Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

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Dassault Aviation Mirage F.2A - No.92 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1974

RAF MIRAGE F2A.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Like Pavlov's dog I'm conditioned to also show the second of the RAF's classic paired squadrons (like 5 & 11 and 19 & 92) so here is my No.92 Squadron Mirage F.2A. Cobra's FTW! Before I move on to something new I'll try and show it with silver undersides and carrying Firestreaks but I'll probably stick with Sidewinders on the finished article.

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Mirage F.2A - No.92 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1972

RAF MIRAGE F2A.13 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE F2A.16 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

In Strike Fighters 2 both Firestreak and Red Top have simple statements restricting their use to the Lightning so adding them to another aircraft requires a little cheat by either removing the statement or by creating another missile with a slightly different name. For the Mirage it also requires uprating the outer wing pylons, or more correctly the missile launch rail, to cater for the much heavier Firestreak (about 50%).

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Irkut Corporation (Yakovlev) Yak-130F - 21st Fighter Squadron, Finnish Air Force, 2017

At the end of the Cold War the Finnish Air Force relaxed it's policy of alternating it's combat aircraft purchases between Soviet and Western types and replaced both the Saab Draken and the MiG-21 with American F-18C and D Hornets with the F-18C's being assembled by Valmet in Finland. Soon after Finland declared that all the provisions of the Paris Peace Treaties, including those limiting the size and scope of it's armed forces, were nullified. This closed the door on Russian exports to Finland until September 2011 when, unexpectedly, the Libyan National Transitional Council cancelled Libya's order for six Yak-130 advanced jet trainers. Almost immediately, the Russian Government instructed the Irkut Corporation to offer these aircraft to Finland at a discounted and allegedly heavily subsidised price.

The six Yak-130's were delivered to the Finnish Air Force Academy in Tikkakoski with the first aircraft arriving in November 2012. Finnish Air Force officials were so impressed with the Yak-130 that they recommended to the Finnish Ministry of Defence to make a further purchase of the Yak-130 but specifically tailored to the light attack role and with the benefit of reducing the number of aircraft required for the Hornet replacement programme (later re-named as the HX Fighter Program). With input from the Irkut Corporation and the Finnish Air Force a new export version of the Yak-130 was quickly drafted and offered to the Finnish Government as the Yak-130F (F=Finlyandiya). In March 2013 Finland ordered 14 Yak-130F's for delivery during 2015 and 2016. Entering service with the newly re-formed Fighter Squadron 21 at Pirkkala in May 2016 the aircraft operate in the light attack role with a recent upgrade allowing them to use GBU-32 and GBU-38 precision guided munitions.

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ILMAVOIMAT YAK-130F.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Yak-130 was released yesterday over at Combat Ace. It's a very good 3D model with excellent skins and it's got huge 'what if' potential. For this Ilmavoimat Yak-130, I've used the sweet Russian skin with Finnish markings including a triangular unit marking for HävLLv 21 that's more fiction than fact! The 'YK' serials last saw service on my Finnish Flora (Yak-23).

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McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom - IV Brigada Aerea, Fuerza Area Argentina, 1982

FAA F-4C PHANTOM.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4C PHANTOM.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4C PHANTOM.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4C PHANTOM.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm just playing around with this Argentinian F-4 with USAF camo testing out how the outer wings, rudder and tanks look in the yellow applied during the 1982 conflict although I'll need to change the vertical stab' to show yellow on the fin and not the rudder. I'm just waiting for a response from someone who wants to see an F-4 in IV Brigada Aerea 'Skyhawk' colours so I've asked what version of the F-4 he wants and what colours as there are many schemes shown on t'internet.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom - Grupo 4 de Caza, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, 1982

During the early 1960's the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA) began an ambitious plan to replace the F-86F Sabre then in service as their main interceptor-fighter. The British English Electric Lightning was briefly considered but was quickly dismissed on account of it's very short range. The Swedish Saab Draken was successfully evaluated and FAA pilots submitted a very favourable report as was the French Dassault Mirage III and it seemed likely that a decision would be made between these two competing aircraft. However, the end of the Frondizi government in 1962 and the subsequent turmoil over the next few years saw the FAA's plans put on hold but the Israeli's successful use of the Mirage III in the 1967 Six-Day War saw the FAA finally decide on the French aircraft. However negotiations with the French Government came to an abrupt end in May 1968 when Juan Carlos Onganía, fearful of a coup d'état, dismissed the leaders of the Armed Forces and cancelled the Mirage order.

The 1973 elections (the first general elections for ten years) saw Dr. Hector Cámpora elected as President with a campaign based on a platform of national reconstruction. For the FAA this meant that it's F-86 replacement plans could finally continue but with an aircraft from an unexpected source. Despite the turmoil of Argentina's recent history, the US State Department saw Argentina as a bulwark of anti-Communism in South America and US President Richard Nixon sanctioned the export of 28 ex-USAF F-4D's with deliveries to Grupo 4 de Caza starting in August 1973 and deliveries to Grupo 8 de Caza starting in January 1974. The 1976 US Presidential elections saw incoming President Jimmy Carter highlight issues of human rights and eventually secure a congressional block of all US arms transfers to Argentina and the FAA found it increasingly hard to support Phantom operations except by clandestine support. The FAA used the Phantom during the 1982 Guerra de las Malvinas as a long-range strike aircraft but the FAA's lack of aerial refueling capability and the long distance from their bases dramatically reduced their ability. After 1982 the FAA's Phantom force was increasingly supported by Israel Aircraft Industries and although no additional aircraft could be sourced the remaining 17 aircraft remained in service until 2010.

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-4D PHANTOM.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This Argentinian F-4D has been done as a request in the colours shown and is based on an A-4C profile that was forwarded to me. The turquoise panels have a bit of 'distressing' applied - a bit of a new technique for me but I think it will work better on something like a NMF scheme or a darker camo as the difference between the very light grey and the green on this scheme makes it look as if the distressing is applied only to the very light grey areas. I like the blue bombs (BRP 250-Kappa E) and I've gone for Shafrir 2 AAM's just to be different really.

Post Script

img00016.thumb by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I passed on a template for my Argentinian F-4C to my friend in Buenos Aires who requested the Phantom in Skyhawk colours and he's just come back to me with this Grupo 5 machine.

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McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom - 2da Escuadrilla, Comando de la Aviación Naval Argentina, 1982

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.13 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4N PHANTOM.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've shown this one before but lost it in my BIG data loss in 2016. it's essentially the F-4K 'Royal Navy' skin (a bit too blue for my taste) wrapped around the Third Wire F-4N 3D model with the J79 nozzles pasted over the Speys and some paint applied to the ECM bumps on the upper intake.

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McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle - Grupo 6 de Caza, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, 2000

FAA F-15A EAGLE.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA F-15A EAGLE.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Another request this one and quite a simple decal job although I did need to make 12 serial numbers. I'm pretty sure that this one would have been blocked by the US State Department via pressure from the UK and it's quite sad to see the Argentine Air Force without a single modern fighter and with literally a handful of A-4AR Fightinghawks as their frontline.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom - 2da Escuadrilla, Comando de la Aviación Naval Argentina, 1991

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the F-4S made by refurbishing and updating the F-4J and adding slats similar to those on the F-4E. The 3D model is by 'The Mirage Factory' but looks so similar to the Third Wire F-4J that they probably have a common origin. Anyway, this means that Third Wire's vast range of Phantom skins can be adapted to fit and that's exactly what I've done here and it opens up the possibility of slatted F-4D's in SEA and Euro One camo. Sadly, I needed to delete the fuselage 'slimer' as it was right where I wanted to place the long 3-A-2xx serial number... not the best reasons I know! The 'ARMADA' decal uses the darker camo colour as does the original 'last four' of the original Bureau of Aeronautics serial on the fin. I've gone for a darker grey for the two-digit modex number on the nose and repeated it on the flaps with a nice toned down 'La Lora' (the aggresive looking parrot) for 2nd Escuadrilla. All told, for 18 aircraft, I've had to make 61 new decals for this one!

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McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom - 3ra Escuadrilla, Comando de la Aviación Naval Argentina, 1992

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.13 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.16 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.17 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Apologies for posting another repeat but it's another one of those that I've lost in my big data loss back in 2016 so I've taken the opportunity to revamp it but using the F-4S and all new decals. I decided to put the fuselage slimer back for this one and I've added the name of this squadron's home ship the 'ARA Hippolyte Bouchard' (soybeans sales were very good in the 1980's  )

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COAN F-4S PHANTOM.18 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Re-instated slimers and allocated to ARA Bernadini Rivadavia 

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McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom - 1er Escuadrilla, Comando de la Aviación Naval Argentina, 1986

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.19 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.25 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.20 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.21 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.24 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.22 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

COAN F-4S PHANTOM.23 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I will make this the last Argentinian Phantom for now and whilst it's definitely the most boring I'm quite happy with the overall look and also happy that I've given the Argentine Navy no less than three aircraft carriers to replace ARA Independencia and ARA Veinticinco de Mayo! They are;

ARA Bernardino Rivadavia (V-3)

ARA Hippolyte Bouchard (V-4)

ARA Guillermo Brown (V-5)

Strike Fighters allows you to add decals to carriers so the next time I get my RN carriers out I'll have to upgrade them.

[SPINNERS]

North American Tornado B.1 - No.35 Squadron, RAF Far East Air Force, 1952

RAF B-45C TORNADO.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF B-45C TORNADO.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF B-45C TORNADO.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF B-45C TORNADO.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF B-45C TORNADO.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Not long after the B-45 Tornado came out the package had a facelift and I've hacked the base silver skin into something akin to the 'Tiger Force' Lancaster B.1(FE). Unlike the Lanc, the B-45 Tornado is definitely not a looker...

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Armstrong-Whitworth Atlas C.1 - No.47 Squadron, RAF Transport Command, 1963

RAF ATLAS C1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF ATLAS C1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF ATLAS C1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF ATLAS C1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A nice Nord Noratlas, featuring a new 3D model by Veltro2K, was released recently with French and Israeli skins. A most welcome template was also released so this RAF version was quite easy to make and I chose No.47 Squadron but perhaps 1963 is a bit early for this camo. The Noratlas seems a bit too big to rely on two Hercules radials!

[SPINNERS]

Aero L-39CA Albatros - Grupo 5 de Caza, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, 1982

FAA L-39CA ALBATROSS.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA L-39CA ALBATROSS.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA L-39CA ALBATROSS.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA L-39CA ALBATROSS.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA L-39CA ALBATROSS.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A very nice Aero L-39C Albatros was released as a 'beta' by the DAT boys recently and I've just done some overpainting of the Soviet markings and added some Fuerza Aérea Argentina decals. I love the looks of the L-39 and, for a subsonic trainer, it looks well ahead of it's time (first flight 1968). Fun fact: In Czech or Spanish, Albatros has just the one 's'.

Apologies for things being a bit slow around here but, apart from other hobbies, it's been such a wonderful summer of sport (Euro's, Tour de France, Olympics, The Hundred, etc.) and I'm finding the long hours of my three-day week quite demanding. How on earth did I manage doing Monday to Friday for 40 years?!!

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Panavia Tempest F.3 - No.229 Operational Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force, 1991

RAF WYVERN F3.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF WYVERN F3.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF WYVERN F3.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Not really me cup of tea but this is the X-02 Wyvern from Ace Combat. It's a nice 3D model ported over to work in Strike Fighters but it's quite a lo-rez skin and my preferred method of using decals simply doesn't work on the intakes as the marking shows on the inner surfaces meaning I can't show it from certain angles. It looks cool though!