Leuchars Q Shed

[StuartP]

Dear all,

I apologise for cluttering up a professional forum with a trivial question, but I have reached a bit of a dead end with some research.

I am a modeller (sorry) trying to build a model showing Leuchars Q-shed and a couple of Phantoms. The shed itself is not a problem as the current owner of the very similar shed at Binbrook was more than happy to let me run a tape measure over it, but the adjacent accommodation block is proving a bit more of a problem. I understand it has been demolished, and the only photos I can find of it are very grainy and not terribly helpful. The best one so far is an air-air shot of Concorde and the Red Arrows, with the shed just visible below one of the Hawks. All I can tell from this is that the accommodation block is different to Binbrook.

So the first question is - can anyone point me in the direction of some decent published photos please ? A couple of clear photos of the outside would be invaluable - I don't mind guessing details but I would like to at least get the windows and doors in roughly the right place.

I would also like to put some figures on the model to liven it up a bit, but what would they be doing ? Fairly obvious activities which spring to mind are a scramble (if I can find enough running figures), routine checking of the aircraft, or just standing around talking. Would it be realistic to show figures sitting outside in the sun reading/sleeping/washing the Land-rover/killing time etc, or was this frowned on ? (I asked this question on a modelling forum a while ago, and got a drip tray blasting competition from a guy who used to fly F-101s in the RCAF, and a photo of a German F4 pilot fast asleep on the wing.)

Any suggestions, comments, (even rude ones) gratefully accepted.

Thanks,

Stuart.

[safetypee]

In Lightning days, I recall that the attached accommodation block had a small room with two bunk beds for the aircrew – slept in flying kit except for emersion suits. There was a larger room for the ground crew, with toilets and a small kitchen adjacent.
The aircrew would rotate to the officer’s mess across the road to have an evening meal (before the big fences appeared). During the day, ‘Q’ was manned from the Squadron ops; initially we used a bicycle, but that was changed to a land rover after someone caught the oxygen mask tube in the front wheel.
For activity, the scramble procedure commenced with final kitting out; the pilot fitted / checked the arming plugs in the missile body. The ground crew opened the doors, powered up the Houchin (lots of smoke), and removed the chocks.

[Impiger]

I left Leuchars in Apr 03 and the old shed was still standing so unless they've found the cash to knock it down ........

I sat Q at Leuchars from 78-81. The accomodation had been enlarged from the Lightning design and then boasted 2 bedrooms for the aircrew, a crewroom/ops room, a kitchen, a bigger crewroom for the techies and one or maybe two bedrooms for the 5 man groundcrew shift.

Activities were pretty much confined to watching TV (no videos then!) but if the weather was nice then sitting outside or washing one's own car was not uncommon. For accuracy lots of crews laid their lifejacket harnesses out at the foot of the aircraft steps ready to climb into when the hooter went.

Try speaking to the Corporate Communications Officer at Leuchars on 01334 839471 Ext 7700.

Good luck.

[JimmyTAP]

StuartP

Please check your PMs

JT

[frodo_monkey]

The old Q shed does indeed still stand, so if you do want some photos taking PM me with what you would like and I'll send you my best efforts.

FM

[StuartP]

Thanks Frodo-Monkey, PM on it's way.

Thanks also to everyone else. I've had a terrific response and it really is appreciated.

There's an in-progress picture on here - http://s102164210.onlinehome.us/forums/index.php?showtopic=42341&st=0 - showing progress so far. The very wrong accom. block was knocked up from foam board and brick paper for the photo before I thought of posting on here, its replacement will hopefully be far more accurate (e.g. the right colour for a start).

Thanks again.

Stuart.