It’s official now, we have an Aerobatic Teams Group Build…!
Feel free to post ideas, suggestions, pictures of work in progress and of completed models, as well as links to other sites about Aerobatic Teams if you know any.
The format is very relaxed: as long as it’s a plane used for aerobatics, it qualifies… All eras, from 1903 to present but I’ll even allow ‘what if’ subjects (who would have liked to see the Blue Angels flying Harriers???).
All scales allowed. Out of the box or Scratchbuilt, converted and super-detailled, all are welcome!
It’s an open-ended GB so drop in, drop out as you wish. Happy colourful modeling!
For a start, here’s a link to a list of Teams from around the world. Links to official websites and a great source for badges if you want to add tour favourite team’s onto your SIG…! [:p]
you gonna do a whos doin what list and a badge?
I’ll throw my hat in on this one with Premiers 1/48 Red Arrow. See if I can knock it out before the “If it floats and flies GB” kicks off.
I have alot of great shots of these guys if anyones wants reference photos.
And to get the discussion started, what is your favourite Aerobatic Team??? Which one(s) have you seen performing???
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the Thunderbirds (F-16), the Frecce Tricolore (Aermacchi 339), the Patrouille de France (Alpha-Jet), the Red Arrows (Hawk), the Grasshoppers (Alouette III), the Halcones (Extra 300) but haven’t had much exposure for a few years now since I’m not doing much in terms of airshows anymore… The most impressive display was the on of the Frecce Tricolore. Those guys are MAD!
My Favorite hands down will always be the Red Arrows. Having Lived at RAF Fairford when it was still an active airbase Ive been to 3 IAT’s and seen many teams perform
Red Arrows
Thunder Birds
Frecce Tricolori
GrassHoppers
Snowbirds
and many more that I just cant remember thier names
Sadly while Ive seen the Blue Angels and met the crews Ive never seen them perform
I was also at Ramstein Airbase in Germany when the Frecce Tricolori had thier tragic midair collision sending a fireball into the crowd. Very sad day. I also remember the Red Arrows having a training accident and crashing into a Farm house. Pilot made it out Ok. The farmer inside the house survived because he was in the tub the time and it was made of cast iron
Awood, I was supposed to go to the Ramstein Airshow that year, but changed my mind the day before… I’m glad to say that none of the airshows I’ve been to ended tragicaly…
You guys are lucky. The European teams don’t make it to this part of the US if they come over at all. Not knocking my home-team T-Birds and Angles, I’m just really interested seeing some teams with more than six planes.
What’s the schedule on this? My participation is on the fence right now what with one other GB winding down in a couple of months and another starting up right afterwards plus work and all…you get the picture. But I’ve always wanted to see what a Blue Angels F/A-18E would look like…
Trigger, I know the Patrouille de France had a very successful tour in North America back in 1988… The Reds have been there too, 'cause I’ve got a poster of them flying over the Niagara falls somewhere… As far as timing is concerned, it’s an open ended GB so you feel free to start whenever you want. My hope is that there’s always going to be a handful of modelers working on such subjects so that the GB stays ‘alive’ most of the time. But we’ll see how things go!
Yeah, 88 I was starting my freshman year of high school and I wasn’t old enough for a driver’s licence. And if the Thunderbirds or Blue Angles weren’t within a two hour drive, there was no way my dad was going to haul my butt to an airshow. Now times are different and the only thing keeping me from driving somewhere are having enough free time and $$$ (I know, I know - our gas is cheaper here than in Europe so I’m not complaining - it’s the grand total of the expenses)
We’re entering the silly season at work right now, but I’ll participate off/on, time permitting.
Cool news, Frosty, cool news! I still do not know what I’m gonna build for this… My heart says “Blue Angels” (I’ve got an old ESCI 1/72 A-4 lurking somewhere) but I also have a 1/48 Aermacchi 339 with the Frecce Tricolore scheme… Decisions, decisions…
I opened up my kit and had a looksee and sadly it doesnt look promising. Though it definetly gives me an opportunity to become a better modeler. Im usually an OOB builder with only minor scratchbuilt details added. This kits should definetly test my abilities It still may end up being OOB. The thing that really worries me is the fuselage. it come in 6 peices (2 nose halfs, 2 main body and 2 tail sections…) Im also at odds on using the kit decals or attempting to mask and paint the markings. Have to wait and see. As soon as I get started I be posting pics
Definitely an A-4F…! From “Reflections of Blue”, I quote: " Modifications were required in her (the A-4F) inverted fuel, pilot restraint and elevator fuel systems, as well as a strenghthening of the outboard aileron hings fittings. Other changes included the addition of the VHF radio, a drogue chute, a built-in fold-ladder, and a smoke system".
The built-in ladder is located where the left gun was on normal A-4Fs, while the right gun is also removed and the opening faired over. The smoke system is a tube bringing oil into the exhaust, and it runs just under the ‘cap’ at the top of the engine exhaust. I’ve heard several people talking about wider, bigger air intakes for the engine, but my pictures do not correlate this…
Hey DJ, got an Idea for a badge for this build… as there are many different teams how about different badges with a similar theme?
the Blue Angels and Red Arrows I think are the only ones in on this build so far but I can make more as necessary so long as I can find the pics and if the team has a squadron patch.
I like the ‘show us what you’ve got’ approach.
It has to be the Reds for me.
I’m gonna put myself down for this one. I’ve got a 1/48 Airfix Red Arrows Hawk in the loft and some decals that were supplied with FSM a while back.
I’ve looked at quite a few reviews of the kit and it looks like it needs a fair amount of alteration for accuracy - this is why its still in the loft!
I’m gonna build straight from the box with the exception of the smoke pipes as time is a little short and I probably won’t start it til December.
Having seen the Frecce Tricolori, Snowbirds, Thunderbirds (T-38 & F16) I rate then as written down. The most inpressive single display has to be the slow take off roll and straight up climb of a clean F15. My first view was a prototype back in 1974. It still had the square wings, but what a performer.
For upnorth: The RCAF Vampire Mk 3 was used by 410 Sqn as the Blue Devils the year after I was born. Long time ago. Check out this web site for details. http://www.marville.org/other/maother-114a.html
I checked out the link on aerobatic teams and find many Canadin Teams missing due to their small sizes and limited operational time. I will be glad to compile a list if everybody sends me the data. I can only assume that various squadrons from all over have mounted aerobatic teams at one time or another. My e-mail form part of my profile.
Awood, those are two lovely pics! I can’t seem to be able to paste the BA pic onto my profile, it just gives me a red cross in the white box… Could you do another one for the Frecce Tricolore? I think I’m warming up to that 1/48 kit already… Thanks!
Fiasco, good choice! By the way, I got those FSM decals too and I’m willing to part with them if anyone needs them…
DJ, if those decals are any good I may be intrested. This kit I got is gonna take alot of TLC to make it presentable. Maybe we can find something for trade? Im working on the badge issue but having the same red x problem. Fiasco seemed to have figured it out though. Any hints Fiasco? gimme a little bit and Ill have a snow birds one done. Anybody else wanting a different team just lemme know.
