The 'non alligned' Baltic States of Sweden and Finland have always seen a primary role during the 'Cold War' period as being border reconnaissance, compiling information by visual/photo observation and/or other detection methods about the activities and resources of any potential enemy (in practice specifically that of the former Soviet Union and its satellites)
Inspired by a visit to Tampere Pirkkala in 2010 to look over the MiG.25R 'Foxbat' sited at the Aero Club there (along with a MiG.23 and MiG.27 forward fuselage) i started musing on if the Finnish Air Force took the aircraft when newly arrived, on strength as a reconaissance asset, and how it may look had it remained in service til now. Further extrapolation of the idea could be an eastward leaning state or even as a member of the WPTO. ... unacceptable i know to a number of my Finnish friends :)
link ...
http://www.warbirdphotos.net/aviapix/postww2/fighters/soviet/MiG25/FAF-mig25.jpgA further thought was contrary to this, postulating a NATO. Finland (or more western military influenced) where the reconaissance role might have been undertaken with the British Canberra PR.9, again seeing service into the 21st Century !
Whilst sorting out kits in my dungeon i came across a Condor MiG.25 and Airfix Canberra PR.9 kits, a quick search on 'evil bay' yielded a Pavla conversion for the MiG.25 recce nose which also comes with a nice cockpit upgrade.
Having had a quiet weekend iv made a start ...
(pics to follow)
cheers, Joe
