That’s a good one, at first I was going to say the Somers Kendall SK.1, but I think its a Fouga CM-8R?

Topspeed, you’re welcome to have another go, if not I will try and post something later on.:)

Looks like a Chilton D.W.1?

By the powers you’re right Pigeon!

I refer you to the last post in the current Nimrod thread!

I have the lovely Hase 1:48th Black Mike to finish, started about ten years ago!:o Completed the really nice 72nd Fujimi one though.:)

A wee point if anyone is thinking of buying a Fujimi British Phantom, try and get the Black Mike boxing, it is superior to the other already great boxings, and it still puts new models to shame.
I remember DrS you had a phantastic* collection of Phantom models.

Lovely pics SF!

*There, I’ve actually said it!:eek:

I completely respect your points SF (& striving for accuracy), and you certainly know far more about the type than I could hope to, but from my geeky official designation point of view, not having a proper British designation for the J doesn’t make any sense at all.
I absolutely agree about one source being capable of influencing everything else that follows, but I really doubt that in this case.

Re the F-4K and M, I’m sure Ive seen it mentioned elsewhere, is there a proper answer to that?

Edit this, http://www.f-4.nl/f4_23.html seems to indicate that F-4L was an advanced Phantom version for the RN & RAF not taken up, coming after the K and before the M.

Again in the procurement world Tornado F.Mk.3 (Tornado Fighter Mark 3) is absolutley correct, though service PNs, APs and terminology rarely use the full titling, and that goes for aircraft going right back in service history.
The only source that I have to hand showing British designations is a book that I have (forget title but will dig out tomorrow), and that lists the F-4J as the F.3.
I don’t doubt it as any aircraft operated in numbers gets a British standard name and designation, which F-4J isn’t.

I absolutely agree that F-4J UK was how they were generally known by most, I always called them F.3s though:o

Fujimi weren’t the only ones to name their kit Phantom F.3, Hasegawa did likewise, http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/mod/dixonf4jukpreview.htm
I could be wrong, but I seem to remember DrS building the US F-4J kit as an RAF one, and then Hasegawa releasing this RAF F.3 boxing!

Am I alone in thinking that the F-4J was the outstanding example of the RAF needing a fighter, the MoD just going out and buying it with no medling from other manufacturers, or unique mods, and succesfully operating them? Pure and simple.

I’ve also seen PNs labelled F-4J (RAF).
I don’t doubt for one minute that the RAF and its crews stuck with the F-4J tag, far more kudos and distinct from the Tonka.
However the official original MoD procurement designation was F.3, everything used under their auspices had to fit in with the British name and designation system.
There are far too many sources (including MoD) using F.3 for it to be simply a number plucked out of the air.

Also, purely from an official point of view (ie not the bods on the ground) I don’t quite buy the not using the designation F.3 because of a similar designation in use, there are many other examples of this, Harrier GR.1, Jaguar GR.1, Lightning T.4, Harrier T.4, Jet Provost T.4, Lightning F.6, Hunter F.6 etc

Yep, PageNo1, the MR2 is Co-pilot.

Yeay, someone’s got my user name right!:) Take note DrStrangelove!;)

I think XV230 was the very first Nimrod to enter service, when it arrived with 236 OCU at St Mawgan, in late 1969.