Short Feature Article with Bill Clark
Just before we get started, here’s a quick look at how it all turned out…
RNAS Yeovilton/ HMS Heron must have been quite an exciting time in the late 70s.
….well, not just then, but for enthusiasts of Hawkers Hunter…it certainly was.
The Fleet Requirement And Detection Unit (FRADU) were based there, with their EE/ BAC Canberras, ably assisted by the Hunter GA11’s and T8s (and the cut occasional T7).
One of the Hunter’s roles was to act as incoming, low flying missiles, ‘launched’ by the Canberra, and aimed at RN ships out at sea.
The Hunters were converted ex-RAF F4’s so used the RR Avon 100, with the ‘small-bore’ tail cone. Cannons snd ‘Sabrinas’ were removed and a ‘Harley’ light fitted to the nose. The attacking Hunters illuminated this to highlight their ‘attack’, to give the on board Matelots a fighting chance of getting a visual. The GA11 also had the dog-tooth extension and strengthened wing.
In their Extra Dark Sea Grey and White ‘uniform’ they provided a dashing spectacle. A four-ship display team ‘The Blue Herons’ entertained many an enthusiast during that time. An interesting fact is that The FRADU jets were flown by non-military pilots.
The Kit
Airfix’s Hawker Hunter F4/F5 provides all the parts necessary to build a GA11, more or less. For some reason the deeper tail bumper is absent, but easily added from plastic card.
The only aftermarket addition was the upper fuselage insert. The Avon 100 engined F4 had different vents there, and The Sapphire engined F5 (and F2 for that matter) had different vents to both. Therefore for an accurate Avon 100 or Sapphire Engined Hunter,( basically the F1,F2,F4 & F5, plus of course the T7 and T8, both derived from the F4) the upper fuselage needs a bit if tweaking.
Luckily, Ali at Aerocraft has provided resin inserts. These simply fit in place once the relevant kit part in the wing ‘saddle’ is carefully removed .
The kits seat was used, with some additional detail added, into a black cockpit. Again some additional detail was added there, not that its that visible.
The kit also features the fairing for the Harley Light, and airfield arrestor hook. This suggests a GA11 issue from Airfix in the future.
I used Tamiya white primer for the lower surfaces, with Xtracrylix Extra Dark Sea Grey on top.
A high gloss was applied using Klear floor polish.
Stores
The kits pylons are pretty poor. They’re far too shallow, luckily Aerocraft supply accurate items
Four x 100 gallon tanks were carried. To add a bit if variety, these had different paint schemes applied. Quite prototypical.
Apparently the dayglo tank was ‘borrowed’ from a visiting Dutch(I think?) Hunter some years earlier, and was quite popular with FRADU, by this time , the late 70’s the tank was quite faded.
Decals
The kits decals were used where appropriate, with serials and side numbers from generic Modeldecal/Xtradecal sheets.
Conclusion
I really enjoyed this build. The kit is really nice, with a few minor ‘niggles’, particularly the pylons and the front wheel, but the fit of parts is really good. The decals superb.
I’ve built a few of these Hunters now….I expect there’ll be one or two more …
Bill C.
Gallery Grid
Tim Haynes says
Lovely job Bill.