted June 30, 2014 That is looking great - the tail design is so cool. Thanks, I have now re-painted the red on the tail, going as close as I can the the yelllow on the decal. It does (even if I say so myself) look a lot better now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nimrod54 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Great work all round Jabba and the tail looks brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share Posted July 6, 2014 Getting there slowly. I have now finished the decalling, and I have fitted the U/C, which needed a little rub down of the wheels to get all four touching the ground. I have also painted and decalled the fuel tanks and camera pod. A quick question to those in the know, how many camera ports were there on the camera pod as Airfix only give you one decal although there do seem to be panel lines (if that is the correct term) for a few more? I have also rescued a Phimat pod from an update set and painted one of the Sidewinder launch rails from the kit. My intention is to cut this from the pylon and glue it to the one fitted to the model. Yes I know it seems a bit bottom about face but I did not want to remove the one of the model as it was after this had been fitted that I decided to use the Sidewinder rail. Now to seal the decals and apply some weathering and the matt varnish. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share Posted July 12, 2014 Almost there, just the ejection seat and canopy to fit then a final look around to make sure that all that is meant to be there actually is. I did have a problem with one of the aerials behind the canopy as it went missing across my working desk never to be found again. I found a replacement from an Italeri kit that is in the loft. Although it is not quite the same, as I am going to place the canopy in the open position, it will not be seen that well so it does not really matter. Anyhow some piccies. I was also looking at one of the pictures that Enzo posted and realised that I must have been at that show at Yeovilton as I have been to only two when I was based at RAF St Athan, between Jul 87 and Nov 89. So I had a look through my photos in the loft and found this. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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