SPA Modeler

Well it would seem that this GB is collecting unfinished/unstarted build threads from yours truly, so here's another one - hopefully resulting in a finished build!

I'm building this - mainly as a tribute to the fact that these fine aircraft were retired from service this year to make way for the F-35... To my mind it has some very big shoes to fill.





Currently I'm working on the cockpit and seats, and the pilots. - I'll post up some photo's later.

Cheers!

Maybe I spoke to soon for no new 1/48 jets for you...

The Tornado is an awesome aircraft. I can see the F-35 fulfilling some of the same roles of the Tornado, but not all. Each having its own strengths and weaknesses when compared to the other.

No I'm fully up on building in both scales - I enjoy both for differing reasons!

Don't get me wrong, I'm really starting to warm to the F-35 since its started coming into service over here, but I can't help thinking we retired the GR.4s a few years too early. But then I suppose we just don't have the budget we used too. I do think the Lightning II will serve us well, I just wish we had more of them.

At our new home in AZ I’m seeing plenty of F-35s every day there. Mostly because the main training base for the type, Luke AFB, is a short distance away. I am quickly warming to the type now that I see them out flying, and flying a LOT. Luke used to train Bundesluftwaffe F-104 aviators. And their Tornado drivers were trained at Holloman or Cannon AFB in New Mexico, a few hundred miles east. I saw a few of those Tornadoes at local air shows. Kinda funny to see the dark Luftwaffe aircraft with a New Mexico Native American insignia shield on the tail. At my last visit to a popular BBQ eatery near Luke, there were a bunch of Japanese personnel in uniform enjoying some time off base and a good American meal.

I’m glad to hear that you’re still building 1/48 Stuart. Seems like this place is mostly 1/72 and 1/32 lately....

I love the Tornado! I agree that they retired them a year or two to early.

Medicman71 wrote: I love the Tornado! I agree that they retired them a year or two to early.

Glad to hear it Mike!

I'm torn at the moment between my favorite wrap-a-round Green Grey camo from RAF Germany or Gulf war Pink (which I'm not overly fond off but an important part of the aircraft's history)

Stikpusher wrote:At our new home in AZ I’m seeing plenty of F-35s every day there. Mostly because the main training base for the type, Luke AFB, is a short distance away. I am quickly warming to the type now that I see them out flying, and flying a LOT. Luke used to train Bundesluftwaffe F-104 aviators. And their Tornado drivers were trained at Holloman or Cannon AFB in New Mexico, a few hundred miles east. I saw a few of those Tornadoes at local air shows. Kinda funny to see the dark Luftwaffe aircraft with a New Mexico Native American insignia shield on the tail. At my last visit to a popular BBQ eatery near Luke, there were a bunch of Japanese personnel in uniform enjoying some time off base and a good American meal.

I’m glad to hear that you’re still building 1/48 Stuart. Seems like this place is mostly 1/72 and 1/32 lately....

Sounds like you saw some pretty good aircraft action there Carlos - I wished I lived somewhere more active - I'm really looking forward to seeing an F-35 in the flesh! It was great to see those F-15Es and Ospreys in Wales. What were the Japanese guys flying?

Yes I'm still building 1/48 - Its always been something I want to get into as I've said before, but I'll still build 1/72 as well - a lot of the projects I want to do will be in that scale if for no other reason than space! I do feel like I've broken myself of being locked into one scale though - I'll build anything!

I do fancy building some of these new Airfix 1/48 British jets though - the new Hunter looks fab!

I did some work on the cockpit over the weekend, it was pretty basic but I added the old Airwaves PE set. I'm not very well versed in modern cockpits but it doesn't look too bad!





I will be adding the pilots..



And I've been working on the flying surfaces...




Cheers!

The cockpit is coming along fine Stuart. The Airwaves PE definitely helps. I’d say do an image search for Tornado cockpits, and have a look at the bang seats. Those get pretty busy colorwise.

Oh and the Japanese guys are training on F-35s. They are also involved in the JSF program.

Thanks Stik, The seats are still a work in progress.

Ah cool - it doesn't surprise me that Japan is getting the Lightning. A, B or C?

I think that the Japanese are getting the A & B versions. Their new “helicopter carriers” are having the flight decks built to withstand the jet blast & heat. The Chinese are not liking that at all.