Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

General Dynamics Falcon FG.3 - No.54 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1986

RAFFALCONFG301 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFALCONFG302 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFALCONFG303 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFALCONFG304 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's a nice two-seater 'Viper' available as an add-on so I've just added some No.54 squadron markings.

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Republic Aviation F-84K Thunderstreak FB.4 - No.145 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1957

Whilst the RAF had used the straight-wing Thunderjet in small numbers at home and abroad the delay in both the Hunter and Swift programmes saw them also adopt the swept-wing Thunderstreak in several versions culminating with the superb Avon-enginned FB.4 that served with several squadrons of RAF Fighter Command and RAF Germany. Powered by the non-afterburning Avon Mk.202 rated at 10,000lbs thrust, the Thunderstreak FB.4 was no match for a Sabre or a Hunter (assuming the latter's guns could actually fire) but was a tough and popular tactical fighter that remained in frontline service until 1963 when No.54 squadron exchanged their FB.4's for Thunderchiefs.

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB405 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

For me, the Thunderstreak will always be a favourite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV-EhBesVjg&feature=PlayList&p=92DAA6C1EF9D28BC&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=47
(Buccaneers at 3.30)

[SPINNERS]

Republic Aviation Thunderstreak FB.4 - No.600 & 601 "City Of London" Squadrons, Royal Auxilliary Air Force, 1957

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB409 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB410 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB411 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB406 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB407 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB408 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'd forgotten just how colourful those pre-war Demons and post-war Vampires and Meteors were in their almost 'heraldic' markings so, from time to time, I'm going to cover some RAuxAF 'what ifs'.

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Republic Aviation Thunderstreak - No.602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1957

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB414 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB413 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm quite pleased with this 'tartan' decal. I've always wanted to do this one but was put off by the complexity so it's slightly simplified but quite effective.

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Republic Thunderstreak FB.4 - No.603 'City of Edinburgh' Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB416 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB417 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTREAKFB418 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Last Thunderstreaks for a while but I'm sure I'll come back to it and it's Thunderflash cousin.

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Hawker Hunter F.4 - No.603 'City Of Edinburgh' Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1958

RAFHUNTERF401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERF402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERF403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Voodoo FAW.2 - No.611 (West Lancashire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1960

RAFVOODOOFAW201 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW202 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW203 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW205 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW204 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW207 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW206 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW208 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The No.611 'squadron bars' decal took me ages to make but it looks pretty cool. Do you know, I can remember having that decal on a decal sheet that came free with an aircraft modelling magazine about thirty years ago! It was meant for a Meteor but went on a camouflaged Thunderstreak!

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Voodoo FAW.2 - No.616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1963

RAFVOODOOFAW209 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW210 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW211 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW212 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

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General Dynamics F-111B - No.25 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 1972

RAFF-111B01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFF-111B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFF-111B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's a little mis-match here between the three-colour roundels (largely gone on camo by 1972) and Phoenix missiles (introduced into service in 1974) on this RAF F-111B. Like many folk, I've adopted the name Merlin for the RAF Aardvarks but don't want to waste a designation on this disastrous POS.

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BAC Stilleto F.3 - No.56 Squadron, Royal Air Force, 1974

RAFSTILLETOF301 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTILLETOF302 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTILLETOF303 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTILLETOF304 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

An Indian Air Force skin for the Fishbed-J has been used here and I thought I'd try some 1970's 'B' type roundels and fin flashes.

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McDonnell Voodoo FAW.4 - No.111 'Treble One' Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1964

Delays in the English Electric Lightning programme and the rather pedestrian performance of the Gloster Javelin encouraged the McDonnell Aircraft Company to offer various versions of their outstanding Voodoo aircraft to the RAF initially with the F.1 single-seater and FAW.2 two-seater for RAF Fighter Command and followed by the FR.3 single-seater reconnaisance aircraft for RAF Germany and the improved FAW.4 two-seater for Fighter Command.

Entering service in 1961 the Voodoo FAW.4 served with three squadrons of RAF Fighter Command and supplemented the earlier FAW.2's in the air defence role. Normally armed with two De Havilland Skystorm radar-guided missiles and two Fairey Firestorm infra-red heat-seeking missiles the Voodoo FAW.4's were a quantum leap in performance over the Javelins and remained a popular type in RAF service right up until their retirement in 1981.

RAFVOODOOFAW401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW406 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVOODOOFAW405 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

No.605 (County of Warwickshire) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, June 1962 - Transition from Hunter FGA.9B's to Starfighter F.1's

RAFSTARFIGHTERF113 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERFGA9B02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERFGA9B03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTARFIGHTERF110 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTARFIGHTERF114 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSTARFIGHTERF111 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERFGA9B04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr
Twilight sets on the Hunters career with No.605 squadron.

I've knocked up a set of decals for No.605 squadron and speculated (they can't touch you for it) on checkers for their Starfighters rudder whilst keeping the fuselage bars as seen on their real life Vampires (on the booms) and added nose bars to the Hunters. In one of the RAF Yearbooks (1976) there was a 'what if' article by Derek Wood with a cracking drawing of one unit working up on Saro S.177's whilst Hawker P.1080's are passed down to the RAuxAF unit at the same base. I might try to do some more of these transition photo sets at random intervals.

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Supermarine Swift FR.5 - No.606 (Chiltern) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1961

RAFSWIFTFR501 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSWIFTFR502 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSWIFTFR503 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSWIFTFR504 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

In my slow trawl through the Auxiliary squadrons I've reached No.606 who have an interesting history...

This squadron holds a unique position in RAF Squadron history.  The number 606 was never allocated in the 1930's, although it was held in readiness, when the majority of the Auxiliary Air Force was formed.  The number was also never activated subsequently and consequently it has never operated aircraft.

It therefore became unique when it was formed from the Helicopter Support Squadron of the RAuxAF at Benson on 1 October 1999, in that it is numbered within the range allocated to flying squadrons, yet does not operate any aircraft of its own but provides valuable support role to the tactical support helicopter fleet.

The Helicopter Support Squadron was originally formed on 1 October 1996, since when it has supplied personnel to various exercises in the UK, Germany and Slovenia.  Personnel have also accompanied units of the Joint Helicopter Command, of which it became part of the same day it was awarded its number, on operations in the Balkans (1999).

Anyway, for markings for No.606 I've a free hand so made an orange version of my Lightning flash to make the fuselage bars and the nose bars which use the centre from the squadron badge (an eagle holding a lightning flash).

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Armstrong-Whitworth Siskin F.1 - No.607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, 1958 [Transitioning to the Hunter F.4]

The early-1950's were a difficult time for RAF Fighter Command. The obscolescent Meteor F.8 formed the mainstay of RAF Fighter Command but was struggling to catch the RAF's Canberra jet bombers and would have been hopelessly outclassed by MiG-15's if the Cold War had turned hot. But just at the time that Fighter Command should have been looking forward to receiving the modern swept-wing Hawker Hunter and Supermarine Swift fighters both programmes hit severe technical problems. Even before the decision to cancel the Swift fighter programme (taken in February 1955) the Air Ministry were looking for an 'off the shelf' purchase of an interim 'stop-gap' type and although the North American F-86 Sabre was eventually procured in substantial numbers the desperately bad balance of payments situation with the US prevented further purchases.

Dassault had previously offered the Mystère IIC and had been turned down but in November 1952 an RAF evaluation team were sent to Istres to evaluate the Mystère IV and submitted an enthusiastic report to the Air Ministry who decided to place an order for 200 Mystère IV's to be licence-built by Armstrong-Whitworth with Rolls Royce Tay engines. Initially armed with two 30mm Aden cannon the aircraft entered service in March 1955 as the Siskin F.1 and was used by RAF Fighter Command until the early 1960's with the subsequent Siskin FGA.2 fighter-bomber serving in RAF Middle-East Command until 1970.

RAFSISKINF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSISKINF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSISKINF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFHUNTERF404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSISKINF104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

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Grumman F-14A Tomcat - No.26 Squadron, Indian Air Force

INDIAF-14ATOMCAT06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INDIAF-14ATOMCAT07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm doing a grey RAF Tomcat and just thought I'd try the Indian decals (used on the Iranian Camo version a few pages back) on it before converting it.