Singapore Hunter Mk 74

[Boman]

Hi 
Looking at this photo of a preserved RSiAF Hunter 74, I see the gun ports have been faired over, but the buldges are still there. Was the guns actually removed when the RSiAF modernized their Hunters to be able to carry AIM-9's or is this just for display purposes? 

 

RSAF Hawker Hunter (front) - Hawker Hunter - Wikipedia

Edited September 23, 2022 by Boman
Correcting missing link to image

[Hook]

Our Dutch Hunters were able to carry Sidewinders while retaining the guns. I'd say it's a museum mod. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre

[Irish 251]

There are a number of different in-service images here and the faired-over gun-ports seem to have been a common feature. https://www.airhistory.net/pub/show.php?type_basic_id=744&oper_basic_id=2572

[YK GOH]

RSAF Hunters kept their 30mm guns all the way to its retirement in 1992.

The gun ports are faired over for ferry flights, like those taken at Malta in a link posted above.

Here's a photo of one of the upgraded F.74S during a detachment to Australia in 1983.

https://images.16right.com/view/1SVJESIN/ref=type,HUNT/order=datetaken,desc

 

A page on the upgrade from the book "Tip of the Spear - 50 Years of the RSAF Fighter Force".

 

..and some profiles from the book.

 

 

[zebra]

I think YK GOH's response tells us all we need to know, but also just checked my photo of the preserved example at the Queensland Air Museum, and they're not faired over.

[Boman]

Fantastic, this is what I hoped for, very much appreciated 🍺😃👍

[Boman]

And then the next question: Is there really noone who has made decals for Singapore Hunters in 1/48? Looked around the usual places, but no luck? 
And some good depictons of the color scheme would be good to go along

Edited September 24, 2022 by Boman

[Des]

1 hour ago, Boman said:

And then the next question: Is there really noone who has made decals for Singapore Hunters in 1/48? Looked around the usual places, but no luck? 
And some good depictons of the color scheme would be good to go along

Top of the list when I Googled 'Singapore Hunter decals' was    https://www.sozoplamo.com/decal-sheets  then on the 'Images' option of the Google search the first link is to  individual pages of the instruction sheets at  https://www.carousell.sg/p/rsaf-hawker-hunters-decals-1-72-1-48-1-32-1029009390/  , decals are available in 1/72 and 1/48.

[Boman]

Thanks. Checked my decal stash aswell, and see I have the red/white lion roundel so getting there, but will for sure check out the link you provided. Thank you very much 

[YK GOH]

When the lion head roundel was introduced in 1990, it was applied in black on the RSAF Hunters. 

 

 

[Motty]

That "Tip of the Spear" is an excellent book on the subject. Lots of great photos and information.

Cheers,

Motty.