Tonka The Euro-Swinger

Historical Background

In 1968, West Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Canada formed a working group to examine replacements for the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter then in use with the the said countries' air forces. The participating nations agreed that their fleets require replacement but since the requirements were so diverse, it was decided to develop a single aircraft that can perform a variety of missions. It was initially called the Multi Role Aircraft (MRA) and later called the Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). In 1968, Britain joined the group, after the cancellation of the TSR-2 and F-111K programmes. At the same time, Canada pulled out on political grounds while Belgium withdrew on operational issues, especially after it was offered Mirage 5 from France. On 26 March 1969, the UK, West Germany, Italy and The Netherlands agreed to form a multinational company, the Panavia Aircraft GmbH to develop and manufacture the MRCA. A separate company, Turbo-Union Ltd was also formed in June 1970 to develop and build the RB199 engines for the aircraft. The Netherlands however pulled out in the same year, citing that the aircraft was too complicated and technical for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. At the conclusion of the aircraft definition phase in May 1970, the concepts were reduced to two designs: the single-seat Panavia 100, which the West Germans initially preferred, and the two-seat Panavia 200 design, preferred by the British (and eventually chosen as the Tornado). In September 1971, the participating governments agreed to proceed, and the aircraft was intended solely for low-level strike mission.

The first prototype flew on 14 August 1974 at Manching, West Germany with deliveries of production aircraft beginning in July 1979. As the original designation hinted, the Tornado is a multirole design, with emphasis on low-level penetration of enemy defences. Like the F-111, and for the same reason, the Tornado was fitted with variable-geometry wings. The Tornado was flown by two crewmembers - the pilot and a weapons officer. Flight control is a hybrid FBW system. The primary sensor was a combined navigation/attack doppler radar that can simultaneously scan for targets and conduct fully automatic terrain-following at low-level flight. In addition RAF and RSAF Tornados were equipped with Laser Ranger and Marked Target Seeker (LRMTS) for use with laser-guided weapons. From 1991, RAF Tornados can self-designated targets with the use of Target Identifcation Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) pods. The Tornado is armed with two (one for the ADV) Mauser BK-27 27mm cannons and was cleared to carry the majority of air-launched weapons in NATO inventory, including nuclear weapons. There were also specialised runway attack munitions dispenser specially made for the Tornado - JP223 (RAF) and the MW-1 (Luftwaffe). In the 1990s, the RAF's GR1 fleet was upgraded to GR4 standard, which included a FLIR, wide-angle HUD, new avionics, GPS receiver and NVG capability. Weapons capability was also upgraded with Storm Shadow cruise missiles, Brimstone anti-tank missiles and Paveway III laser-guided bombs. The Luftwaffe IDS received the ASSTA upgrades which include GPS and laser iniertial nav systems, TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missiles, JDAM and Paveway III laser-guided bombs.

The 'basic' Tornado was the IDS (Interdictor/Strike) and designated GR1 (later GR4) in RAF service. The GR1A/4A was the reconnaissance variant used by the RAF and RSAF, fitted with the Tornado Infra-Red Reconaissance System (TIRRS) in place of the cannons. The Tornado ECR was the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) and limited reconnaissance variant operated by Germany and Italy, equipped with radar usage sensors and armed with AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles. The ADV (Air Defence Variant) model (designated F3 in RAF service) is a specialised interceptor variant. Although having 80% commonality with the IDS, the ADV have greater acceleration, improved Mk 104 engines, a stretched body, greater fuel capacity and AI.24 Foxhunter air-intercept radar. The ADV was not designed as a dogfighter, but as a long-range interceptor to counter the threat of Cold War-era bombers. The ADV is armed a single Mauser BK-27 cannon, four AIM-9 Sidewinder IR-homing missiles and four BAe Skyflash radar-guided missiles. Apart from the RAF, the ADV was used by Italy and Saudi Arabia.

The Tornado made its combat debut in 1991 during the first Gulf War as part of Operation Granby. Early in the conflict, the RAF Tornados flew anti-airfield missions using 1,000-lb bombs and the JP233 dispenser. The RAF also initiated a crash programme resulting in Blackburn Buccaneers lasing targets for the Tornados using the Pave Spike pod and later on, the Tornados were able to lase the targets themselves using the TIALD pod. Six Tornados were lost during the Gulf War. The RAF Tornados later took part in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox and also during Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. The Tornados return to Iraq in 2003 as part of Operation Telic where the TAURUS missile was first used in combat. In 2009, they replaced Harrier GR.7/9 in Afghanistan and in 2011, they were deployed against Libya where several aircraft flew a 3,000 mile strike missions, the longest the RAF has undertaken since the Black Buck missions during the Falklands War. The other users of the Tornado - Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia have also used their Tornados in combat. The Luftwaffe took part in Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999 while Italy, like the UK, took part in the 1991 Gulf War (Operation Locusta), losing a Tornado to Iraqi AA fire. The AMI Tornados also took part in Operation Allied Force in 1999 and also the NATO intervention in Libya during 2011.  Finally RSAF Tornados also took part in the 1991 Gulf War.

The Kit

Hasegawa's 1/72 Tornado GR.1 kit is another of their late 1980s release, specifically in 1989. Hasegawa released two kits of the IDS - one as, well, the IDS with Luftwaffe and AMI markings, and this kit, the GR1 featuring RAF and RSAF markings. The kit has nicely engraved, recessed panel lines. The cockpit features adequate and acceptable details but as usual, can be upgraded further with aftermarket resin parts, especially for the ejection seats. As I have read a number of years back, there is a shape issue with this kit, revolving around the shape of the nose. In general the modelling community agree that the Revell kit is more accurate but upon early inspection, the 'wrong' nose shape of the Hasegawa kit wasn't really apparent, from some angles that is. Being a swing-wing design, the model of the Tornado also allow a workable wing. The rear fuselage is split horizontally to allow the wings to be poseable and unlike other swing-wing aircraft models, Hasegawa moulded some extensions at the place where the wing meets the fuselage, closing off the gap on the fuselage if the wing was posed in the forward position. The forward fuselage was split vertically and was separate from the rear, allowing Hasegawa to mould just the forward fuselage for the ADV variant. Weapons fit was somewhat limited - while two self-defence Sidewinders were included, the main attack weapon included in the kit was just a pair of JP233 pods. Other underwing stores were two large external fuel tanks (although no 'Hindenburger' tanks were included) and two Sky Shadow ECM pods (while there are photos of RAF Tornados carrying two ECM pods, the more usual configuration was one ECM pod and BOZ-107 chaff/flare dispenser).

Decals were provided for five aircraft, which are:
- ZA585, No. 617 Sq (The Dambusters), RAF
- ZA596, No. IX Sq, RAF
- ZA467, No. 16 Sq (The Saints), RAF Germany
- ZD793, No. 17 Sq (Black Knights), RAF Germany
- 764, Royal Saudi Air Force

Construction

The cockpit parts were first painted Medium Sea Grey using Gunze Aqueous H335. Details were painted Flat Black. The interior parts have raised details which can be painted but there is also decal options. I opted for the latter as the process is simpler. The ejection seats were a three-part assembly and while aftermarket resin seats are of course the best-looking, the kit seats weren't bad either and I have seen worse. The fuselage halves were then mated together with the cockpit in the middle. There was some fit issue but was easily handled with some sanding (yes, I did test-fit the assembly before painting the cockpit sidewalls). A point to note: Hasegawa moulded the nose probe together with the fuselage, therefore increasing the risk for breakage. The main wheel wells and part of the engine intakes were then cemented to the lower fuselage half. Holes were then drilled into the latter and also the lower wing halves. The wing parts were then mated together and later the wings were mounted onto their pivot mountings. After making sure the wings were aligned properly, I glued them in the forward position. The upper half of the fuselage was then cemented onto the rear fuselage. The outer wall of the intakes were then cemented but the fit wasn't great.

The nose assembly was then cemented to the fuselage. This was followed by mating the large tail halves together and then cementing the tail to the fuselage. Hasegawa provided an option for the airbrakes to be posed in the deployed position but I glued them shut. Looking at the painting options, I decided to build a Germany-based aircraft, and for that, the externally-mounted IFR probe was attached to the fuselage (apparently UK-based aircraft were not fitted with IFR probe back then). The last parts I added to the model before painting was the LRMTS pod underneath the nose and the fuselage pylons. The external fuel tanks and wing pylons were assembled but would remain separate for now.

Painting and Decaling

RAF Tornado GR1s were painted a wraparound colour scheme of Dark Sea Grey and Dark Green throughout the 1980s. To paint my Tornado, I used Tamiya XF-54 and Gunze Aqueous H330. The nose was painted X-18 Semi-Gloss Black. Detail areas such as the skin outside the cannon muzzles  and the heat exchanger exhaust shields were painted Silver while the exhausts and reverse thrusters were painted Burnt Iron and Silver. The sliding portion and the innermost part of the wing were painted Medium Sea Grey. Although still separate, parts like the wing pylons, external fuel tanks and gear doors were painted at this time. Then it was time for the decals. I first apply all the regulation stencils such as the 'No Step' notifications, intake and vent markings and so on. Hasegawa provided those markings separately for UK- and West Germany-based aircraft (the West Germany-based aircraft have bilingual stencils). The markings I chose was from No.16 Squadron, then based at Laarbruch. The 16th was known as 'The Saints', after Saint-Omer, France, the birthplace of the squadron in 1915. The kit markings reflect those worn by their Tornados in the 1980s, with the official crossed keys motif on the intake and the unofficial 'Saint' marking on the tail. Despite being rather thick, the decals responded well to Mr Mark Softer. The specific Saints' markings were however a bit off-register. The model then received the usual sludge wash treatment; the landing gears were weathered using Tamiya X-19 Smoke. 

Finishing

The various loose parts can now be permanently fixed to the model. These include the various aerials which were first painted while still on the sprue and then fixed to the model using superglue. This was followed by the landing gears and their doors. For the underwing stores, I worked inside-out, starting with the Sidewinders, the external fuel tanks and the defensive electronics. The Sky Shadow pod and the JP223 munitions dispenser were painted H330 but with a different tone, to differentiate it from the Dark Green parts of the aircraft. On the outermost starboard station, I decided to replace the scond Sky Shadow pod with a BOZ-107 chaff/flare dispenser. The problem is that the local shops did not stock any while at the time of the build, all of my favourite online shops have run out of it. Rummaging through my stash, I found a BOZ-103 pod from Heller's weapon set. To my eyes, the -103 has the same shape and (hopefully) size as the -107, lacking only the fins. So with the help of images on the internet, I cut some plastic sheet and fashioned it into fins to turn the BOZ-103 into a BOZ-107. The canopy was then set in the open position. Before sealing everything with Flat Clear, I smeared Tamiya Weathering Master Soot on the vertical tail as there are photos showing it to be heavily weathered. The discoloration was caused by the hot exhaust gases being deflected by the thrust reversers upon landing.

But there is still time for one last mishap. The Tamiya TS series of lacquer clear paints are not to be sprayed onto decals and it was expressly stated on the cover. Yet I used them all the time without problems. But as my friend Murphy expressly stated, it happened this time. I think I used too much (my mind was elsewhere at the time), softening the warning decals on the nose, with gravity doing the rest (the model was upside down by the way). I guess I deserved it and this incident served as a salutary lesson. (I'm going to use the Tamiya Flat Clear anyway...but with more caution!) 

Conclusion

The Hasegawa offering of the Tornado has its shortcomings. Apart from the oddly-shaped nose, the wing looked too narrow in chord. Apparently the Revell Tornado is more accurate but according to an online review (I can't remember which one), the 'accurate' 1/72 Tornado lies somewhere in-between the Hasegawa and Revell kits. Hasegawa also continued its tradition of not including multiplicity of weapons in their kit; but thankfully the JP233 was included. Still it would be nice if the Mk 13 1,000-lb bombs or BL755 cluster bombs or Paveway LGBs were included. Anyway, despite the shortcomings, the kit was easy to assemble with not much fit problems.