Currently one of my projects is the 1/72 Pioneer Shorts Tucano.
For my own particular reasons I want to build the current all black RAF trainer version. The Airfix and Pioneer kit both depict prior versions.
But now: what kind of decals to use?
I’ve made some custom decals of the major needed ‘stickers’, but cannot find the detailed photo’s of the badge on the tail and the pilot information on the left side of the hull.
I’m awaiting a response from the UK Ministry of Defense on this, but I’m not fooling myself to put all my money on that source. I expect them to be hesitant in giving information.
Could you perhaps provide me with info?
See my website for a more accurate description of the model in progress. Current decal sheet as listed below:
Email Airfix and ask for a replacement decal sheet as they re-released the Tucano in the current all black scheme some time ago. I believe it is still in their catalogue.
Note that the decals in the re-release kit are pretty poor, but should give you more up to date markings.
cheers
Mike
But are they the same? I’m building the all black current Tucano, not the former black with yellow lightning. This does matter if I understand correctly.
if you go to…
http://www.airliners.net/
There are a huge number of Tucano pics to check out. I am sure you will find the scheme you want there.
The Pioneer kit came in the white/red/black and grey scheme IIRC
cheers
Mike
Thanks, but it didn’t give me any additional information. The text is not clear enough to read. One of the texts probably states “lock - unlock” with two small arrows, but there is much more prosa on the sides of the Tucano.
The pictures did make think this:
The Tucano is flown from two bases in the UK. Could it be that the lightning striped version is based on one base, and the all-black on the other base? www.raf.mod.uk doens not give this information, but this sounds logical as the lightning striped version appears the be flown in 2004 and 2005 plentifully. So I guess the lighning stripe (Airfix) kit isn’t outdated; just restricted to one base.
Am I right?
And, anyone clear info on the ‘lyrics’ near the cockpit?
Check your e mail. For anyone else who wants to build this or the Airfix kit, theres a good build in the March 2003 edition of SAMI (sampublications.com for back issues)
Pete
Great, and thanks!
Apparantly at this moment the all black and the black with yellow lightning appear to be flying. Do you know if the scheme is related to a base? Is scampton and cranwell the ‘lightning base’ whilest the all black is flown on Oxford?? Then again, it seems that Oxford had lightnings as well…
Furthermore, I’ve come to find out that my decals are wrong, concerning the RESCUE instructions for the canopy. I copied the text from the red and white decals as supplied with the Pioneer kit. The current version has five lines of text, starting with CANOPY EMERGENCY. Have you got any clue on this text (perhaps some connections on scampton?)
And, the ejections seats: I’m I right that they were first equiped with Martin Baker BR8LC seats, though were replaced to Martin Baker 10L seats? Does this ring a bell with you?
Beat me to it. I was looking for and found the SAMI article this morning before work.
I would advise you to pop over to http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com and ask in the forum. There is a large contingent of RAF modellers there would would be able to help you very quickly.
My Airfix 1:72 Tucano T.1
I gave up on the decals after checking 4 different kit sheets out and failed finding any good ones. I used Mike Grant Hawk roundels.
cheers
Mike
It’s still sad that the decls appear to be of such a horrible quality. Four times bad decals…
I’ll try the forum, although there hasn’t been a post on the website cocnerning the UK tucano. The Embraer Tucano is dealt with, however. Though for me that doens’t have any use. I’ll try a post though.
For those who are interested, I’ve made a major step in the building report on the Tucano. Not completely up to date yet though, but I’m getting there.[:D]
http://m.1asphost.com/svankreijl
note that my questions still remain unanswered…
OK, more gen that I think may help. The Shorts (RAF) Tucano is a very different aircraft from the original Brazilian one. Engine, avionics, seats, canopy & build quality (terrible).
Tucano’s are, to the best of my knowledge, only operated from two bases near York, RAF Linton-on-Ouse & (I think) Topcliffe. Scampton is just Red Arrows & some Civilian Hunters, Cranwell is elementary & twin engine training (again, as far as I know).
The Martin Baker 10L seats sound right, they weren’t that different from Tornado seats, just minus the rocket pack, I think.
Canopy emergency- at the rear of the canopy, left & right is a small panel. Open this & pull the toggle/handle. This releases a wire, keep pulling & when you are 2-4 metres away the canopy blows. Note, the explosive cord is called TLX not MDC, we were always having to restick it to the canopy, using high tech bathroom sealant!
As I said earlier (somewhere) I think the lightning flashes were just used on one of the display aircraft. The article in SAMI has lots of photo’s of an all black Tucano.
Incidentally, The Tucano was chosen as a political decision to save Shorts. In tests the pilots choice was the Pilatus PC 9, but they wouldn’t sanction the licence build, As it was, to bring the Tucano up to PC 9 standard (engine,avionics,bird proof canopy etc) meant that each one cost in the region of a million pounds!
Pete
Well you certianl put the overall perfomance and quality in a more colored perspective.[:D]
Still the text you state cannot be (completely) correct.
I’ll put a picture on the web after the weekend to show what I mean.
THis is where I read the text so far.
Last line is:
Pull firmly to activate…
The panel to open is the small yellow/black striped decal that goes either side of the canopy at the rear. There are five lines of text on the large yellow instruction decal that points to it. First line is Canopy Emergency. I’ve had a good look at the photo’s in the SAMI article, but it’s not clear enough to make out. It will read something like, ‘Open panel, remove handle, move away from aircraft to extend wire and pull firmly to activate’.
Just in case you were wondering, the step, on the left, is linked to the left landing gear by cable and goes up or down according to the gear position.
Pete
Thanks again!
As mentioned in my previous post, here’s the picture of the text:
I reckon - partially based on what you mentioned - that this is what’s on the picture (a * means: unknown) Many of your words don not seem to fit in the blurry text on this photgraph.
CANOPY EMERGENCY
- ********LATCH-OPEN
- REMOVEAND
CABLE******************
- PULL FIRMLY TO ACTIVATE **********
I’ve ordered the SAMI magazine, hoping it’ll arrive soon and show me some details.
I was indeed wondering where the step was on some photos and if it would be retractable. Thanks for clearing up this issue: I’ll “have to” do some additional scratch, but that won’t be such an enormous effort.
Can you (or anyone else) make clear text form this picture stated above and/or other tec=xt on the Tucano?
So far I’ve got;
1 ****** ****** Latch-Open door (That could be ‘push white latch’)
2 Remove yellow handle and extend
cable all the way out
3 Pull firmly to activate explosive charge
There, thats part memory & mostly what I can see on the screen. Hopefully it’s right, if it isn’t it’s very close indeed.
All the best
Pete
1 Push White Latch-Open door
2 Remove yellow handle and extend
cable all the way out
3 Pull firmly to activate explosive charge
I’ll double check for you this weekend, as I’m going out to Akrotiri with a Nimrod for the Friends and Families day, and the 2005 display Tucano will be present 
Wow, if you have a dig. camera, could you take a few pictures of every possible “decal” on the plane? I’d be so very greatfull
Today the SAMI has arrived, but I haven’t got the chance to look at the article. I did get my hands on a pair of Airfix sheets, but the look horrible. Especially the color red, that seems to be on the same decal sheet only because of some dumb luck: it miles out of register!
Wow (again) a Nimrod: If the Revell kit wasn’t as lousy as it seems, I would have bought one: it’s on sale everywhere at the moment, but it has dikes to simmulate panellines.[:D]
The SAMI article on the Airfix model is nice. It’s pretty long with many inprogress photos and some of the real aircraft. The author explains thoroughly what modifications he made on the aircraft.
Mainly he bought out the entire Aeroclub store, getting white metal spinner and prop, landing gear, new vacform canopy and he scratched new dashboards.
The thing that struck me most: he is very pleased with the decals.[?] How can that be?[;)]
By the way: the Airfix decals have an option for the current all black Tucano as well as for the older red and white Tuc.
REDDEATHDRINKER:
Can you confirm the text on the Tucano?
