Avro CF-105 Arrow, Belgian Air Force

[Spey Phantom]

just finished up this Arrow that has been sitting on the bench for months 

kit: Hobbycraft 1/72 CF-105 Arrow
decals: DACO (from various decal sets, roundels from a spitfire set and serials from an F-104G set)

[Brian da Basher]

That wonderful camo scheme compliments the Belgian tri-colors very nicely, Nils!

Brian da Basher

[elmayerle]

Very nice!!  A perfect follow-up to their operation of the CF-100.

[Volkodav]

Yes, I do like the paint job!

[finsrin]

Me too.  Like that paint job  :)
Scheme to remember for a future build.

[Tophe]

Your picture celebrating the export success of the Arrow will please some ones... Would the long range of the Arrow be good for Belgium? For a mission as far as Moscow?

[The Big Gimper]

Beautiful kit. Like Bill said, possible entry in the future Avro Arrow Group Build?

[kitnut617]

Your picture celebrating the export success of the Arrow will please some ones... Would the long range of the Arrow be good for Belgium? For a mission as far as Moscow?

In Real World, this particular version of the Arrow only had a 600 mile radius of action, so basically, take off from Belgium, fly to the top of the UK and then turn back ---

It might get you to the Russian border going east --

[Weaver]

That's beautiful. :) Nice one Nils.

Do you know what the background to the Belgian CF-100 purchase was? As Tophe has pointed out, it always seemd an odd choice for a small country, although it's worth remembering that the Belgian air force would have been operating as part of NATO in a war, so they would hardly have been unwelcome operating to the east of their own airspace.

[Alvis 3.1]

That's beautiful. :) Nice one Nils.

Do you know what the background to the Belgian CF-100 purchase was? As Tophe has pointed out, it always seemd an odd choice for a small country, although it's worth remembering that the Belgian air force would have been operating as part of NATO in a war, so they would hardly have been unwelcome operating to the east of their own airspace.

IIRC, Belgium was looking for an all weather interceptor, and the purchase was funded in part by the US, allowing Belgium to actually pick what they thought was the best plane for the role, as opposed to what they could afford themselves. If I am right, the Javelin, the Vatour IIN, the F-86K and the F-89 were the other contenders, but the CF-100 had the best radar system of them all. It was the only foreign sale of the CF-100.

Each Air Force in NATO at the time was assigned definite roles. At that time, the RCAF was an interceptor group, but that was to change to a nuclear interdiction group with the introduction of the CF-104s. Belgium must have been either designated an interceptor group, or chose the role. Given the weather in Europe, the CF-100 was one of the better choices for that role, with loiter time, radar and two sets of eyes.

Beautiful kit. Like Bill said, possible entry in the future Avro Arrow Group Build?

Uh oh. I've got 20-25 or so already done years ago, and the kit is OOP. What to do, what to do?
 


Alvis 3.1

[Spey Phantom]

IIRC, Belgium was looking for an all weather interceptor, and the purchase was funded in part by the US, allowing Belgium to actually pick what they thought was the best plane for the role, as opposed to what they could afford themselves. If I am right, the Javelin, the Vatour IIN, the F-86K and the F-89 were the other contenders, but the CF-100 had the best radar system of them all. It was the only foreign sale of the CF-100.

Each Air Force in NATO at the time was assigned definite roles. At that time, the RCAF was an interceptor group, but that was to change to a nuclear interdiction group with the introduction of the CF-104s. Belgium must have been either designated an interceptor group, or chose the role. Given the weather in Europe, the CF-100 was one of the better choices for that role, with loiter time, radar and two sets of eyes.

Alvis 3.1

you are correct on most of that, it was bought to replace the ageing Meteor NF.11 and a number of F.8's.
compared to the meteor, the CF-100 had a longer range and a better performance as a all-weather night fighter. AFAIK the Netherlands did not possess any night fighters at the time, and Belgian CF-100's also conducted night-time interceptions over dutch airspace.

more info & pics on Belgiums CF-100: http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/post_ww2/Avro%20Canada%20CF100%20Canuck/canuck%20frontpage.htm

On July 28th, 1957 the Belgian Government announced that Avro CF100 Canuck was the preferred  choice over the Gloster Javelin, the Sud Avation Vautour IIN, the North American F86K Sabre and the Northrop F89D Scorpion as the first "all-weather" fighter for the Belgian Air Force. In total 54 Canuck's were bought for the total sum of 42 million dollar (75% paid for by the US and 25% paid by Canada). Only 53 aircraft were ever delivered as one was damaged prior to delivery. In December 1957 a first batch of 15 Canucks was ferried from RCAF Uplands, Ottawa to Marville (France) via Goose Bay and Keflavik, piloted by Canadian crews of 428 and 410 Squadron. From Marville Belgian pilots delivered the aircraft to Beauvechain airbase. The Canucks served with Nrs 11, 349 and 350 Squadron of the 1st "All Weather" Wing at Beauvechain. This huge fighter was only used until 1964 when it was replaced by the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter. Unfortunately not a single Belgian Air Force Canuck was preserved as all remaining aircraft were sold to scrap dealer Van Heyghen and broken up at Gent. A Canadian Air Force "Cluck" is on public viewing at the Royal Army Museum in Brussels.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Uh oh. I've got 20-25 or so already done years ago, and the kit is OOP. What to do, what to do?
 


Alvis 3.1

Not to worry, there is one sitting here at my place with your name on it.  :)

[Weaver]

Cheers Guys - interesting.

[Spey Phantom]

Uh oh. I've got 20-25 or so already done years ago, and the kit is OOP. What to do, what to do?
 


Alvis 3.1

Not to worry, there is one sitting here at my place with your name on it.  :)

didnt Hobbycraft recently released an updated version of this kit?

[The Big Gimper]

Uh oh. I've got 20-25 or so already done years ago, and the kit is OOP. What to do, what to do?
 


Alvis 3.1

Not to worry, there is one sitting here at my place with your name on it.  :)

didnt Hobbycraft recently released an updated version of this kit?

Yes they did. This was their 3rd edition. Most comments are that it is a new tool correcting manly the size issues of the 1st release which some say is closer 1/78.

Scalemates page.

ARC review. 

Hyperscale review and build here.

[kitnut617]

Yes they did. This was their 3rd edition. Most comments are that it is a new tool correcting manly the size issues of the 1st release which some say is closer 1/78.

That's interesting Carl, I put it as being about 1/75 scale.  Measuring it in Metric works better than using an Imperial ruler and appears to have not been scaled to Imperial properly

[Alvis 3.1]

Hobbycraft did 3 distinct versions of the CF-105. The first one had a major flaw in that the actuator fairings on the wing were molded on the top of the wing, instead of the bottom. This was corrected in the 2nd version. Otherwise, the two kits were identical. The boxes changed a couple times, and the decals improved slightly over time as well. However, the actual shape of the aircraft was still wrong in a lot of places, such as the fictional coke bottle bulge just behind the intakes, which doesn't exist on the real plane, and a cockpit that is similar to a 1960s kit in detail. The exhausts also sport what appear to be turbojet compressor fans, a very odd place for that particular bit of gear...In a lot of ways, it appears to be based off the 1960s release by Aurora.
Hobbycraft lost the rights to most of their molds quite a while ago, and the Arrow was also appearing under the KiTech brand for a while. I Assume it's the 2nd version
Hobbycraft came out with their last version of the Arrow um, I think about 6 years ago. It was a brand new tooling, and the detail was better than the first versions, with the bulge now being eradicated. The decal sheet was much nicer, and the canopy and cockpit were improved, but still flawed (pilot's canopy has incorrectly shaped framing). I've not checked dimensions to see if it's closer to 1/72 or not.
In any case, it was the only game in town for injected kits.
Hey look, Al's a Closet Rivet Counter!


Alvis 3.1

[kitnut617]

I'm going to use some of the Victoria Production canopies on the few Hobbycraft kits I have, mind you I can spare them as I have the VP moulds for the Arrow ---

Plus I have a couple of the Mastercaster forward fuselage replacement sets to use too ---

[Alvis 3.1]

I'm still jealous I missed that sale by 1/2 hour!
But given my rate of model movement, the molds went to a better home!


Alvis 3.1

[Litvyak]

Ooh I love seeing the Arrow get some love!