Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Saunders-Roe Firebar FAW.2 - No.111 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1966

RAF FIREBAR FAW2.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FIREBAR FAW2.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FIREBAR FAW2.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FIREBAR FAW2.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've enjoyed playing around with the Yak-28P Firebar and have added No.29 Squadron and No.111 Squadron to my revised upload. I've even had a play around with the flight model as there were issues with a bouncy undercarriage, unrealistic low weight and inability to reach the advertised maximum speed but I couldn't resist adding Avon 301R's and adding a lot of additional Lightning DNA to the flight model. Miraculously it still flies!

[SPINNERS]

Nakajima Ki-44 'Shoki' - 1st Fighter Regiment, Republic of Paran Army Air Force, 1943

PARAN Ki-44 SHOKI.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Ki-44 SHOKI.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Ki-44 SHOKI.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Ki-44 SHOKI.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Ki-44 SHOKI.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A sweet Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Demon) was recently released by the DAT group and makes a good adversary to throw into the Desert War between Dhimar (Blue) and Paran (Red). The Parani air force insignia is a red star but as I had to overpaint the Japanese Hinomaru I placed it on a black disc and instantly created the Republic of Paran Army Air Force! When flying prop fighters I'm fed up of fighting against Parani Spitfires (it doesn't feel right and they're too darn good) so I've edited them never to appear on the red side and will give them kit like this 'Tojo' to fly.

[SPINNERS]

North American F-86D Sabre Dog - No.13 Squadron (The Antelopes), Royal Dhimari Air Force, 1955

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-86D SABRE DOG.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr


A revised F-86D was released recently with a lovely blank silver skin off which I carefully removed the red engine line (a pet hate of mine) and added some Dhimari markings. No.13 Squadron's colourful fuselage bars are based on No.500 Squadron's Meteor fuselage bars. The 'Mighty Mouse' rocket tray system cannot be accurately portrayed but is cleverly reproduced as a gun. If you get close to a bomber-sized target it's quite spectacular!

[SPINNERS]

A revised repeat.

Gloster Javelin Mk.56 'Dhanush' - No.36 Squadron, Indian Air Force, 1965

The expansion of the Indian Air Force during the mid-1950's saw the planned procurement of the Hawker Hunter fighter-bomber and the English Electric Canberra bomber in substantial quantities but Indian Air Force planners saw the lack of an all-weather interceptor as a problem and urged the Indian Government for increased funds for a suitable aircraft. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru initially blocked the idea but soon agreed to allow a delegation from the Gloster Aviation Company to make a presentation to the Indian Government and the Chiefs of the Indian Air Force.

With the end of the Javelin production line looming Gloster were proposing two new export version of the Javelin Mk8 to India -  the F.Mk55 (Sapphire-enginned) and F.Mk56 (Avon-enginned) versions. Indian Air Force chiefs were very enthusiastic about the possibility of having its three main combat aircraft use the same jet engine (albeit the Javelin's Mk.205 Avon engines had a simple afterburner fitted) and urged Nehru to proceed with the purchase of 80 aircaft but Nehru demanded to meet the Gloster delegation himself to thrash out terms. Gloster cannily sent Graeme Kimmage, who had attended Cambridge University with Nehru, to conduct the negotiations and eventually secure a deal for 80 Javelin F.Mk56's.

Entering service with No.36 'Trishula' squadron based at Pathankot in 1958 the Javelins only really became a complete weapon system when mated with the indigenous 'Baan' (Arrow) air-to-air missile which entered service in 1960. From this time the Javelins quickly earned the most appropriate nickname of 'Dhanush' (bow) and saw limited service over Goa (in the recconnaisance role) but played a major role in the 1965 war with Pakistan claiming several kills including three F-86's, one F-104 and six B-57's. However, with the MiG-21 entering service the Javelin's days were numbered and the Javelin force slowly faded away and by 1975 the popular and legendary 'Dhanush' had gone for good.

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAF JAVELIN Mk56.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've always had a soft spot for the Javelin. The Putnam book on Gloster aircraft was one of the few aircraft books in our local library when I was an aviation mad teenager in the mid-1970's. And who could fail to be surprised at the size of the Javelin when you opened up the Frog or Novo box? No.36 Squadron are quite fictional but eagle-eyed readers will spot a couple of No.14 Squadron machines in the photoset - in the real world they were a Hunter unit at that time. I've used the Soviet 'Anab' missile to create the fictional HAL 'Baan' air-to-air missile and given the missile a garish new Indian skin.

[SPINNERS]

Martin B-57B Canberra - No.7 & No.8 Squadrons, Royal Dhimari Air Force, 1962

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR B-57B CANBERRA.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Another revised upload and whilst I prefer British Cranberries I also like the B-57 and the Third Wire B-57B certainly has plenty of pylons! The lightning flashes on the wing tip-tanks took me a while to sort out as I just couldn't get decals to position there so they have been added directly onto the skin bitmap. I've also added British style serial numbers and to the undersides of the wings too.

[SPINNERS]

English Electric Canberra B(I).5 - No.213 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1967

RAF CANBERRA B5.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm not sure who made this grey/green camo skin for the Third Wire B-57B but it makes for a great RAF bird and especially with No.213's Hornet on the fin. I'm pretty sure I have the Airfix B(I).6 decals about the house somewhere.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Canberra B(I).5 - No.45 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1968

RAF CANBERRA B5.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B5.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the stock Third Wire USAF SEA Camo scheme with my SEAC markings. I've used No.45 Squadron as they were a real-life Canberra unit based 'out east' at Tengah who would later become a short-lived Hunter Squadron in the mid-70's. Whilst I think there are some green and brown camo schemes for the Canberra knocking about I can't use them on the B-57B as the nose mapping is totally different - understandable with that offset canopy which I used to hate but now love.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Fencer GR.3 - No.15 Squadron, RAF Near East Command, 1991

RAF FENCER GR3.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FENCER GR3.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FENCER GR3.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FENCER GR3.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF FENCER GR3.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Quite a basic skin this but I lost a bit of interest as I was making it. I am pleased with the results though! No.15 Squadron was a bit of an odd choice and 'British Maid' is a girl I met on the internet

Edit: It needs a better name.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom - No.2 Squadron (The Hawks), Royal Dhimari Air Force, 1970

DHIMAR F-4E PHANTOM.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-4E PHANTOM.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-4E PHANTOM.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-4E PHANTOM.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR F-4E PHANTOM.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Another revised upload - this time from 2009! Where does the bloomin' time go eh? To ring the changes I've used a slightly different skin from the JASDF F-4EJ but with their peculiar USN intake warning removed and also the red engine line. The template for my original 'Hawk' squadron badge was lost in my big data loss in 2016 so I've designed a new one and made the necessary 'handed' versions so that the Hawk faces forward on both sides but the writing isn't reversed.

[SPINNERS]

Bristol Beaufighter NF.1 - No.3 Squadron (The Bats), Royal Dhimari Air Force, 1943

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMAR BEAUFIGHTER NF1.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There are a couple of Bristol Beaufighters available and this is DAT's NF.Mk1 and I've overpainted the RAF insignia with special 'night' Dhimari markings with grey replacing white and a bit of scruffy black to tone them down even more. As I've mentioned before you can fly at night but the screenshots just don't look good at all so, just like an old episode of 'The Saint' when they wanted to pretend it was night, I've flown in daylight and used a 75% opacity bluey-black layer.

[SPINNERS]

Sukhoi Su-24P - 1st Bomber Regiment, Republic of Paran Air Force, 1990

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PARAN Su-24P FENCER.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A simple 'bucket fill' skin for this Parani Fencer. Yes, those last two shots are a bit OTT!

[SPINNERS]

Bristol Boxer Mk.III - No.73 squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1937

RAF HAWK III.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK III.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK III.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK III.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK III.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK III.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've been wanting to show this delightful Curtis Hawk III by 'Veltro2K' (and released through the DAT group of modders) for a few days now so, as an interim measure, clickable thumbnails it is. Anyway, I've used the specular map with a few tweaks and appropriate decals to create a colourful RAF pre-war interceptor fighter with a Gladiator type scheme. I should do more of these as some of the pre-war schemes are glorious aren't they?

Edit: I've been on Flickr and it appears that in 2012 I opened a free account! I really can't remember that and neither can I remember uploading to it last April! Anyway, the above Bristol Boxer piccies are now on my Flickr free account. Flickr's Pro account is substantially cheaper than Photobucket Unlimited (£4.66 per month as opposed to £9.51 per month) but it's not all about cost so I've got some serious thinking to do...

[SPINNERS]

Bristol Bruno Mk.I - No.19 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1937

RAF HAWK II.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Another nice biplane from 'Veltro2K' this is the Curtiss Hawk II released yesterday by the DAT Group who are forging ahead with a forthcoming Sino-Japanese all-inclusive install. For my Bristol Bruno I've used the same simple technique to make a silver skin by using the specular map as the base with parts pasted back into it and with a few tweaks like the coloured engine cowling and wheel covers with decals for everything else.

I'm not totally convinced that Flickr is the right way to go but perhaps I'll get used to it.

[SPINNERS]

Bristol Bruno Mk.I - Night Fighter Flight, No.79 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, Munich Crisis, 1938

RAF HAWK II.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF HAWK II.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr



This little profile was my inspiration for my black Bristol Boxer night-fighter and this skin uses my previous technique of inverting the 'silver' skin adding a 50% opacity black layer and pasting the previously cut out parts layer back on top. There's a little bit more too it than that but the saving in time is massive. Anyway, I've copied it but I think those roundels should be Type B or perhaps have local over-painting of the white ring. There's lovely photo's of 'Munich Crisis' Gauntlets and Furies in one of my oldest books (1968) 'Pictorial History of the RAF - Volume One 1918 to 1939' and these show that the serial numbers were obliterated too. In that book the final few photo's are of Hurricanes, Whitleys and Blenhiem 1F's in the August air exercises - very poignant.

[SPINNERS]

Polikarpov I-17 'Molniya' - Grupo de Caza No.13, Spanish Republican Air Force, 1938

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SpRAF I-17 MOLNIYA.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the SIA-Ambrosini SS-4 an Italian prototype fighter from the very late 1930's that didn't fare too well despite looking so damn cool. Veltro2K very kindly built the 3D model at my request back in 2015 and I made the skins for it (the prototype and 3 or 4 'what if' schemes). I revisited it today and really should have put it into Nationalist hands so I've had to make it an advanced Soviet fighter given to the Republican side. In game it is really nice to fly and is superb at knocking down contemporary bombers.