Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

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BAC-Boeing Thunderstrike F-112EJ - 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force, 1982

JASDF TSR2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TSR2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TSR2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TSR2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TSR2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TSR2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is Sundowner's JASDF TSR.2 with lots going on technology wise! F-4E-style gun nose fairing, F-14-style TCS/ALQ-100, Tornado/Fencer body pylons, wing-tip and pylon-side Sidewinders, turbofan engines, etc, etc. The 'men from the ministry' would have loved this one in RAF service!

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De Havilland Vulture F.2 - No.60 Squadron, RAF Far East Air Force, 1967

RAF VULTURE F2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF VULTURE F2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF VULTURE F2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF VULTURE F2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF VULTURE F2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The natural replacement for No.60 Squadron's Gloster Javelins!!

RAF VULTURE F2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Vulture makes for just the sort of long-range interceptor the RAF would have needed in the 1960's and onwards but really needed a homegrown radar-guided missile. I thought the Soviet SA-N-3 surface-to-air missile would be about right but I hadn't realised that it's way too big! OK, this one hasn't quite worked... but it's a nice piccie 

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Panavia Tornado FGR.1 - No.322 'Polly Grey' Squadron, Royal Netherlands Air Force, 1977

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNLAF TORNADO FGR1.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

1977? Well, yes. I've been reading a bit about the Tornado's (MRCA) very early days and the Netherlands were one of the original partners staying in after the Belgians and then the Canadians had bailed out and remaining as a partner until July 1969. Along the way, with their need being for an air superiority fighter they cranked in some pretty stiff requirements for specific excess power and manoeuvrability that required more thrust and a bigger wing requiring a slightly larger aircraft and therefore a more expensive aircraft. After all that, they went away complaining that the MRCA was too expensive! If they had stayed in perhaps the whole programme might have rolled along a bit quicker and this is what their Tornado 'fighter' might have looked like. I am of course deliberately forgetting that, at the time, the design was still fluid and that single-seat and two-seat options were still likely. It certainly wouldn't have looked like the later ADV.

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McDonnell Douglas F-4EZ Phantom - No,2 Squadron, South African Air Force, 1981

During the mid-1970's the South African Government made tentative enquiries regarding purchasing the McDonnell Douglas Phantom for the South African Air Force (SAAF) with no success but in February 1977 the incoming Democrat President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, and the South African State President Nicolaas Diederichs agreed to the purchase of 30 F-4EZ's for delivery in 1979 and these were among the very last St. Louis-built Phantoms produced.

Entering service with No.2 Squadron 'The Flying Cheetahs' of the SAAF the F-4EZ's initially operated from Hoedspruit AFB before moving to Louis Trichardt AFB in early 1993. With SAAF Impalas, Buccaneers and Mirage F.1CZ's operating in the ground-attack role the Phantoms saw limited action in the Border War but at least four Angolan MiG-21's and two Mi-17 helicopters were shot down by No.2 Squadron. The surviving F-4EZ's were finally retired in 2012 when they replaced by Eurofighter Typhoons.

SAAF F-4EZ PHANTOM.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SAAF F-4EZ PHANTOM.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SAAF F-4EZ PHANTOM.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SAAF F-4EZ PHANTOM.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

New piccies but a repeat of the short backstory.

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Panavia Tornado F-19B - VMFA-513, United States Marine Corp, 1983

USMC TORNADO.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USMC TORNADO.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USMC TORNADO.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USMC TORNADO.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USMC TORNADO.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's a lot of Tornado activity over at Combat Ace with some forthcoming revisions due soon that look amazing. For now, this is an older version using the early Italian skin with some stock USMC decals plus a new VMFA-513 rudder decal and blue 'WF' decal to look something like their Harrier AV-8A's (actually VMA-513 Detachment A).

[SPINNERS]

Panavia Tornado MS - 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Japanese Air Self-Defence Force, 1985

JASDF TORNADO.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

JASDF TORNADO.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the Tornado IDS by 'Florian' (3D model) and the German Modder Group who do some truly amazing work mainly on post-war German military aircraft. I've overpainted a bluey-grey German Air Force skin and added some JASDF markings including the tail marking from the 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron's F-86's.

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BAC Thunderstrike GR.4 - No.13 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 2005

RAF TSR2 THUNDERSTRIKE GR4.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TSR2 THUNDERSTRIKE GR4.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TSR2 THUNDERSTRIKE GR4.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TSR2 THUNDERSTRIKE GR4.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TSR2 THUNDERSTRIKE GR4.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

For this episode of TSR Tuesday (are we trending yet?) we're back to a simpler TSR.2 with what is essentially the original 3D model by 'bongodriver' (a real-life pilot who has also brought the Eurofighter Typhoon to Strike Fighters) and a nicely detailed grey skin by 'sundowner' who has subsequently taken over the TSR.2 - overcoming a data loss where the original 3D model was lost picking up the threads using a beta model he was testing. Anyhoo, I've used No.13 squadron's Tornado nose marking with 'B' type roundels and added F-15A fuel tanks and those BOZ countermeasure pods. If a GR.4 did exist in 2005 it would have had more lumps and bumps on it for sure but I think it looks pretty neat as it is.

[SPINNERS]

Panavia Tornado FGR.2 - No.41 Squadron, RAF 'Operation Granby', 1991

RAF TORNADO FGR2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO FGR2.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the superb Tornado F.3 by 'bobrock' who generously also released a template alongside his 3D model so I thought I'd start with a simple skin to start and then spent ages adding air-to-ground stores. The Tornado F.3 3D model obviously doesn't have the belly pylons of the IDS versions so I've just put the JP233's into position but just floating there. Whilst there are Desert Pink JP233's and fuel tanks available I think the odd colours give a sort of emergency deployment look.

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Panavia AJ-38 Tornado - F7, Svenska Flygvapnet, 1992

FLYGVAPNET JA38 TORNADO.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET JA38 TORNADO.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET JA38 TORNADO.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET JA38 TORNADO.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Amazingly detailed templates were released today for the IDS Tonka and I've kicked off with a nice simple one. My 'splinter camo on a roll' was sadly lost in my external hard drive woes and I'll have to get around to doing a new one at some time. I've used the 'spare' designation between the Viggen and Gripen but this was actually a Saab project for a light-attack / trainer.

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Lockheed Shooting Star FB.2 - No.79 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1947

Despite the generally successful introduction into service of the Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire jet fighters the RAF ordered 70 Lockheed P-80A Shooting Stars for use with RAF South East Asia Command with deliveries commencing in June 1946 and these were soon in action with No.60 Squadron and No.79 Squadron during the Second Battle of Surabaya in March 1947.

RAF SHOOTING STAR FB2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHOOTING STAR FB2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHOOTING STAR FB2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHOOTING STAR FB2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHOOTING STAR FB2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I was given a lovely blank silver skin for the recently released F-80C by the DAT group of modders. It's a lovely 3D model with a top notch skin by 'Charles' and I think the F-80 is ripe for 'what ifs' as, for example, none were operated by European air forces. The earlier establishment of the German Air Force is one possibility.

[SPINNERS]

Panavia Tornado S.1 - No.617 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1982

RAF TORNADO S1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF TORNADO S1.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Tornado entering service and the V-Bomber style 'anti-flash white' paint scheme missed each other by nearly 20 years but, to my rose-tinted eyes, look like a match made in heaven! I've toned down the radome and fin-cap to a light-ish grey in keeping with the anti-flash ethos but the ground crew would have loved keeping the Tornado's sooty fin clean - I think not!  I was going to do an earlier entry to service so have left the outer pylons and defensive countermeasures off but might add them back at some time.

[SPINNERS]

Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star - Jet Training Flight, Royal Norwegian Air Force, 1950

RNAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm really digging the new F-80C from the DAT group of modders and thought it would look good in RNAF markings to which I've added a fin flash as I can't stand bare fins on any aircraft. There really was a Jet Training Flight but they operated the de Havilland Vampire. The red nose is actually a bit of a mistake as I used a stock letter decal that has no border which turns the entire mesh red. It looks quite good but unfortunately it does also overpaint most of the anti-dazzle panel.

[SPINNERS]

Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star - Royal Canadian Air Force, 1952

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF F-80C SHOOTING STAR.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Markings wise this is a bit of a hybrid as the F-80C is a bit too early for the classic 'Canada Flash' cheatline as seen on the RCAF's Voodoo's but it looks pretty cool to me!. The cheatline took me a fair while to work out as it needs to be combined with the roundel to make one big decal to which can then be applied 85% opacity. Doing them separately leads to the cheatline being seen through the roundel or the roundel needing 100% opacity which always looks a bit harsh. Sometimes, markings can simply be applied to the skin bitmap but the nose, fuselage and tail were all separate and would require more trial and error than I can cope with as I'm not as patient as I'm always keen to move on.

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Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.22 - No.331 Squadron, Royal Norwegian Air Force, 1947

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNAF SPITFIRE F22.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There are quite a few photo's showing Norwegian Spit's with big white outlines on the roundels and rudder stripes so I thought I'd combine them on a real late model Spitfire.

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BAC-Avro CF-107C Thunderstrike - No.416 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, 1975

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RCAF CF-107C THUNDERSTRIKE.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Impressively smoky engines! Note the revised undercarriage layout that Sundowner has worked into his developed TSR.2 which loses the internal weapons bay to accommodate the wider undercarriage assemblies and turbofan engines with under-fuselage weapon pylons more than making up for 'lost' weapon capacity from the bomb bay. This is one of at least three RCAF skins that Sundowner had done for the TSR.2 and I've just added some generic serial numbers (actually CF-104 numbers) plus the 416 fin marking.