Building an Aeroclub Meteor T7 in 1:48th scale – by Doodi Gozlan
Despite having been the IAF’s first jet airplane, the Meteor has lost its first line interceptor status only to become an advanced trainer, after several years of service. During the mid 60’s, the last of the two seat Meteors (T-7 & T7.5) were transferred to the “Knights of the North” squadron, which had been flying the Vautour A/C at that time. By the end of the 60’s, only three meteors remained with this squadron, all finished in the blue/brown pattern, and sporting snake nicknames.
A/C #15 was named “Shfifon”, #17 was named “Tzefa” & #21, and the sole remaining T7.5 was called “Efa’a”. In his article, Doodi describes modeling A/C #15, using the Aeroclub model, plus a kit of enlarged air-intakes, to replace the smaller intakes of the Aeroclub model, by those installed on the IAF A/C.
Doodi describes modifying the intakes, as well as scratch building the unique canopy of this model.
For accurate finish, Doodi used the following colors: brown – Humbrol 29, blue – Humbrol 134 or Extracolor 264 (RAL5008) & grey – Humbrol 166 for the undersurfaces.
The relevant red areas were painted gloss red – Humbrol 19. For decals, Doodi used Isradecals IAF-25 set.
Eventually, Doodi recommends modeling the Aeroclub model only for experienced modelers and advices us to use the Classic Airframe model.
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p.10-11 |
Flying Fortress: the B-17 in Israeli Air Force Service – by Ilan Warshai
By the end of WWII, the USA was faced with huge surpluses of B-17 bombers, no longer necessary for the US Army. As part of the future State of Israel’s procurement efforts, four B-17Gs were bought by Al Shwimer from the USAF surpluses. Two had been purchased from a Florida state citizen, one from a California based company and one directly from Oklahoma based surpluses.
The initial three were transferred from the USA to Czechoslovakia by mid June 1948, while the fourth A/C arrived a month later to the Azores islands, where it’s crew having been arrested by the command of the Department of State. On the night of 15-16th July, 1948, the three A/C were flown from Czechoslovakia to Israel, while bombing Cairo, El-Arish & Gaza en route.
This act has actually been its sole “classic” strategic bombing operation, aimed at defying the enemy’s fighting spirit. The A/C were stationed at Ramat-David airbase, foe which purpose a new dedicated (and the only) Israeli bombing, #69 squadron, had been formed.
The A/C were used during the War of Independence, achieving low operational success, mostly due to lack of accurate sights and other vital equipment. During the 50’s, the squadron had moved to Ekron (Tel-nof) and later on to Hatzor airbase, the A/C performing long range photography and survey missions.
By early 1954, 69 sqn. Became a reserve segment within 103 sqn., following the sqn’s disbandment by the end of that year. Following the large Egyptian massive arming, during 1955, and the Israeli preparations for pre-emptive strike, on May 1956, the sqn. was reactivated, taking part in the “Kadesh” operation.
During this operation, the A/C performed eight bombing missions on Egyptian targets during one of which, an A/C was severely damaged by A”A fire. Following that operation, apparently having been the lust worldwide B-17 operational activity, the sqn was disbanded and the A/C had been withdrawn from use.
In the article, Ilan surveys the different technical aspects of each of the A/C and the history of its tail markings and various logos, as follows:
AC #1601: originally owner of a US civilian registration NL5014M and an Israeli #”Heh-1” (H-1), it had been painted in Czechoslovakia in a quickly decaying camouflage pattern. During the war, it had accumulated 33 bomb markings, applied on both sides of the fwd fuselage. Its most distinctive feature had been two teardrop navigation antennas, installed on the upper fuselage. One of which had been removed in 1949.
During 1950, the A/C had been repainted in a two tone pattern (blue/brown?), and carried the 69 sqn emblem on both sides of the fwd fuselage, while sporting a “baseball cap” logo on both side of the vertical stabilizer.
A year later, all colors and markings (including the sqn. and IAF) had been removed, and three machine gun turrets had been installed on it. Consequently the antenna had been relocated to the under fuselage.
It appears that it did not return to active duty, following the reactivation of 69 sqn, during 1956.
Photos of IAI’s backyard, from the late 50’s, show a metal finished B-17, which may have been #1601 (already serial 1621 at that period), if so, than it had ended its service with a natural metal finish, without any camouflage colors and markings.
AC #1602: originally owner of a US civilian registration NL5024M and an Israeli #”Heh-2” (H-2), it had been painted in Czechoslovakia in a non standard, four tone, camouflage pattern and a bomb dropping “Mickey Mouse” logo was painted on both sides of the vertical stabilizer. Its distinctive feature had been two, side facing, machine gun windows, in the fwd fuselage, absent from the other two A/C. A year later, it had been repainted in the two tone pattern, apparently blue/brown, in conjunction with A/C #1601. During 1951 it had been converted for long range maritime surveillance missions. The camouflage colors had been removed, and while on a metal finish, a search radar was installed into a special fluorescent triangular chin turret, and a new astrodome was added above the fwd fuselage. A bomb carrying eagle logo of the local “Malt” beer was painted on the port side of the fuselage, the old emblem of the “Valley” sqn. Two machine gun turrets had been installed on the upper and under fuselage, while retaining the existing under wing bomb racks.
In 1956, it had been repainted with the blue/brown camouflage pattern, and carrying the number 22, apparently, took part in the “Kadesh” operation. It ended it service in the junkyard of IAI in the early 60’s.
AC #1603: originally owner of a US civilian registration NL1098M and an original teardrop antenna on the under fuselage, it had been painted in Czechoslovakia in a none standard two tone camouflage pattern in the shape of vertical lines. Despite having received the Israeli #”Heh-3” (H-3), it had initially carried the number 693 (apparently a combination of the sqn. no. and the tail no.)
During 1949 or 1950 the A/C had performed an emergency landing.
It had been repaired and returned into service during 1951, natural metal finished and carrying three machine gun turrets. The 69 sqn. emblem was also painted on this A/C fwd fuselage, plus the baseball hat logo on both side of the vertical stabilizer, but contrary to its “brother”, #1601, it also carried the IAF markings. Later on, its no. had been converted to 23, and during the “Kadesh” operation, it was operated with two machine gun turrets, an APS-4 search radar, installed in a fwd fuselage tubular fairing and under wing bomb racks. The “Kadesh” identification stripe markings had only been applied on the fuselage and not on the under wing surfaces. An astrodome was installed on the upper fwd fuselage.
It had been withdrawn from service in 1957, ending its service at the IAI bone yard.
The article contains many unpublished photos. A four pages color profiles section is included, with a beautifully, center page, three view profiles of the specially camouflaged #1602, plus explicit details of the Mickey Mouse logo, made by our IPMS member, Mr. Ra’anan Weiss.
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p.12-26 |