Expo Purchases

[kfutter]

But can anybody tell me if there are replacement props available for my Do-X kit?

Hmm?



Kev

[tor lives]

But can anybody tell me if there are replacement props available for my Do-X kit?

Hmm?



Kev

OK...so time to get back on track. Kev, does the kit have at least one prop that is intact. If so that could act as your "master" for casting some spares. Ryan Hamilton over on AMI has cast me some spare props in the past, maybe you could ask him to cast you some for the Do-X kit.
TOR

[F-27pax]

I agree, there's been too much about Lightnings on this thread. I'd be quite happy to write about casting instead apart from the fact that it isn't one of my skills and always ends in unhappiness and tears. If you've got the knack I'd be pleased to know you because I have a couple of things that I need done and have not been successful at.

However, I can't leave the Lightning business without one comment. There's no point in criticizing the Lightning (or any other piece of equipment for that matter) for what it isn't. The Lightning was designed as a fast climbing interceptor to destroy incoming nuclear armed bombers. If there had been a war that needed that capability the Lightning would have done a good job. (The Avro Canada Arrow would have done even better, but that's another story.) If it hadn't been for the 1957 Sandys Defence White Paper there would have been a generation of British interceptors and air superiority fighters to replace the Lightning, but since there weren't the Lightning was forced into other roles where its capabilities were less than optimal. But the fact that it remained in service and performed well into the 1980s says loads about the vision and capabilites of its designers.

Having got myself all excited about Lightnings I'll not go off and post pictures of some of my Lightning models in the Air Base.

Leigh

[tor lives]

For Leigh and Adam
http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/air ... y_102.html
http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/air ... y_128.html
This should satisfy your "Lightening Lust" for a little while
TOR
PS: Leigh....I know you are not big on WIFs, but I thought you might appreciate the Aussie flavour. And Adam, there is your AIM-9s and AIM-7s catered for

[Adam the Akrodude]

For Leigh and Adam
http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/air ... y_102.html
http://www.clavework-graphics.co.uk/air ... y_128.html
This should satisfy your "Lightening Lust" for a little while
TOR
PS: Leigh....I know you are not big on WIFs, but I thought you might appreciate the Aussie flavour. And Adam, there is your AIM-9s and AIM-7s catered for

That is just aero-porn Ray! Sorry Mirage buffs, but a Lightning with a decent radar plus AIM-9L's and Sparrows would have been the ducks guts I think! Hey, at least I can't be entirely blamed of this enormous thread drift! I very much like Leigh's Lightning project shown down at the Air Base - epic work there! Always brilliant when you come across someone with a passion for a subject greater than yours!

[hrtpaul]

AIM-9L's are fine but ditch the POS AIM-7's LOL Might need a HTS for those HARM's too

[Adam the Akrodude]

AIM-9L's are fine but ditch the POS AIM-7's LOL Might need a HTS for those HARM's too

Oh you're harsh! OK, during the air war up over North Vietnam, the AIM-7 wasn't the best in turns of kill ratio, but it still shot down a lot of NVAF jets. USAF shot down 50 NVAF jets using the Sparrow. From Wiki so you know it's true

It was used to good advantage in the 1991 Gulf War, where it scored many USAF air-to-air kills. Of 44 missiles fired, 30 (68.2%) hit their intended targets resulting in 24/26 (54.5%/59.1%) kills. 19 kills were obtained beyond visual range.

So, I think the Sparrow whilst certainly not perfect, was the best semi-active radar homing missile of it's time until the AIM-120 came along. How western radar missiles compare to Russian/Chinese equivalents is anyone's guess as the "bad guys" radar missiles have not really been proven in combat.

[hrtpaul]

AIM-9L's are fine but ditch the POS AIM-7's LOL Might need a HTS for those HARM's too

Oh you're harsh! OK, during the air war up over North Vietnam, the AIM-7 wasn't the best in turns of kill ratio, but it still shot down a lot of NVAF jets. USAF shot down 50 NVAF jets using the Sparrow. From Wiki so you know it's true

It was used to good advantage in the 1991 Gulf War, where it scored many USAF air-to-air kills. Of 44 missiles fired, 30 (68.2%) hit their intended targets resulting in 24/26 (54.5%/59.1%) kills. 19 kills were obtained beyond visual range.

So, I think the Sparrow whilst certainly not perfect, was the best semi-active radar homing missile of it's time until the AIM-120 came along. How western radar missiles compare to Russian/Chinese equivalents is anyone's guess as the "bad guys" radar missiles have not really been proven in combat.

It also missed a lot more of NVAF jets Though the AIM-7 was crippled by bullshit ROE, it was still a woefully unreliable weapon. Most F-4 jocks preferred the way more reliable AIM-9 which in itself wasn't perfect either. Of course the AIM-7 was the best of it's time, as there really wasn't much western competition for it when you look at it. It's reliability had improved by 1991 (couldn't get much worse) and you'd certainly hope so too. The AIM-120 is a totally different kettle of fish so you can't really compare them both.

[Adam the Akrodude]

Throw into the pot the fact that the USN had the better AIM-9D (as it was a USN funded program) and the USAF were forced to try the AIM-4 Stoopid missile in combat. Read one day what Robin Olds had to say about that woeful missile. He had his people re-wire the F-4D to us the older AIM-9B when they got them, as the F-4D could originally only fire the AIM-4. This crazy missile was only good against bombers, as the seeker head had to be pre-cooled just prior to launch. Can you imagine in the heat of combat having to flick extra switches to cool the missile seeker head down just prior to launch? I think it blew cold nitrogen over the seeker head and once started, there was no reversing this - depletive system - a real crazy boffin idea absolutely useless in combat.

Loving this discussion. Let's try to break the record for longest and furthest thread drift!

Paul you must read Robin Olds book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You'd bloody love it!

[kfutter]

But can anybody tell me if there are replacement props available for my Do-X kit?

Hmm?



Kev

OK...so time to get back on track. Kev, does the kit have at least one prop that is intact. If so that could act as your "master" for casting some spares. Ryan Hamilton over on AMI has cast me some spare props in the past, maybe you could ask him to cast you some for the Do-X kit.
TOR

Thanks Ray. I didn't actually check that closely, what with there being 12 of the bloody things! But every one that I did see was definitely broken to some degree. At least a couple of them had no blades left at all.

Kev