[skanchan95]

1:72 Lockheed Martin Block 40 F-16C Fighting Falcon (Barak/Lightning) 101 Squadron, Israeli Air Force "First Fighter Squadron" (Hobbymaster)

The Israel Defense Force/Air Force ordered a total of 362 F-16s, from early F-16A/Bs to the latest F-16I. Fifty of these aircraft were surplus USAF aircraft, given to Israel by the US as payment for restraint during the 1991 Gulf War despite Iraqi Scud attacks. All Israeli F-16s are fitted with custom Israeli electronics and were delivered under the Peace Marble FMS Program. The first of the F-16s delivered to the Israeli Air Force were originally intended for the Imperial Iranian Air Force, but the consequent rise of the Islamic fundamentalist regime in Iran caused these planes to be diverted to Israel.

Israeli F-16s have been used extensively in combat, and scored 47 A2A kills to date. They were also used in the bombing of the Iraq's nuclear reactor in Osirak.

F-16C Block 40 Barak(Lightning)
Following the cancellation of the indigenous Lavi fighter project in May of 1988, a follow-on order was placed for 60 F-16C/D block 40 aircraft (30 F-16C's, 30 F-16D's), plus an option for 15 more. This was under Peace Marble III. The first of these Fighting Falcons, all nicknamed 'Barak II', arrived in Israel in August of 1991. An earlier lot of 75 Block 30 aircraft F-16C/D delivered were locally known as Barak or Lightning, hence Barak II name was the Israeli Block 40 F-16C/Ds .

Block 40 F-16C Barak 519 was among the 30 F-16s delivered under the Peace Marble FMS program.

Externally, the Israeli F-16C differs from other F-16C's by having an extension to the base of its vertical stabilizer, similar to the Norwegian F-16s parachute brake compartment; however, no parachutes are used on IAF F-16s. Israeli F-16s have extensive local modifications, with different avionics fits and higher gross weights, requiring changes in the landing gear and the use of new wheels. The maximum all-up weight of an Israeli F-16 is 48,000 pounds, as compared to 42,300 pounds for a USAF Block 40 F-16C. The third batch of F-16C/D's is fitted with Elta's EL/L-8240 ECM, replacing Lockheed Martin Defense Systems' (LMDS, formerly Loral) AN/ALQ-178 Rapport III internal ECM. F-16C's appear to have larger navigation lights mountings on the intake. These most likely house electronics. The F-16C/D's ordered to compensate for the cancelled Lavi Project received Israeli ECM systems (manufactured by Elisra), and flight management computers (made by Elbit).

The model is armed with 2X AIM-120 AMRAAMs, 2X Python IV IRMs, 2X GBU-31 JDAMs, 3 X F-16 drop tanks, 1 X LANTIRN & 1 X Litening pods




















Airborne














With my Hogan 1:200 Block 40 F-16D Barak

[skanchan95]

101 Squadron, then & now
The Mirage IIICJ in which they went to war & their current mount - the F-16C Barak










The Flighting Falcons

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Attachment 2240998

In an episode of Dogfights, Cunningham & his RIO Driscoll recalled the encounter in great detail and confirmed that shortly after their third kill of the day, he saw the SA-2 missile coming up to their F-4J and that he was lucky that he did not bank into the SAM's flight path, rather away from it to evade it, because if he had, it would have slammed into the cockpit killing them instantly. As per his & Driscoll's version, the SAM detonated near the rear fuselage showering sharpnel on the mid-fuselage and engine. Cunningham managed to keep their burning F-4 airborne before the tail and engine blew off shortly before crossing the beach. They managed to eject from what was left of their F-4 that was spinning furiously and were rescued by a SAR helicopter.
could be, because in the brawl between US Navy F-4s and VPAF MiGs on May 10, 1972, there were both MiG-17s and MiG-21s from the VPAF side. Also , there were losses of US Navy Phantoms that day. He may well have shot down someone else.

Found this historynet.com, a straightforward pro-US website which specialises in History from an "American" perspective:

Additionally, enemy aircraft types are often confused and even judgments on what weapons caused the damage can be in error. For example, Navy ace Lt. Randall “Duke” Cunningham was adamant that his aircraft was brought down by a North Vietnamese SAM, a surface-to-air missile, at the end of his final mission on May 10, 1972. However, there is solid evidence to suggest that he was shot down by a North Vietnamese MiG-21 piloted by Vu Duc Hop. (Cunningham and the plane’s other crewman, Lt. j.g. William Driscoll, ejected into the South China Sea and were picked up by helicopter.)

The Title of Article is "How North Vietnam Claimed More Aces Than It Really Had"

Source: https://www.historynet.com/how-north...really-had.htm

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II VMFA-235 "Death Angels", United States Marine Corps, Bu No. 153887 DB13, 1972 (Hobbymaster)

Another great Phantom in your collection A photoshoot for your new Phantom fleet is due. Which brand do you think makes the best built models if money is no object?

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II VMFA-235 "Death Angels", United States Marine Corps, Bu No. 153887 DB13, 1972 (Hobbymaster)

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Lockheed Martin Block 40 F-16C Fighting Falcon (Barak/Lightning) 101 Squadron, Israeli Air Force "First Fighter Squadron" (Hobbymaster)

Originally Posted by skanchan95

101 Squadron, then & now
The Mirage IIICJ in which they went to war & their current mount - the F-16C Barak

You are on a roll my friend. The F-4, regardless of Vietnam air-to air battles, remains one of the all time great multi-role aircrafts. In fact one could say it was the first truly multi-role fast jet and in the 1960s and 1970s the Soviets did not develop a similar multi-role machine. For 5195 copies to have been made of such a large machine which went on to serve in 16 odd Air Forces and is still in service 63 years after it first flew counts for a lot.

That Israeli IAF F-16 looks superb for its finish and detailing. I have a big soft spot for the Israelis. Your wide collection of F-16 aircraft models reflects your diversity of mind :-). When it first became public as the YF-16 in 1974 this fighter with its blended wings, chin intake, clear canopy really looked so futuristic. Thank you as always for your superb photography.

[V.Narayan]

I was developed from the Sikorsky H-34
Like many others of my time my engine was in the nose
I served as a shipboard ASW chopper, Army troop transporter and as a SAR machine
My main drive shaft ran diagonally up between pilot & co-pilot!!

I feature tomorrow with another ASW great the IL-38.

.....to the best of rolling drums......

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Which brand do you think makes the best built models if money is no object?

Depends on which model you're looking for. Calibre wings makes the best F-14 models. Their F-16, Su-24 and Robotech series models are outstanding too but have attachment fitment issues. Calibre does not have a wide product portfolio like Hobbymaster or JC Wings. For all other models, I would say Hobbymaster is the best. But that being said, every brand has its own strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, it is upto a collector what he is looking for in a model - a particular livery/theme, ease of assembly, good QC and product quality, features in the model I.emoveable parts, stand etc.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I was developed from the Sikorsky H-34

The Mi-4...

[dashoin]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

My main drive shaft ran diagonally up between pilot & co-pilot!!

.

I do hope its the Mi-4 and not the Sikorsky S-55

[V.Narayan]

Ilyushin IL-38:: Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Indian Navy:: model make Eastern Express (Russian brand) 1:144
Length about 11 inches; Wingspan about 10 inches

The Soviet Union’s main stay ASW and long range maritime patrol aircraft from 1967 to date. It outlived and outflew its replacement the giant Tupolev Tu-142. This speaks for two attributes. First a long life airframe capable of lasting this long and a design versatile enough to go through its third full electronics and weapons refit and still be fully viable. Only 58 were built. The 30 airframes flying today are all older than 49 years.

The IL-38 was developed from the passenger carrying IL-18. In this respect it had a lineage similar to the Orion P-3 and BAe Nimrod both oh which evolved from civilian airliners, L-188 and Comet respectively. Unlike the L-188 and Comet in the case of the IL-18/IL-38 the passenger carrying parent was also a great success. To accommodate a large long weapons bay in the central fuselage and the radar beneath the nose the wing was brought forward to manage the CoG. A sonobuoy discharge unit & a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) boom installed at the rear.

India purchased 3 in 1977 and 2 more in 1983. All second hand from the AVMF (Soviet Naval Air Forces). By all measures these aircraft have been immensely effective and reliable in Indian Naval service. They were significantly upgraded in the 2000s to include a large electronic surveillance device on top of the forward fuselage. It is not known if IN examples are equipped to carry the Brahmos. It is possible they are.

Length: 131 ft 10 in;

Wingspan: 122 ft 8 in; Wing area: 1,500 sq ft

Empty weight: 35,500 kg; Max take-off weight: 66,000 kg

Powerplant: 4 × Ivchencko/Progress AI-20M turboprop engines, 4,225 shp each

Maximum speed: 348 knots, 645 kmph; Long range low altitude patrol speed: 175 knots (320 kmph)

Ferry range: 4000 nm, 7500 km; Endurance: 13 hours

Armament: 9,000 kg of disposable stores, including depth charges, mines, anti-submarine torpedoes, Anti-ship missiles and bombs.

The model was assembled and painted by our own Team BHPian Basu Roy who has once again demonstrated his prowess.


The streamlined beauty showing the thin long cigar shape of its ancestor the IL-18



Shots highlighting all the main features of the IL-38 - the 4 engines, under belly radar, overhead ELINT radome and MAD in the tail


The slender high aspect ratio wing that aids cruising



The 200 feet long Magnetic Anamoly Detector. Note the details on antennas on the rear underside.


The surface search, tracking and attack radar


ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) gathering device


Rugged 4-wheel bogies



Outlived and out flew its replacement! And still looks beautiful.



The grand old lady in flesh. The airframe is older than the crew that mans her. Only 58 were built and 30 of those serve on - 27 with Russia and 3 with India

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Ilyushin IL-38:: Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Indian Navy:: model make Eastern Express (Russian brand) 1:144

The grand old lady in flesh. The airframe is older than the crew that mans her. Only 58 were built and 30 of those serve on - 27 with Russia and 3 with India

Wow! Thats an excellent and unique addition to your collection. Being in service half a century after they were built and being used in humid conditions is a testament to Russian engineering.

While landing in Goa I am always on the lookout to photograph these at the airport and other Navy aircraft.

Due to lack of space this printed painting which I bought at the Naval Aviation Museum in Goa has ended up in my bedroom:

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

model make Eastern Express (Russian brand) 1:144

Thanks for this critical information, I thought Eastern Express was a Chinese company so was avoiding the temptation of buying their economical models of unique Russian aircraft.

[Foxbat]

Currently work in progress, any guesses for this aircraft?

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Ilyushin IL-38:: Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Indian Navy:: model make Eastern Express (Russian brand) 1:144

Wow!! Another masterpiece!!! Congratulations!! I suppose eventually these remaining IL-38s in INAS 315 will be replaced by P-8s.

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Currently work in progress, any guesses for this aircraft?

Attachment 2250917

A twin seat Flanker - Su-27UB or one from the Su-30 series. But with the Kh-31s visible, an Su-30 is more likely.


1:72 Agusta Westland WAH-64D Apache (AH.Mk 1) British Army Air Corps No. 656 Squadron, 4 Regiment, ZJ229, Afghanistan, Operation Herrick (Hobbymaster)
The AgustaWestland Apache is a licence-built version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the British Army Air Corps. The first eight helicopters were built by Boeing; the remaining 59 were assembled by Westland Helicopters (now Leonardo) at Yeovil, Somerset in England from Boeing-supplied kits. Changes from the Boeing built AH-64D include Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines, a new electronic defensive aids suite and a folding blade mechanism allowing the British version to operate from ships. The helicopter was initially designated WAH-64 by Westland Helicopters and was later given the designation Apache AH Mk 1 (also written as "Apache AH1") by the UK Ministry of Defence.

The Apache was a valued form of close air support in the conflict in Afghanistan, being deployed to the region in 2006. Naval trials and temporary deployments at sea have proven the aircraft as an able platform to operate from the decks of ships, which is a unique application of the Apache amongst its operators. British Apaches also served in the NATO 2011 military intervention in Libya operating from Royal Navy ships. The Apache AH1 is to reach its out of service date in 2024 and be replaced by the AH-64E.

Instead of the American Hydra 70 rocket pods, the Westland Apache can carry up to 76 CRV7 rockets. Like the US AH-64D Apache Longbow, the Apache AH1 carries an AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar (FCR) and Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), providing an integrated surveillance and attack system. The 'Longbow' radar is the bulbous unit over the rotor hub assembly; radar placement above the rotors allows the Apache to hover behind cover scanning for targets, with only the radar unit exposed. Additionally, the Longbow radar can monitor traffic in the Apache's airspace. The radar can also be used for surveillance and terrain profiling. A modem is interfaced into the Longbow radar and other sensor systems to relay information to other aircraft, this allows other Apaches to fire on targets identified by only a single helicopter.

Really liked the shade of Olive Green on this British Apache. It has more greener shade than the US Army Apaches. I wish Indian Army Aviation Apaches look like this than the dull grey of IAF Apaches.










Note the loadout - Hellfires & CRV-7 rockets (instead of Hydra Rocket Pod carried on other Apaches))




















Some of the detailing that also distinguishes it from other Apaches - a Hobbymaster accuracy & detailing specialty












The real WAH-64D ZJ229

Unleashing CRV-7 Rockets


One of the most intense & gripping books I have ever read - "Apache" an account of a British Army WAH-64D Apache pilot in Afghanistan


Coming next, a Gladiator.

[V.Narayan]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

1:72 Agusta Westland WAH-64D Apache (AH.Mk 1) British Army Air Corps No. 656 Squadron, 4 Regiment, ZJ229, Afghanistan, Operation Herrick (Hobbymaster)

Another masterpiece Sandesh. It looks exquisite. Absolutely stunning level of detail. The AH-64 Longbow is the acme of attack helicopter development today. Nothing comes close to it in capability, reliability and availability. While fast jets are loved by the Air Forces of the world for many good reasons and for their sex appeal it is aircraft like AH-64, A-10 and Su-25 that do the real work most needed by the Armies of the world to progress on the ground.

I am trying to lay my hands on an IAF AH-64

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Currently work in progress, any guesses for this aircraft?

Sukhoi Su-30??

[driver52001]

Originally Posted by Foxbat

Currently work in progress, any guesses for this aircraft?

Attachment 2250917

Archers and Adders, and twin seating, could be Sukhoi 27/30. Highly unlikely to be MiG-29 since twin seating is only in the trainer version

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

While fast jets are loved by the Air Forces of the world for many good reasons and for their sex appeal it is aircraft like AH-64, A-10 and Su-25 that do the real work most needed by the Armies of the world to progress on the ground.

Agreed. The low & slow ones are friendly infantry and armour's best friends.

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

I am trying to lay my hands on an IAF AH-64

Same pinch! I got mine and have assembled it, but am nervous about fitting an antenna like thing that runs along the tail boom on the starboard side, is unique to E model Apache and that is stopping me from a photoshoot of the gorgeous IAF Apache.

[Foxbat]

Originally Posted by V.Narayan

Sukhoi Su-30??

Originally Posted by driver52001

Archers and Adders, and twin seating, could be Sukhoi 27/30. Highly unlikely to be MiG-29 since twin seating is only in the trainer version

Indian Navy two seater Mig-29KUB's are combat capable. Unfortunately a kit for that is very rare.

Originally Posted by skanchan95

A twin seat Flanker - Su-27UB or one from the Su-30 series. But with the Kh-31s visible, an Su-30 is more likely.

You all guessed correctly, its a Su-30MKI.

Originally Posted by skanchan95

Same pinch! I got mine and have assembled it, but am nervous about fitting an antenna like thing that runs along the tail boom on the starboard side, is unique to E model Apache and that is stopping me from a photoshoot of the gorgeous IAF Apache.

What kit is this? You have customised it to make it an IAF version?