1/32 Revell of Germany Hunter GA11 |
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Gallery Article by Bill Clark
on July 20 2003 |
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1/32 Revell of Germany Hunter converted to a GA11
I've always been
fascinated by Fleet Air Arm aircraft, and the chance to build one in 1/32nd
scale was just too great an opportunity to be missed; so, when RoG issued their
SUPERB Hunter, I took that opportunity.
This particular model had been started - by my old and late friend Peter
Ogden. He was building it as an FGA9, but got fed up with it!!
He gave it to me, partially built but as I had already started building my FGA9,
I decided to butcher it about a bit.
The main changes to the GA11 was the smaller bore tail pipe. All GA11's were
converted from ex-RAF F4's which all had Avon - 100 engines (The FGA9 having the
200 series). I used Milliput formed over a section of the kits "Swiss drop
tanks" to replace the kits part. Likewise all armament was removed - the
Sabrinas were removed and the cannon troughs filled in. (These machines did have
the facilities to use the underwing stores retained and could have RP's fitted).
The nose had a "Harley Light" fitted - this was taken from the kits
Maverick Missile lens. The lens was used so that ships could see it coming, as
one of its main roles was to fly hard and low at RN shipping pretending it was
an incoming Exorcet - having been "fired" by a Canberra or Falcon
2000!
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The GA11 also had an
airfield arrestor hook added, though these were not strengthened for ship use!!
These GA11's were operated by the Fleet Requirements And Directional Unit (FRADU),
flown by civilians and were based at Yeovilton - next to the Sea Harriers and
Sea Kings. They were withdrawn from service by the early 1990's to be replaced by BAe
Hawks.