Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: KiwiZac on March 02, 2015, 03:34:14 AM
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Hi team,
No big backstory for this one, just a simple premise: what if the Royal New Zealand Air Force had replaced the De Havilland Vampire with the Macchi MB.326 in 1970, rather than the BAC Strikemaster?
(http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/just%20models/B1EC5930-5B5A-4634-99C9-BA8C4F509060_zpsngaktqrp.jpg)
We ended up replacing the Strikemaster with the Aermacchi MB.339CB in 1991, so perhaps this idea makes a bit more sense?
This is the Supermodel 1/72 kit reboxed by Italeri with a great decal sheet. I was planning to make it a real world RAAF Roulettes machine OOB, but the included RAAF roundels are awful to my eye, so I started thinking...
No real issues with the kit that weren't my fault - I used superglue to mount the wings but used too much, and the ventral airbrake on Supermodel Aer/Macchis REALLY doesn't suit beingbuilt closed! Ventura decals for the national marks, kit decals for the stencils and Italeri OH-6A for the numbers. I used the practice bombs and racks from the Hasegawa Harrier, I'll take more pics soon to show these off 8)
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Sweet. :)
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Wot GRX said!! :D
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Thank you! Where's that bowing smilie?
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Very nice work
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Nice build and fantastic color scheme.
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Oh my, what a looker! I've never seen that fetching Kiwi camo done better!
Sharp as a tack, Zac!
Brian da Basher
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Thanks Brian :-) I know how much you love our camo schemes!
Thanks for the kind words Frank and buzzbomb. I didn't make it easy on myself by using a new cement and too much superglue, but it's come out ok. After I glued the canopy on I saw I missed the black stripes on the ejection handles... :-X
Now I REALLY want the 1/48 version.
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Beautiful!! Ermano Bazzochi would have loved it. Would the RNZAF have purchased some MB.326K's to supplement their Skyhawks?
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They used to run BAC Strikemasters before switching to Macchi 339CBs in 1991.
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They used to run BAC Strikemasters before switching to Macchi 339CBs in 1991.
And we now have three ex-RNZAF Strikemasters on the scene as flying warbirds! Very cool, considering I was only four when they retired.
Thanks Ev :-) Not sure, not in this timeline - just what we have, with the 326 as an exception!
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Well, I was just thinking that, since they already had MB.326 trainers, adding MB.326K single-seat strike aircraft, with internal cannon armament, leaving all the under-wing pylons for weaponry, would make logistics sense. They could have even been supplemented/replaced by MB.339K aircraft when the trainers were replaced.
For timing purposes, the MB.326K came out in the early 1970's (they were doing the final flight testing when I "interned" there the summer of 1972).
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Hmmm...some RNZAF MB.326Ks with Martin Pescador missiles...
(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh141/invmil/4-A-105MP-1000MARTINPESCADOR-CNAFRA.jpg)