Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

SPINNERS · September 19, 2009, 06:16:45 AM

BAe/Pilatus Petrel GR.1 - No.20 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 2007

From the very start of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001 it became apparent that the CAS mission against insurgents simply did not need Mach 2, swing-wings or thrust-vectoring. The RAF therefore submitted an urgent request for a cheaper and thus more plentiful ground-attack aircraft to meet this requirement in the shortest possible timescale. BAe had already teamed up with the Swiss company Pilatus to market the PC-9A to Saudi Arabia and quickly proposed a slightly more sophisticated version to meet the RAF's requirement. In March 2002 BAe/Pilatus were awarded the contract to supply an initial 80 aircraft, designated Petrel GR.1, to the RAF to equip three front-line squadrons plus an OCU. The Petrel GR.1 entered service with No.20 squadron in November 2005 and currently equips No.20, No.33 and No.208 squadrons of the RAF's 904 Expeditionary Air Wing and an additional 40 Petrel GR.2's are being purchased as attrition replacements and to equip a fourth squadron.

RAFPetrelGR103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a nice recent add-on release and the 3D modeller has generously released his skin template making it so easy to create a 'Desert Pink' RAF Petrel GR.1 with No.20 squadron markings.

SPINNERS · September 19, 2009, 11:58:13 AM

BAe/Pilatus Petrel GR.2 - RAF South East Asia Command

RAFPetrelGR201 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR202 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPetrelGR204 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I like this one myself! As you've seen in some early 'what ifs' I've been doing some experimenting with brushes and patterns and this one is much more subtle and suits the Vietnam terrain and SEAC markings rather well. I've not done a No.41 squadron machine for a while and I've knocked up some new SEAC fuselage bars and a new patch.

Edited to add No.16 squadron piccie.

SPINNERS · September 27, 2009, 06:53:42 AM

Panavia Panther FG.1 - No.23 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 1999.

After a difficult start the Panavia Tornado programme settled down and produced an outstanding European combat aircraft so it was only natural for Panavia to plan a follow-on programme and design a new multi-role combat aircraft to replace a variety of aircraft in service with NATO air forces including the Jaguar, Phantom, Mirage 2000, F-16 and even the Tornado itself.

Following the breakdown of the Eurofighter consortium Panavia forged ahead and produced a modern, stealthy design with outstanding performance and avionics. Using technology from the Tornado's RB.199 engine Turbo-Union produced the superb class-leading RB.250 turbofan which was eventually selected for the new-build F-15L following the cancellation of the F-22A in 2001. Entering service in 1998 the Panther is the cornerstone of NATO air forces and has become an outstanding export success.

RAFPantherFG104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG106 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is an outstanding new release now available as an add-on aircraft at Combat Ace. Incredibly, it's by a newcomer or at least someone who has never posted before. He (or she?) calls it KF1-AX but, after much deliberation, I've gone for 'Panther' a Tornado follow-on by Panavia. It's an amazing add-on because not only does it look fantastic it handles superbly well and although the modern glass-cockpit era doesn't interest me at all you can't fail to be impressed by it! A lovely quote this from an Italian over at Combat Ace - "An extradimensional plane from the skies of a parallel world." I wholeheartedly agree!

SPINNERS · September 28, 2009, 12:48:34 PM

Panavia Panther FG.1 - No.6 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 2003

RAFPantherFG109 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG111 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG110 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · September 28, 2009, 01:48:59 PM

Panavia Panther FG.2 - No.16 Squadron, Royal Air Force South East Asia Command

RAFPantherFG112 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG113 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG114 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFPantherFG115 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · September 30, 2009, 01:33:34 PM

Northrop/McDonnell Douglas Shadow GR.1 - No.6 Squadron RAF South East Asia Command

Undeterred by their failure to win the USAF's ATF competition in 1991 Northrop and McDonnell Douglas continued to actively market the F-23 Black Widow to Europe, Japan and the Middle East during 1992 and 1993. But it was the unexpected wing-box fatigue problems found on the RAF's Tornado fleet in early 1994 that led to a launch order for 90 single-seat F-23K's for the Royal Air Force, quickly followed by an order for 170 two-seat F/A-23E's for the USAF. Entering service in 1999 as the Shadow GR.1 the F-23K's served in four front-line RAF squadrons and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003 and Vietnam during 2012.

RAFShadowGR201 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFShadowGR202 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFShadowGR203 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A re-vamped F-23A was released recently and the creator thoughtfully released the template as well so I've gone for grey/green but the using the USAF camo positions (because I'm lazy) and added No.6 squadron markings and SEAC roundels and fin flashes on the stabs.

SPINNERS · October 01, 2009, 11:59:07 AM

Northrop / McDonnell Douglas Shadow GR.2A - No.41 Squadron, Royal Air Force 'Desert Swarm'

RAFShadowGR204 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFShadowGR207 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFShadowGR206 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFShadowGR205 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The F-23A is (was, I guess) a slinky looking beast but I find the wings too stubby due to the broad chord. The 'Spectre' AGM is one of the fictional weapons that came with dk1257's superb KF1-AK (Panavia Panther in my little world) and the SEAC F-23A shows the ALCM (re-named 'Spartan' by me).

SPINNERS · October 10, 2009, 06:45:54 AM

Northrop P-61A Nighthawk NF.1 - No.19 Squadron, RAF South Atlantic Command, 1949

RAFBlackWidowNF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBlackWidowNF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBlackWidowNF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBlackWidowNF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The P-61A and P-61B were released as add-on aircraft quite recently and come complete with Black and Green/Grey schemes. For this early post-war Falkands defender I've just oversprayed the USAF starbars and added some No.19 squadron markings using Type C markings. The Malvinas terrain is a particular favourite of mine and I can't think why I haven't tried it before in the new Vista series because it works like a charm.

SPINNERS · October 10, 2009, 07:57:42 AM

Northrop P-61B Nighthawk NF.2 - No.92 Squadron, RAF South Atlantic Command, 1949

RAFBlackWidowNF201 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBlackWidowNF202 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBlackWidowNF203 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · October 11, 2009, 12:34:28 PM

Lockheed F-104I Starfighter 'Kohav' - No.119 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, June 1967

IDFF-104I06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Seeing inspiration in the early Heyl Ha'Avir Mirage IIIC's I copied their fin markings and rudder stripes.

SPINNERS · October 12, 2009, 11:51:22 AM

Lockheed F-104I Starfighter 'Kohav' - No.119 squadron, Israeli Air Force, October 1973

IDFF-104I07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-104I08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-104I09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The same markings simply added to a generic 'desert' scheme by 'littlesmoke'.

SPINNERS · October 17, 2009, 09:17:14 AM

North American F-100I 'Shavit' (Comet) - No.117 'First Jet' Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1967

Despite a very smooth test and development phase North American Aviation's superb F-107 unexpectedly lost out to Republic Aviation's F-105 Thunderchief in the competition for a new supersonic fighter-bomber for TAC. By early 1959 the end of the F-100D production line was now in sight and with the F-108, B-70 and A3J (Vigilante) programmes now on the far horizon North American Aviation needed to stretch the F-100 Super Sabre programme out to plug the gap and urgently proposed a variety of F-100 variants to several friendly nations, including Israel, Japan and the United Kingdom.

In April 1959 the Israeli government signed for 50 F-100I's (a minimum change variant of the F-100D) and the first of these entered Heyl Ha'Avir service in February 1960 replacing the obsolete Gloster Meteors of No.117 squadron. The 'Shavit' was a popular machine in Heyl Ha'Avir service and served with distinction during the 1967 'Six-Day' war but losses were heavy during the early days of the 1973 'Yom Kippur' war and two small batches of ex-USAF F-100D's were accquired as attrition replacements allowing No.253 squadron to re-equip with the F-100D before finally retiring the type in November 1977.

IDFF-100I01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · October 18, 2009, 03:20:33 AM

North American F-100I 'Shavit' - No.117 squadron, Israeli Air Force, October 1973.

IDFF-100I05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-100I08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Just as some McDonnell Douglas Phantom F-4E's were urgently transferred to the Heyl Ha'Avir in 1973 'what if'^TM some war weary ex-USAF F-100D's were transferred as well?

SPINNERS · October 20, 2009, 02:15:23 PM

Republic Aviation F-84I 'Sharav' - No.69 Squadron ('The Hammers') Israeli Air Force, November 1956

IDFF-84I04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-84I05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-84I06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-84I07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-84I08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDFF-84I09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SPINNERS · November 08, 2009, 04:27:40 AM

Douglas Skyraider GA.1 - No.112 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command

RAFSkyraiderGA102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSkyraiderGA103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSkyraiderGA104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSkyraiderGA105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSkyraiderGA108 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The A-1H and A-1J are stock 'AI' (non-flyable) aircraft but can easily be made flyable with the addition of a suitable cockpit and a little bit of editing. The stock USAF skin already has the sharkmouth so using No.112 squadron markings is a no-brainer!