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.

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:

USAF & U.S. Navy 1950s Utility Pickup Truck Model

This type of Ford F-1 pickup truck was in service with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy throughout the 1950s. It was used for various utility roles mostly on the Continental U.S. air bases.

This 1:72 scale model kit is from F4Models (cat. # 7020). The kit contains resin, photo etched and clear parts. Decals are provided for three versions: USAF, U.S. Navy and civilian.

Some photographs of the real vehicles: U.S. Navy, USAF, Civilian 1, Civilian 2.

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.