G’day!
Long time lurker, seldom poster… im in the midst of gathering info for a RAAF F111C. While i wait my verlinden cockpit set that is on back order for the next 2 months, im looking at possible loadouts for my pig. Now, i know nothing about them (i just build models) so i kinda need help. With the following picture, would this pig have a datalink pod for the harpoon missiles, and where would it sling sidewinders (if any)
Thanks for your comments
Hey Bushy
Firstly, a DLP wouldn’t be needed for the Harpoons, as they have active radar guidance in the head of the weapon. Each loadout is mission specific, so if a pig was required for CAS, then AIM-9M’s would be fitted to stns 3,4,5 or 6 along with inert GBU’s, jammer, AGM-142 Popeye & DLP. If you’re modelling a pig in camo, then leave out the AGM-142 & DLP, as these birds are pre AUP (ie fitted with analogue instruments).
For a more comprehensive coverage of RAAF pig weapon loads, scoot over to www.aussiemodeller.com. There’s a massive amount of info stored on the threads about these a/c - mostly from Amberley lads.
A couple more things Bushy: the pylons on stations 2 & 7 are fixed to point straight ahead in full sweep, which means the fuel tanks look somewhat pigeon-toed when the plane is parked up. And RAAF pigs rarely carry the fuel tanks except when they are transporting to somewhere else. On a combat mission they would most likely hook up to a KC tanker.
Yeah i figured this was not normal, kind of why im going of this picture, something different i guess. In any case, she will be sitting on the ground with wings forward and flaps/slats extended… thank you scaledown[:D]
If i read correctly, the sidewinder would be on the outside of pylons 4 and 5, above the GBU10’s. Also, if i were to add a jamming pod (?) to the a/c on the rear centerline hardpoint, similar to where the datalink for the popeye would be located, what kind would it be?
I think this picture answers my question…
If you’re doing a pre-AUP a/c, this would most likely make sense & would probably locate in the same spot as the Pave Tack pod now. For current Gunship Grey pigs, the jammer is a EL-8222 ECM pod which locates on its own pylon down the back near the fuselage strakes.
Thanks…
I think i will be going down the path of is wing tanks on 7 and 2, harpoons on 6 and 3, GBU10’s on 5 and 4, with a pave tack on the bay and a jammer pod on the rear centerline hardpoint, all in camo-scheme.
Excellent. This thread has sparked my interest to dig my 2 pig kits out & get to work on them again - a ‘C’ from 1 Sqdn & a ‘G’ from 6 Sqdn.
Yeah…id have started today, if the cockpit update set was not on order for the next 2 months.
Besides, my Mk5/1 centurion and M113 FSV need to get done, and maybe that half built M113AS4 scratchbuild im trying
Anyway, i have a hornet, phantom, skyhawk and a macchie to tie me over should i need a stop gap
G’day Bushy,
That photo is not of an operational loadout, I am fairly certain it was put together for some PR work once upon a time. The pigs as previously stated very rarely(Ferry flights) use the External tanks (jugs) and when they do usually only 2 per aircraft on stations 3 and 6. operationally Jugs and ordnance aren’t put up together the jugs will get pulled off once they get where they’re going and the BRU’s or bombs get put up after. For an older Camo pig don’t worry about the ELTA 8222 pod they came in after the fleet went grey. if you wanted a more realistic load involving the jugs they sometimes carry a baggage pod (modified napalm tank I think) on one station 4 or 5 for the aircrews bags and sometimes with Sidewinder CATM usually no fins or just the missile rail. If you wanted to do a modern Pig the harpoon is pretty much out of use now and the AGM-142 is used for maritime strike. Config would be 1 agm-142 missile on one side of the jet and the DLP on opposite side with an inert 500 lb mk82 inboard of the DLP as a counter weight, and i think they can carry 2 of the missiles if another aircraft has the DLP. As far as Winders go the shoulder pylons are not used anymore but back in Camo era they were either on the side of the pivot pylons outboard 3 and 6 or carried under the pylon as per normal ordnance. I hope I haven’t overloaded you with useless info but if you want to build that config it is very impressive and you have a photo to prove it’s legit, That’s the fun with building a pig it’s pretty much pick whatever weapons you want and hang them off it they would have carried it at once stage or another. All the best with your Pig and If you have any more questions I’ll do my best to help you out.
Cheers Cairnsy
Thanks for your reply mate!
I figured the photo was a PR shot, as i knew that the vark automatically dumps the outer pylons after a certain amount of sweep, though for the purposes of a miodel, it would look pretty sweet!
Ill save the popeye loadout for my G when i make it i think, with all of that surface are to cover, i think i will go camo purely for the visual appeal.