Christoph Hahn Gallery, Part 1

From ACIG.org

ACIG Modeler's Corner
Christoph Hahn Gallery, Part 1
By ACIG Team
Dec 18, 2003, 05:53

What to do when you've built your 14th Messerschmitt Bf.109, or all the "could have been" models never realized during the WWII? This is the situation many model-builders reach by getting 18.

Being a perfectionist, Mr. Christoph Hahn specialized himself in building 1:32 models of Egyptian and other Arab aircraft. The idea came from a visit at the EAF Tanta Air Base and the exotic camouflage patterns of the aircraft he saw there.

Meanwhile, Christoph is not only building Egyptian, but also Israeli, Iranian, and other aircraft flown in different Middle Eastern conflicts, and has sent us the following photographs.

REAF/EAF in the 1940s and 1950s

REAF Lysander Mk.I as flown by No.1 Squadron, from al-Maza AB, in the period 1939 until 1949. Kit was Matchbox/Revell, in 1:32 scale.

REAF Hurricane IIC, with original markings, as seen at al-Maza air base. The inscription means "Mina", which is the Arab name for the Pharao Menes. The Hurricanes of the al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Misriya became well-known for an "accident" in 1943, when one of them fired his whole ammunition at a supposed German Ju-52 transport - which proved to be a RAF Hurricane. Hamdullilah, not a single bullet hit the target!

Above and bellow: EAF MiG-15bis from 1956.

Hunter from Kuwait

Kuwait Air Force Hunter FGA.57 in 1:32, serialled 212. This aircraft was one of the four former Belgian Air Force Hunter F.Mk.6s (serialled 212 thru 215 in KAF).

Iranian Phantom

The well-known F-4D in colours and markings of the Imperial Iranian Air Force, as from the times around 1969, built from Tamiya kit in 1:32.

Liberating Tornado

RAF Tornado GR.Mk.1, as operated by detachment based at Tabuq AB, in Saudi Arabia, during Operation "Desert Storm", in 1991. Aircraft was nick-named "MiG-Eater", and had a tally of three JP.233 missions, 23 1.000lb bombs, 14 LGBs, and 1 Iraqi MiG-29 destroyed on the ground (later it was found that the actual target was a Mirage F.1EQ). Kit was from Revell, in 1:32 scale.

Sheikh's Tiger

RSAF F-5E of the No.17 Squadron, based at Tabuk in 1990-1991 (built from Hasegawa's 1:32 kit). This unit participated in the IIPGW, in 1991, flying missions against Iraqi troops in Kuwait.

Opposition

IDF/AF A-4E, upgraded by Christoph to A-4F-standard, in colours of the 116th or "The Flying Wing" squadron, as based at Nevatim AB, in 1970.

IDF/AF F-4E of the 69th or "Ha' Patishim" Squadron, as based at Ramat David AB, in 1989 - and used for attacks on bases of different anti-Israeli organizations in Lebanon.