![]() ![]() 1/72 scale kits of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) Jet Provost and Strikemaster family |
kit
review / modelling report
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![]() ![]() ![]() The British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) developed a light jet trainer, the jet Provost, with side by side cockpit. There was a need for a light ground attack aircraft for both the Royal Air Foirce and for export in the nineteen-sixties. The RAF trainer version, called Jet Provost, deliveries were completed in 1972. Based on the Jet Provost T.5, the Strikemaster was developed. Changes were in wing tip tanks, intake size, and attack stores that can be carried among smaller system changes. The first flight of the Strikemaster attack version was ready in 1967. Max speed was about 785 km/hr and over 130 aircraft were ordered by foreign countries mostly in the Commonwealth. |
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Airfix had issued many year
ago a 1/72 model of the the BAC Strikemaster / Jet Provost T.5. (kit 02044
and later kit A03049).
Basically it is the same aircraft, but the Jet Provost was used as a trainer and the Strikemaster as a light ground attack aircraft. In the kit some small parts are included for each type: a couple of different air intakes and wingtip tanks. The Strikemaster also had stronger undercarriage, could carry weapon pylons and also did not have the nose strakes. It usually had blast deflectors below the intakes with two small guns below the intake. (note that Airfix also had another
Jet Provost T.3 kit #01029, seen on page 2...).
Two older kits are built as Jet Provost,
an old kit and a later bought kit.
These kit decals comprise 2 schemes:
The kit decals were yellowed in one kit and are better replaced.......
Many parts are for the stores that comprise wing tanks, drop tanks, bombs. The kit has raised panel lines, I left them that way. When the model is painted it will only be seen at a distance that they are raised and not inscribed. On the recently bought Airfix kit,
the decals are much better and for a RAF and New Zealand scheme. They are
also different as the first kit release seen above.
On the real aircraft almost always the undercarriage gear doors are closed on the ground, so there is no need for an actual nose wheel bay, nor any details inside the bays.
For the Jet Provots, no wing tip tanks
were fitted.
Filler was needed particulary at the
intakes and the wing root joints. Small amounts of putty were set and sanded
after drying out.
The kit cockpit has two seats that can benefit from some extra detail as well as the cockpit itself. ( A PAVLA resin set can be bought for this, but I simple added details with some plastic card and rod). Two models were thus made and when
both assembled, they were ready to get the paint schemes.
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![]() MODEL 1 : RAF Jet Provost trainer mk. T.5 The first kit was made in a scheme of a Royal Air Force trainer in red-white-grey using the later AIRFIX kit decals which were OK. ![]()
Most work with this scheme is to apply with the airbrush the colourfull decal scheme of white, red and grey wing panels. The colour scheme was applied as indicated in the instructions. First, the overall model got a light grey base coat. Correct any irregularities as needed. For the RAF trainer scheme the colours
used were...
.... and for the mid wing area of Light grey "BSC381C:627" : Gull Grey FS36440 using Gunze Sangyo acrylic 325
After decalling the model was completed
by:
NOTE: Oooops.....I later discovered that I made a mistake as I glued the intake scoops on the left side and not the correct right side below the canopy...
A nice addition to my RAF British trainer model collection. Note: when modelling
other Strikemasters later on, I added the forgotton small control rods
of the trim tabs on rudder and horizontal stabilizer and the pitot tube
below the nose, seen here...
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![]() MODEL 2: Test aircraft RAF Empire Test Pilots School ![]() ![]() The second model was finished as a Jet Provost test aircraft at the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down, UK, 1995. I got a nice decal sheet from AIRDECAL,
set 7211, Raspberry Ripple PART 2. It has decals for a Jet Provost
with serial XS230.
The Bedford paint scheme is quite challenging, but fortunately the AIRDECAL sheet does provide the red demarcation lines and the decals are accurate. Colours needed are white, red and
blue, using:
Start with a light grey base coat
using your airbrush. Then do the white overall, mask the red and do the
blue.
After applying the decals as per instructions, the final small parts were set onto the model and the cockpit a bit detailed, see above how. Also this model got a decal protecting coat of Johnson Future/ Pledge with the airbrush.
Below a later model photo is seen
where I added the 3 small trim tab control rods on the stabilizer and vertical
tail
How about other British test aircraft,
like those at Bedford or the Test Pilot School Boscombe
Down? These are also on the AIRDECAL sheet......
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![]() A very old Airfix Jet Provost T.3 kit was also made (as well as Strikemasters...) On to next
[ Page 2.... ]
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![]() REFERENCES Dedicated website: http://www.bacstrikemaster.co.uk/index2.html Scale Aircraft Modelling, SAM magazine,
Key publishing: December 2015 issue with a special with nice profile drawings
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Created this page
December 20, 2012 Updated October 9, 2016 |