Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Rickshaw on December 09, 2017, 02:36:29 PM
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Fokker F27 Troopship Mk.II in Australian Coast Guard Service
After the Tampa affair, and the declaration of the War on Terrorism, in 2001 Kim Beazley announced that the Australian Labor Party, if in government, would establish an Australian Coast Guard "responsible for conducting Australia's coastal surveillance and meeting Australia's maritime protection needs, including in relation to illegal immigration, drugs, fisheries, and quarantine-related issues". This plan met with criticism. Defence Minister Peter Reith under the Liberal-Coalition Government criticised Beazley for stating that an Australian Coast Guard both will and will not be an "answer to the question of people smuggling". The plan was criticised by the Australian government, on the grounds that it would either be prohibitively expensive or inadequate to the task. Later, the motives for the establishment of an Australian Coast Guard were interpreted by some as "a plan to extend the capabilities of the Australian Federal Police."
After the defeat of the Howard Government in the 2003 election, the ALP Government, let by Simon Crean instituted the Australian Coast Guard – a subsidiary organisation, run by the Australian Federal Police and intended to protect Australia's coast line from incursion by illegal people smugglers and drug runners and to rescue wayward seafarers. Equipped initially with mainly cast off equipment from the RAAF and the RAN, the ACG was intended to secure the coastline out to 1,000 km.
In this case, we have a Fokker F27 Troopship Mk.II. The Fokker was originally used by the RAAF as a light, tactical transport and was designed to be common with the civilian F27 Friendship. The RAAF was the launch customer for the Troopship Mk.II which introduced a large ramp at the rear to facilitate tactical loading directly onto the back of a medium truck.
By the time of the formation of the ACG, the RAAF were looking for replacements for the elderly Troopships. They were considered perfect for Coast Guard use and were adopted in squadron strength, where they still serve today.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/922/T7lRjo.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/6zptXU.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/hpV7E2.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/Ya5eVg.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/923/1qDpYO.jpg)
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/924/AxbQIS.jpg)
The Model
The model is a combination of an Esci 1/72 F27 Friendship and a Heller 1/100 Transall. The model was painted with a hairy stick using Tamiya and Vallejo Acylics. The Decals came from the spares box and Kit Speckman Enterprises.
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Ni-ice! 8)
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:smiley:
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You're on a real Red 'Roo Rip! Very sharp and easy on the eyes!
Brian da Basher
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Really,,, didn't know that. Makes sense and looks fine. :smiley:
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I like that one Brian, :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
got something similar in mind but using a Herald
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Beautiful. With that rear ramp, it ought to be adaptable to "Roll On - Roll Off" equipment modules for different taskings; quite a suitable option for an always stretched Coast Guard.
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I like that one Brian, :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
got something similar in mind but using a Herald
I've previously done a Turbo-Herald in the same way, with a Transall tail and ramp. (http://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php/topic,33708.0.html)
(http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/425/1001845d.jpg)
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Gorgeous :-* :-*
What scale is the Transall then ? never mind, just went back to the start of your thread :-[
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Very neatly and cleverly done! I love the livery and the supporting back story, great idea and execution :smiley:
Best regards,
Kem
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Nice backstory Rickshaw ;)
Doesn't that F-27 look just so natural in Australian service; especially when one considers how ubiquitous and reliable the Friendship was in Australian airline service.
M.A.D
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Yep. Great backstory and livery :smiley:
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Thinks to himself: "Hmmm, better not mention the livery is actually Indonesian..." ;)
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:-* :-* :-* :icon_alabanza:
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very nice
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Love this, very well done indeed :-* :-* 8) 8)
One of my earliest memories is the sound of Freindships flying over my parents house in Western Sydney heading west, a calming sound to me much missed :smiley: :smiley: