Troffa Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 There are a few video's doing the rounds from the Spotter's community at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk this week, this one in particular shows some 31st Fighter Wing F-16C's from Aviano. The jet's are on the second leg of their Ferry flights to Alaska, to take part Cope Thumbtack or Distant Fruitbat at the less than balmy Eilson Air Force Base. The Jet's are sporting fuel tanks? Baggage pods? on their mid wing stations (3&7) and they look like they have four stumpy "Feet" on their lower sides. I have never seen these before, and Verlinden's "Lock on", Coremanns and Deboeck's "Uncovering" offer no answers. See 39 seconds into this You Tube video for what I mean. Any ideas folks? Thanks for looking. Troffa 🙂 Pig's Trotters at 39 seconds? :-) This is a better Video, but it's on Facebook so you may not wish to click. James Feneley Facebook spotters video shows the tanks with feet from the outset. Great Video too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 Look like baggage/travel pods, most likely made fron old napalm canisters. Google The "feet" are for them not falling over on the ground... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 2 hours ago, exdraken said: Look like baggage/travel pods, most likely made fron old napalm canisters. Google The "feet" are for them not falling over on the ground... I did think they looked like the pods you mention- I think they come in the Hasegawa 1/48 Kits ( Sprue F! ) - but I doubt that if these are those old cans that a re-manufacture for the 'Feet' would be undertaken, maybe a new pattern and production? It's all good fun though- thanks for taking the time to respond. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Troffa said: I did think they looked like the pods you mention- I think they come in the Hasegawa 1/48 Kits ( Sprue F! ) - but I doubt that if these are those old cans that a re-manufacture for the 'Feet' would be undertaken, maybe a new pattern and production? It's all good fun though- thanks for taking the time to respond. 🙂 No idea actually! But 8 weld lines and 4 blocks of steel, or 8 holes + 8 screws should be within the capabilities of most maintenance workshops... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 8, 2021 Author Share Posted August 8, 2021 2 hours ago, exdraken said: No idea actually! But 8 weld lines and 4 blocks of steel, or 8 holes + 8 screws should be within the capabilities of most maintenance workshops... I've had a look at those video's and I think you're right- all but one of the cabs has the baggage pods with feet- one of the pods is in a bright colour unit scheme., but the do look like additions to the old pods. An interesting detail for the modeller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard E Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 In addition to the feet the pods are also fitted with grab handles fore and aft which may be noticable if you are recreating them in larger scales. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 8, 2021 Share Posted August 8, 2021 if you search around, those pods come in differen variations.. here some fpr the A-10 https://www.alamy.com/travel-pods-sit-next-to-an-a-10c-warthog-aircraft-during-operation-guardian-blitz-dec-4-2018-at-macdill-air-force-base-fla-aircraft-maintenance-crew-chiefs-from-the-122nd-fighter-wing-in-fort-wayne-ind-removed-and-stored-the-a-10cs-travel-pods-on-the-flight-line-during-flying-operations-image228333302.html (same pod, same feet ) different type of feet: https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001944859/ also interesting and some data: https://www.cobhammissionsystems.com/auxiliary-mission-equipment/military-aircraft-special-purpose-pods/mxu-multi-platform-cargo-pod/mxu-cargo-pod-datasheet/docview/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 That's epic! That last picture in particular seems to show a 1 inch strap attached to both sides of the pod with a flattened section for the pod to rest on. Thanks ever so much for hunting these out and sharing them. I suspect my next 1/48 F-16 will be off on his travels 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 shape wise the look very much like BLU-27 Napalm fire canisters: eg. those here from Eduard: or directly form KASL? https://www.scalemates.com/de/kits/kasl-hobby-k48067-mxu-648-travel-pod--1087705 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthspud Posted August 9, 2021 Share Posted August 9, 2021 Baggage pods mod'ed to sit flat on tarmac/hardstandings Causes less damage. We did something similar for the Harrier fleets , don't think it was widely used outside RAFG though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted August 9, 2021 Author Share Posted August 9, 2021 We used pods on Phantoms, but the on the F3 all of the aircrew baggage went in the pass-through ammo tank bay, plenty of room and nothing on the wing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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