USAF 1950s Aircraft Start Unit Model

This purpose-built aircraft start unit (Type A-3) has been in service with the U.S. Air Force throughout the 1950s, and in particular during the Korean War. It has also found its way into Air Forces of several NATO countries.

The 1:72 scale model kit, produced by F4Models (cat. # 7028), contains resin parts to assemble two compete start units. The model will fit nicely into an air base diorama accompanying such aircraft of that era as the F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet / Thunderstreak, RF-84 Thunderflash, F-86 Sabre, F-89 Scorpion, F-94 Starfire, B-45 Tornado, B-47 Stratojet or T-33 Shooting Star.


Here are some historic photographs that show this type of power unit in action: link, link, link, link.
In the field the unit was sometimes used to power up U.S. Navy aircraft as well: link.

U.S. Civilian Airport Tractor / ROK Navy Flight Deck Tractor Model

This vehicle was manufactured in the U.S. by Eagle company as an airport tractor tug. It can be seen at airports – mainly local ones in the U.S. and Canada – towing carts, ground support equipment or small aircraft up to business jet size. The tractor is light and thus it is not capable of handling airliners and heavy military aircraft. Its compact size however has appealed to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy where it is in service as a flight deck tractor. A number of such tractors currently serve on the amphibious assault ship Dokdo (LPH 6111) moving UH-1H and UH-60P helicopters around the decks. They will probably serve on the following ships of this class too.
Interestingly, this type of tractor has also been sighted recently on some of the U.S. Navy's shore stations: photograph.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7013). The kit contains resin and photo etched parts, decals and instruction sheet.

Some photographs of the real vehicles: ROK Navy (scroll to the middle of the page there), civilian.

This tractor kit can accompany your model of a small private plane - say, a Cessna or a Beechcraft being towed to a hangar for parking, or it can sit next to a model of a regional jet or turboprop with a train of baggage carts brought for loading.

Royal Navy 1940s-1950s Flight Deck Tractor Model

This tiny tractor, known as Clarkat, was derived from an industrial tow vehicle and first saw service with the Royal Navy in 1944. The tractors facilitated flight deck operations on the Royal Navy's fleet and escort carriers during the final stages of the World War II. They continued in their service throughout the Korean War and have finally been withdrawn from carriers in the mid 1950s with the advent of much heavier jet aircraft. Along with their mother ships, a number of such tractors continued to serve on the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Sydney and the French Navy's R95 Arromanches.

This 1:72 scale model kit (F4Models cat. # 7026) contains resin and photo etched parts. On a carrier deck diorama the model can accompany such Royal Navy aircraft as Avenger, Corsair, Barracuda, Firefly, Sea Fury, Sea Hornet or Firebrand.
A 1:48 scale kit of the same tractor was also produced (F4Models cat. # 4002).

Here are some historic photographs that show this tractor in action: link, link.

Royal Navy 1960s Flight Deck Tractor Model

This type of flight deck tractor, known as Tugmaster, was derived from an industrial tow vehicle and first saw service with the Royal Navy in the late 1950s. It has served on the Royal Navy aircraft carriers through the 1960s and was replaced late in the decade with a new purpose-built 4WD tractor.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7033). The kit contains resin and photo etched parts, decals and instruction sheet. The model will fit nicely into a Royal Navy carrier deck diorama accompanying Sea Hawks, Sea Venoms, Gannets, Scimitars or Sea Vixens.

Here are some photographs of the real vehicles in action: link, link, and a very useful Royal Navy film: link.

USAF 2000s Flight Line Tow Tractor Model

This flight line tow tractor (FLTT), based on Dodge Ram truck, was in service with the USAF throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. It was used for pulling various carts and not self-propelling ground support equipment on U.S. air installations around the world, including those in Europe, the South-West Asia and the Far East. Note that this tractor is not designed to tow aircraft.

The 1:72 scale model kit is produced by F4Models (cat. # 7023) and includes resin parts, clear parts, photo etched parts, decal and instruction sheet.

Some photographs of the real vehicles in action: link, link.

U.S. 1940s-1950s Aircraft Maintenance Crane Model

During the Second World War and the Korean War years the U.S. armed forces, including the USAAC / USAF, the Navy and the Marine Corps, used this type of crane for performing maintenance on their aircraft based in theatre. Having no motors, these cranes have been manually operated and employed to handle bulky items like aircraft engines and propellers.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7029). It is entirely photoetched metal. To complete the kit, a modeller will need thin wire or thread to imitate the crane's rigging.

A photographs showing a USMC crane in action in Korea: link.

USAF 1994-2000s Utility Pickup Truck Model

This type of Dodge Ram pickup truck was in service with the U.S. Air Force since 1994 till late 2000s. It was used for various utility roles on U.S. air installations around the world, including those in Europe, the South-West Asia and the Far East. As civilian, the vehicle enjoyed a widespread use in the Unites States as well as in some other countries.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7021). The kit contains photo etched parts and clear parts. Decals are provided for USAF and civilian vehicles.

Here is a good photo showing a civilian vehicle.