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 They continued in their service throughout the Korean War and have finally been withdrawn from carriers in the mid 1950s with the advent of much heavier jet aircraft.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.

Royal Navy 1990s-2010s Flight Deck Tractor Model

The original purpose-built 4WD/4WS flight deck tractor first saw service on the Royal Navy's Audacious class carriers in the late 1960s. It went through a number of modernizations, changing in appearance. This particular model kit represents the last incarnation of the tractor, in service on flight decks since the 1990s and until the mid-2010s.

The 1:72 scale model kit is produced by F4Models (cat. # 7005) and includes resin and photo etched parts, decal and instruction sheet. The set also contains parts for building a standard Royal Navy tow bar.
On a flight deck diorama this tractor can accompany your 1:72  Sea Harrier FA2, Harrier GR7 / GR9, Sea King, Lynx or Merlin.

Here are some "in action" photographs (link, link) and a diagram that explains the evolution of this particular type of flight deck tractor:

Royal Navy 1970s Flight Deck Tractor Model

This purpose-built 4WD/4WS flight deck tractor saw service on the Royal Navy's Audacious class carriers (HMS Eagle and HMS Ark Royal) as well as on HMS Hermes since the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s.

This 1:72 scale model kit is manufactured by F4Models (cat. # 7022) and contains resin and photo etched parts, decals and instruction sheet. Parts for building a tow bar that was in use by the Royal Navy since the 1970s till the present day are enclosed as well.

This tractor can accompany your 1:72 Scimitar, Sea Vixen, Gannet, Buccaneer, Phantom FG1, Wessex  or Sea King.

Here are some photographs of this type of tractor in action: link, link, link.

Royal Navy 1960s Heavy Flight Deck Tractor Model

This type of flight deck tractor, known as Tugmaster, was derived from an industrial / airport tow vehicle. It first saw service with the Royal Navy in 1960 on HMS Victorious (R38) but was swiftly phased out late in the decade and replaced with a new purpose-built 4WD tractor.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7009). 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 Gannets, Scimitars, Sea Vixens or Buccaneers. A 1:48 scale kit of the same tractor was also produced (cat. # 4001).

Some photographs that show this type of tractor in action: link, link.