[Foxbat]

In 1977, the Indian government approved plans to acquire the Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy. In November 1979, India placed its first order for six Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters and two T Mk 60 Trainers; the first three Sea Harriers arrived at Dabolim Airport on 16 December 1983, and were inducted the same year. Ten more Sea Harriers were purchased in November 1985;[eventually a total of 30 Harriers were procured, 25 for operational use and the remainder as dual-seat trainer aircraft. Until the 1990s, significant portions of pilot training was carried out in Britain due to limited aircraft availability.

The introduction of the Sea Harrier allowed for the retirement of India's previous carrier fighter aircraft, the Hawker Sea Hawk, as well as for the Navy's aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, to be extensively modernised between 1987 and 1989. India has operated Sea Harriers from both the aircraft carriers INS Vikrant and INS Viraat.The Sea Harrier allowed several modern missiles to be introduced into naval operations, such as the Sea Eagle anti-ship missile, and the Matra Magic air-to-air missile. Other ordnance has included 68 mm rockets, runway-denial bombs, cluster bombs, and podded 30 mm cannons.

There have been a significant number of accidents involving the Sea Harrier; this accident rate has caused approximately half the fleet to be lost with only 11 fighters remaining in service. Following a crash in August 2009, all Sea Harriers were temporarily grounded for inspection.Since the beginning of operational service in the Indian Navy, seven pilots have died in 17 crashes involving the Sea Harrier, usually during routine sorties.

In 2006, the Indian Navy expressed interest in acquiring up to eight of the Royal Navy's recently retired Sea Harrier FA2s in order to maintain their operational Sea Harrier fleet.Neither the Sea Harrier FA2's Blue Vixen radar, the radar warning receiver or AMRAAM capability would have been included; certain US software would also be uninstalled prior to shipment. By October 2006, reports emerged that the deal had not materialised due to the cost of airframe refurbishment.

In 2006, the Indian Navy started upgrading up to 15 Sea Harriers, installing the Elta EL/M-2032 radar and the Rafael 'Derby' medium-range air-to-air BVR missile. This enabled the Sea Harrier to remain in Indian service beyond 2012. By 2009, crashes had reduced India's fleet to 12 (from original 30).

India purchased the deactivated Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov in 2004. After refurbishment and trials, the ship was formally inducted into the Indian Navy as INS Vikramaditya in June 2014. Sea Harriers operated from INS Viraat for the last time on 6 March 2016.

On 11 May 2016, a ceremony was held at INS Hansa, Dabolim, Goa to commemorate the phasing out of Sea Harriers from INAS 300 "White Tigers" and their replacement by the MiG-29K/KUB fighters. Aircraft of both types performed an air display at the ceremony, marking the final flight of the Sea Harriers after 33 years of service in the Indian Navy.

1/72 Scale BAe Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS.51, Serial 616, INAS 300 "White Tigers"
The aircraft is carrying two Sea Eagle "Drill" missiles.












This made from a kit which was launched almost 40 years ago from a Japanese Brand called Hasegawa. Despite its age it remarkably well detailed and is a joy to build, probably the best fitting kit I have made.


Three very different Indian armed forces aircraft I have made in the last 4 months.


The Real 616.


Me doing some routine checkups on the Rolls-Royce Pegasus Mk.104/106 vectored-thrust turbofan


616 landing and taking off from the French Aircraft Carrier Charles de Gaulle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3oSBpfK5is&t=203s

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

In 1977, the Indian government approved plans to acquire the Sea Harrier for the Indian Navy. In November 1979, India placed its first order for six Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 fighters and two T Mk 60 Trainers; the first three Sea Harriers arrived at Dabolim Airport on 16 December 1983, and were inducted the same year....

Congratulations on assembling and painting this most prized of IN aircraftYou are getting better and better and better at building and painting your own models. This scale model looks so well done - just look at the detailing on the upper wing. You should share more photos when you can. Great work Foxbat. I am looking for one too.

[V.Narayan]

Sorry but coming in after a gap of several days I completely missed out these three entries of yours.

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 M2 Bradley Operation Desert Storm (Panzerkampf)

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 M1A2 TUSK Abrams "Ghetto Blaster" 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment "Brave Rifles", US Army, FOB Hammer, Iraq, 2011 (Panzerkampf)

Your armoured vehicle & tank collection is swelling. :-) With the Bradley and Abrams the Americans created a winning combination which will be around for a long time. They worked very hard to incorporate the lessons from Vietnam and to think through what really is needed in their Air-Land battle doctrine. To think the prototypes ran in the late 1970s. In Desert Storm no doubt the Iraqis had a poor showing all around, not surprisingly. But I don't quite agree with the American assumption of the T-72 being short on capability - it was the Iraqi tanker and military leadership that was short and the average Iraqi soldier was low on morale. Fact is when the US Army tested the Abrams and Challengers armour against the T-72's 125mm gun the gun won almost everytime. But in all fairness the T-72s armour would also struggle against the 120mm gun on the Abrams. Nevertheless, beautiful models. The Abrams' level of detail is mouth watering rendered more so by your excellent photography. The photo with the Apache, armoured vehicles, Warthog & Eagle is a classic. You got them all!

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Boeing CH-47F Chinook #A15-307, C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade, Australian Army Aviation, RAAF Base Townsville, Queensland, Australia (Forces of Valor)

Congratulations. And thank you for all those interesting videos. The CH-47 is a timeless design for large capacity vertical lift. Two rotors, a large box cabin, a ramp - it doesn't get simpler. It first flew 51 years ago and by acquiring Vertol, the designer firm, Boeing made its debut into rotor crafts. I easily see it in production on its 60th anniversary.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

1/72 Scale BAe Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS.51, Serial 616, INAS 300 "White Tigers"

Beautifully detailed and well made model, Foxbat. Congratulations. Love to the weathered and rough look of your model.

IIRC, IN616 late in its career and still sporting its old Blue/White paint scheme was one of the four IN Sea Harriers that were nicknamed after felines (Later of course, they were painted in the wraparound Ghost Grey scheme).

I have the names & serial numbers listed somewhere in my notes, have to refer that to post the accurate serial numbers list and names of those four Harriers.

EDIT : Here it is

IN607 "Simba"
IN608 "Cougar"
IN613 "Lion"
IN616 "Puma"

607 "Simba"


608 "Cougar"


613 "Lion"


616 "Puma"


Had made this list while working on the Sea Harrier FRS.51 mod for a flight sim. IN607 "Simba":

Originally Posted by Foxbat

The aircraft is carrying two Sea Eagle "Drill" missiles.

Why not Magics? Would enhance the looks of the model with Magics mounted.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Beautifully detailed and well made model, Foxbat. Congratulations. Love to the weathered and rough look of your model.

IIRC, IN616 late in its career and still sporting its old Blue/White paint scheme was one of the four IN Sea Harriers that were nicknamed after felines (Later of course, they were painted in the wraparound Ghost Grey scheme).

I have the names & serial numbers listed somewhere in my notes, have to refer that to post the accurate serial numbers list and names of those four Harriers.

EDIT : Here it is

IN607 "Simba"
IN608 "Cougar"
IN613 "Lion"
IN616 "Puma"


Why not Magics? Would enhance the looks of the model with Magics mounted.

Thats a very interesting bit of Trivia, when I was studying the pictures I was wondering what those names were for. The earlier Scheme looked better but it would be a pain to paint accurately so went with the plane grey one.

Fun Fact: The Foxbat and Harrier and have been painted with the exact colour spray can, the difference in shades is because the Harrier has a dark grey undercoat and more weathering effects. Also most of the rough paint job is because I ran out of spray paint and had to use a brush (leftover paint was used by puncturing the spray can )

The kit is for a Royal Navy Sea Harrier hence did not come with Magic missiles. I thought about modifying the Sidewinders to look like Magics but too much work was required. I have a lot of spare missiles from other kits but they are all Russian arms.

[Foxbat]

My updated Indian collection all in 1/72 Scale:

Su-30, Mig-25, Mig-29, Dassault MD.450,Sea Harrier, Mirage 2000, Mig-21, Rafale, Mig-27 and Mig-23.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

My updated Indian collection all in 1/72 Scale:

Su-30, Mig-25, Mig-29, Dassault MD.450,Sea Harrier, Mirage 2000, Mig-21, Rafale, Mig-27 and Mig-23.

A proud collection and most deservedly so. Represents a humongous effort from your side. I'm following in your footsteps.

[FrozeninTime]

AWACS USAF E 3B Sentry vs USSR Beirev A-50

E 3B Sentry is based on Boeing 707 and replaced EC 121 of USAF.A total of 68 were produced 1977 to 1992.

Beirev A 50 is based on IL 76 and was launched in 1978 replacing Tu 126.
IAF has 3 in active service with 2 on order.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

A proud collection and most deservedly so. Represents a humongous effort from your side. I'm following in your footsteps.

Thanks, I owe it to you for starting this thread which led to me restarting my childhood hobby of collecting model planes.

Skanchan's military aircraft model posts and Corona lockdown led me back to assembling model kits

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

AWACS USAF E 3B Sentry vs USSR Beirev A-50

Attachment 2288957

Thats an interesting model, more pics would be nice. Whats the Scale and brand?

[V.Narayan]

Kawasaki T-4 ::Fast Jet Trainer of the JASDF::1:72, HobbyMaster
Model is about 7 inches in length; wingspan about 5 inches

JASDF's advanced jet trainer. Second in a succession of successful jet trainers from Japan, following Fuji T-1. An elegant looking aircraft with a sense of balance all over. The two Ishikawajima Harima turbofans propel it to over 550 knots at full clean weight and 2 pilots (instructor & pupil). This makes it the fastest of contemporary advanced jet trainers of its time.

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

AWACS USAF E 3B Sentry vs USSR Beirev A-50

Glad to see you are back in the fray. Great and unique two some. Maybe you could share some close-ups and details of model make, size etc.

[FrozeninTime]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Thats an interesting model, more pics would be nice. Whats the Scale and brand?

Boeing is Inflight 200 and Il 76 is an unknown Chinese brand.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

[b]
Glad to see you are back in the fray. Great and unique two some. Maybe you could share some close-ups and details of model make, size etc.

Thanks sir. I have decided to go slow on buying new models as my wife is angry with every new purchase and I have run out of space so that's reson for less posts.

Btw awesome model sir.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Kawasaki T-4 ::Fast Jet Trainer of the JASDF::1:72, HobbyMaster
Model is about 7 inches in length; wingspan about 5 inches

JASDF's advanced jet trainer. Second in a succession of successful jet trainers from Japan, following Fuji T-1. An elegant looking aircraft with a sense of balance all over. The two Ishikawajima Harima turbofans propel it to over 550 knots at full clean weight and 2 pilots (instructor & pupil). This makes it the fastest of contemporary advanced jet trainers of its time.

Very unique and interesting model, I had never head of it. Remarkable how Japan has been designing and manufacturing so many different types military aircraft.

Regarding jet trainers I see most of them are very similar looking like the L-39, Alpha Jet, MB-339 Yak-130 and even India's own HJT-36.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Regarding jet trainers I see most of them are very similar looking like the L-39, Alpha Jet, MB-339 Yak-130 and even India's own HJT-36.

Yes they do look similar being designed for an almost identical role and to similar specifications. Starting with the Northrop T-38 Talon the sensible trend started of a raised rear (instructors) cockpit which invariably then needs a tall tail for stability. As all carry avionics in the nose the engine intakes are now universally at the sides. That is why the side profile looks similar now. This layout pretty much got frozen in the 1970s. Before that jet trainers came in odd shapes like the ones below:

Fouga Magister from France and below that the Iskara TS-11 from Poland

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Thats an interesting model, more pics would be nice. Whats the Scale and brand?

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

Boeing is Inflight 200 and Il 76 is an unknown Chinese brand.

The A-50 may be Amercom brand. I remember seeing it on Aliexpress a long time ago.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Kawasaki T-4 ::Fast Jet Trainer of the JASDF::1:72, HobbyMaster

Beautiful model Sir. Congratulations. I admire your dogged pursuit of Japanese models for your collection. It is always a pleasure to see theme based collections and your JASDF/JMSDF collection is clearly the best in the country.

Looking at the tail art of your T-4, it seems the aircraft belongs to JASDF's aerobatic team - The Blue Impulse, which means it is nice compliment and successor to your Blue Impulse F-86!!!

BTW, HM is coming out with a new Rafale model. Till now only PremiumX and Panzerkampf had 1:72 Rafale models

[skanchan95]

1:72 Lockheed Martin F-16CM(CJ) Block 50 Fighting Falcon #92-3894 USAF PACAF Viper Demo Team/14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais",35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AFB, Japan(Hobbymaster)




The fifth F-16 in my collection and one I had been looking for - a USAF F-16 in operational livery and this has aircraft has an Indian connection, which was bonus for me.

Designed by General Dynamics as a lightweight, daytime USAF air-combat fighter, the F-16 was first flown on January 20th, 1974. This single-engine, supersonic aircraft has, over the years, evolved into a multirole aircraft. It has a frameless bubble canopy-giving its pilot superior visibility-and it uses advanced aerodynamics. The F-16 was one of the first designs to use a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire system, which helps it pull 9-g maneuvers and achieve speeds of more than Mach 2. Called "Viper" by its pilots, the F-16 is considered one of the most successful aircraft designs of the Cold War, with 4,400+ aircraft built since 1976.

F-16C Block 50
The first Block 50 F-16 was delivered in late 1991; the aircraft is equipped with improved GPS/INS, and can carry an additional selection of advanced missiles: the AGM-88 HARM missile, JDAM, JSOW and WCMD. Block 50 F-16s are powered by the General Electric F110-GE-129 engine. These Block 50 F-16Cs were designated as the F-16CJ and have the HARM avionics/Launcher Interface Computer (ALIC) resulting in a full autonomous employment capability of the HARM missile. This capability adds the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) mission to the already extensive list of missions the F-16 is capable to perform. Block 50 F-16s were delivered to the USAF & the Air Forces of Turkey, Greece and Chile.

PACAF Demo Team
The USAF PACAF(Pacific Air Forces) Demonstration Team is comprised of two F-16 pilots, a demonstration pilot and a safety observer as well as eight maintainers that are handpicked. F-16CM(CJ) Block 50 92-3894 had previously spent time with the 13th FS "Panthers" during Operation Iraqi Freedom where it flew 21 missions and later it was assigned to 14th FS "Samurais". The squadron operated the Block 30 F-16C previously with the tail code MJ and achieved initial operational capability in Block 50 F-16CJs in 1996. The squadron's tail code was simultaneously changed from "MJ" to "WW" in recognition of the wing's Wild Weasel heritage. Wild Weasel is a code name given by the USAF to its aircraft, of any type, equipped with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses: destroying the radar and Surface-to-Air Missile installations of enemy air defense systems.

14th FS "Samurais"
The 14th Fighter Squadron "Samurais" is part of the 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The squadron operates General Dynamics F-16CJ Wild Weasel aircraft. It conducts Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses air operations. The squadron has been stationed at Misawa since 1987

F-16C Block 50 92-3894
The aircraft was delivered to 13th FS in June 1994 and based at Misawa AFB, Japan. It was a part of the 13th FS's deployment to Iraq as part of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing during Operation Iraqi Freedom from February to May 2003.It flew Wild Weasel missions hunting Iraqi SAM, Radar and AAA sites. The missile & bomb firing marks are painted under the canopy.

In 2006, this very F-16 92-3894 was part of the USAF contingent that visited Kalaikunda AFS, West Bengal to participate in the Cope India exercises.

In 2009, the aircraft was transferred to the th FS, also based in Misawa.

After the CCIP upgrade (Common Configuration Implementation Program, or CCIP -pronounced C-Sip) - not to be confused with CCIP (Constantly Computed Impact Point) bombing mode display on the HUD, the USAF Block 40, 42, 50, and 52 aircraft are now covered by the CM series designations. The use of the additional suffix letter as an aircraft designation is also common. The CCIP upgrade merely is a retrofit of some 'goodies' on older block F-16s(40-52) to bring them on to the latest production standards and in one move get some kind of standardization among the F-16 fleet.

General characteristics
Crew: One
Primary function: Multirole fighter
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corp.
Power plant: One General Electric F110-GE-100/129
Thrust: 27,000 pounds
Wingspan: 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Length: 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Weight: 19,700 pounds without fuel (8,936 kilograms)
Maximum takeoff weight: 37,500 pounds (16,875 kilograms)
Fuel capacity: 7,000 pounds internal (3,175 kilograms); typical capacity, 12,000 pounds with two external tanks (5443 kilograms)
Payload: two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9, two AIM-120 and two 2400-pound external fuel tanks
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)
Range: more than 2,002 miles ferry range (1,740 nautical miles)
Ceiling: above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)
Armament: one M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and baggage or electronic countermeasure pods


The Model
As usual, being a Hobbymaster model, it is superb with excellent finish and great detailing. The fact that it is in a Wild Weasel configuration and the fact that this aircraft came to India are additional bonuses for me.



















The bomb drop and missile launch markings under the canopy and the display pilot name - Captain Mike Dreher, PACAF Demo Team

The AN/ASQ-213 HARM targeting Pod is a targeting pod mounted on the side that enables the F-16 to track the location of hostile radar systems that can then be engaged with AGM-88 HARM or other air-to-surface weapons. The Sniper Pod mounted is on the other side of the intake. The pod's FLIR (Forward Looking Infra Red) allows observation and tracking through smoke and clouds, and in low light / no light conditions. The CCD camera supports the same operations in visible light for most daylight conditions. For target coordination with ground and air forces, a laser spot tracker, a laser marker, and an HDTV quality video down-link to ground-based controllers supports rapid target detection and identification.













The AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile) missiles on the 2nd most inner pylons. It is an air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems. The HTS pod, used by the USAF only, allows F-16s to detect and automatically target radar systems with HARMs instead of relying on the missile's sensors alone. "Magnum" is spoken over the radio by the pilot to announce the launch of an AGM-88.


AN/ALQ-184 ECM Pod on the centerline station. An ECM (Electronic Countermeasure) Pod is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar, or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy. It is used effectively to protect aircraft from guided missiles.

My 1:72 F-16s


HM F-16s - IAF Block 40 F-16, USAF Block 50 F-16, PAF Block 52:








F-16C block 50 #92-3894(then with 13th FS "Panthers") taxis past Indian Air Force MiG-27 fighters on the flightline at Kalaikunda AB, India during Exercise 'Cope India 06'.

F-16C Block 50 92-3894