Project TONKER

[KevinR]

Some Fighter Control members may be aware of Project TONKER, but until now it appears to have been a closely guarded secret.

Mods, if this transgresses the forum rules I apologise now, but this could be a once in a lifetime to get a unique Tornado memento.

I have no personal financial interest in the project, but as someone who has worked closely with Tornado at RAF Marham over the last few years I have been aware of the project for some time now.

I've seen a couple of the prototypes and they are absolutely fantastic.

Last Saturday I visited the Marham Aviation Heritage Centre (an excellent little museum) and bumped into the Navigator who started the project and asked about progress on deliveries and expressed my surprise that it had not "leaked" out into the public domain yet. He too was surprised and asked me to publish something about the project here on Fighter Control.

So here is the authorised "leak"


Project TONKER – Your opportunity to own a piece of Tornado GR4

Project TONKER was devised by one of the last Tornado GR4 Navigators to provide a memento to all those who have flown, worked on and supported the Tornado GR Force over its time in RAF service. This limited-edition run of 999 sculptures is now open to the wider aircraft audience and can now be purchased direct from the manufacturer, Raven Armoury.

These highly-detailed sculptures are a 1:75 scale model of a Tornado GR4, cast in solid metal which has been smelted from scrap Tornado GR4 Mauser cannon. Each model will be mounted on an original RB199 blade from the IP compressor, itself mounted on a block of solid hardwood from the Sandringham estate. The sculptures are hand-finished by the craftsmen at Raven Armoury, individually laser-engraved with a unique Serial Number on top of the tail and nickel-plated, although other plating options (eg silver) are available at an additional cost – contact Raven Armoury for more information. A Certificate of Authenticity is included with the sculpture and Simon Fearnhamm, the owner and master-craftsman at Raven Armoury, has pledged to donate a proportion of each sale to RAFA and RAFBF.

Model Style 1 - fitted with 2250L underwing tanks, BOZ, AIRCM and two under-fuselage Storm Shadow missiles.


Model Style 2 - a ‘clean’ jet (no stores or wing pylons)




Raven Armoury is offering a 20% discount from the Retail Price to those quoting FIGHTERCONTROL when ordering.

Type 1 – Fully-loaded (Normal Retail Price £960 inc VAT) Offer Price £768
Type 2 – Clean (Normal Retail Price £600 inc VAT) Offer Price £480
Contact Raven Armoury - www.raven-armoury.com
Email - simon@ravenarmoury.com
Address:

Raven Armoury
Handleys Farm
Dunmow Road
Thaxted
Essex
CM6 2NX

https://raven-armoury.com/tornado.html

Obviously there is a lot of work involved in crafting each model, and there is already quite a backlog of orders from within the RAF community.
Deliveries have recently started and the production rate is slowly ramping up, so it could take some time to receive your model - I'm still waiting for mine.
Having seen both prototypes, the wait will be worth it.

Enquiries to Raven Armoury please - I'm just the person to "leak" the project to fellow enthusiasts.

https://raven-armoury.com/tornado.html

[chrisov]

Nice idea and looks good. Unfortunately out of my price range even with the discount.
Any chance a piece of airframe skin as a key ring, or similar, tag engraved with the serial number? These seem to do quite well from airliners etc and I assume the basic airframes will be scrapped.
Just a thought.

[Dan214sqn]

I'd love one , but its a bit out of my price range sadly

[Nighthawke]

Is TONKER the official project name or yours? Either way it should be TONKA which has been used for since they came into service.

[KevinR]

Project TONKER is the official name given to the project by the RAF Navigator that instigated the project - I wont name him, but he was one of the navigators that flew in the Diamond 9 at the end of February.
He also appears in numerous pictures here on the forum, but sat in the back seat with a flying helmet on makes him difficult to identify.

[Squadron Prints]

We have had one ordered and paid for since this first went out - it was meant to be a Christmas Present - still waiting I had a chat with said navigator last night.....