cathasatail Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Hi everyone! I've been working on a Tornado GR4 kit (1:72 Revell) for a project (link here). I'm basing it upon a 41sqn GR4, ZA560 in particular, and I came across some rather odd details in the reference photos that I took from a few years ago. I was wondering if anyone could be of help in identifying what the following details are: Would anyone happen to have any close-up pictures of "it"? (It looks like an aerial of some sorts, but I've now idea what it's for). And, additionally, would anyone happen to have any more images of this door/panel near the intake? Many thanks, Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 I'm guessing those are fuel dumps in the first two photos, but I have no idea what that is in the third photo. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Sam The antenna in your first two pictures was added to the aircraft as one of the modifications implemented prior to the type's deployment to Afghanistan, I can't lay hands on its designation at the moment but I think it was part of the kit used to "talk" to JTAC Forward Air Controllers. You will find some more pictures of it here in the Walkaround Section. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 The antenna in your first two pictures started to appear during Op Herrick. It's a dedicated secure comm antenna for speaking to FAC or SF assets. The open vent in the third pic is related to systems cooling and is only open on the ground when the engines are running. There's another one on the other side of the forward fuselage just beneath the gun port: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Some more information about the cooling system which @Alan P mentioned 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted April 23, 2020 Share Posted April 23, 2020 While we're here, check the aircraft you're modelling for the upgrade discussed in this thread, it seems to be missed by modellers more often than not. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathasatail Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 Ah that's been tremendous, thank you all so much for your help! Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweeky Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) Quote Only open on the ground when the engines are running You have to open it when you turn the battery on (part of the blackbox cooling system) or apply external power if not after a short period of time a warning horn sounds. Edited April 24, 2020 by tweeky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motley Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 3 hours ago, tweeky said: You have to open it when you turn the battery one (part of the blackbox cooling system) or apply external power if not after a short period of time a warning horn sounds. You can have the ground battery on with out them open as nothing really motors up till you apply ground power. In the cockpit on a servicing the ECS switch would be left on auto so when power was a applied these would open automatically. Also the aerial is the CAGNET aerial, who ever put it there really didnt think of ground crew much, stabbed myself many times on it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Wow- was I ever off base! Thanks for the correct information- if I ever do a GR4, I will definitely put this info to good use! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 11 hours ago, Motley said: Also the aerial is the CAGNET aerial, who ever put it there really didnt think of ground crew much, stabbed myself many times on it A bit like most designers, always putting something in a place where it gets in the way of groundcrew. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoshea52 Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 I had a rummage through some photos I took at Farnborough 2018 of Tornado GR4 ZA597 all socked and chocked up. Although the data link aerial is covered it may aid with more accurate placing of one on a model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Some nice pictures of the antenna in our walkaround ox ZD843 in Afghan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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