Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Canadair Sabre F.4's - No.3 and No.4 Squadrons, RAF South Atlantic Command, 1957

After the first Falkands War of 1950 the Falkand Islands defences were boosted by the delivery of Meteors and Vampires. However, by 1956 Sabre F.4's were being released from RAF Germany as Hunter F.4's were being delivered so it was decided to send two squadrons to the Falkland Islands.

RAFSABREF401 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSABREF402 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSABREF403 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSABREF404 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSABREF405 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSABREF406 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

No.3 and No.4 squadrons were real world Sabre users... but not in the 'Grey' and 'Falkland' camo schemes and certainly not on the Falklands! The 'Falkland' scheme is that actually used by the Fuerza Aérea Argentina!! (SEE BELOW)

FAASABRE01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAASABRE02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

North American (Rockwell) Vigilante GR.1A - No.6 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1991

RAFVIGILANTEGR1A01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVIGILANTEGR1A02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVIGILANTEGR1A03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVIGILANTEGR1A04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Julhelm's superb RA-5C masquerading as an RAF 'Desert Storm' Viggie. Julhelm generously released the templates so a Desert Pink version was well within even my ham-fisted capabilities although I have missed the nose probe.

[SPINNERS]

North American (Rockwell) Vigilante F.2 - No.5 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1984

RAFVIGILANTEF201 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVIGILANTEF202 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVIGILANTEF203 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've previously done a F-109A for USAF ADC but thought that the Viggie should see RAF service as a long-range interceptor. Hell, we all know the reasons why not but hey ho! 

[SPINNERS]

Convair Vancouver B.3 - No.7 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, 1955

RAFVANCOUVERB302 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVANCOUVERB303 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVANCOUVERB304 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVANCOUVERB305 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I'm progressively re-making all of my RAF decals and it's quite noticeable that No.7 squadron have never had aircraft with the colourful fuselage bars seen on many squadrons, especially the 'low number' squadrons who were there during the very colourful inter-war and post-war periods. Anyway, as this is a 'what if' thread I've invented some! In reality, No.7 squadron kept their Lincolns far too long (into early 1956 and not getting Valiants until late 1956) so just like the RAF received an influx of Boeing Washingtons I've had them convert to the outrageous B-36J Peacemaker!

[SPINNERS]

Douglas Skyhawk FG.1 - No.8 Squadron, RAF South Atlantic Command, 1983

RAFSKYHAWKFG101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSKYHAWKFG102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSKYHAWKFG103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

BAC (Vickers) Vulture B.1 - No.9 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1984

RAFVULTUREB101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB106 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB107 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVULTUREB105 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Backfire-C was released yesterday and it is awesome! I've used the stock Soviet skin that comes with it and some new No.9 squadron decals by yours truly.

[SPINNERS]

Douglas A-4KP Skyhawk - Escuadra 301 "Jaguares", Portugese Air Force, 1985

PoAFA-4P01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PoAFA-4P02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PoAFA-4P03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PoAFA-4P04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Consolidated Vancouver B.1 - No.10 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, 1950

RAFVANCOUVERB101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVANCOUVERB102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFVANCOUVERB103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Only 'six turning' on the Vancouver B.1 (B-36B). No.10 is another of the 'low-number' RAF squadrons that doesn't have a history of colourful markings so I've just used the 'Speedbird' motif seen on their Canberras.

[SPINNERS]

Miles-Mikoyan Foxbat F.1 - No.11 Air Defence Regiment, British Peoples Republic Air Force, 1984

RAFFOXBATF101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFOXBATF102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFOXBATF103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The MiG-25 isn't graceful but I've always liked the brutish appearance of this powerful interceptor.

[SPINNERS]

Grumman Tomcat F.2 - No.11 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1985

RAFTOMCATF209 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTOMCATF210 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTOMCATF211 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Having spent some time making new No.11 Squadron decals yesterday I thought I'd splash them onto another of my all-time favourites...

[SPINNERS]

North American Tornado B.1 - No.12 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, 1951

RAFB-45TORNADOB104 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFB-45TORNADOB102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFB-45TORNADOB103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFB-45TORNADOB101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A very pedestrian looking machine the B-45A but one that did see RAF markings (if not actual RAF service  ).

[SPINNERS]

BAC Thunderstrike GR.4 - No.13 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 1991

RAFTHUNDERSTRIKEGR407 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTRIKEGR406 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFTHUNDERSTRIKEGR408 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I haven't flown the TSR.2 in the Strike Fighters sim for a while and it doesn't disappoint - the best 'bomber' by far!

[SPINNERS]

Rockwell Baltimore B.1 - No.15 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1986

RAFBALTIMOREB101 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBALTIMOREB102 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFBALTIMOREB103 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

No colourful markings for No.15 Squadron in recent years and I don't think that they had any in the inter-war period either.

[SPINNERS]

Rockwell B-1B - No.6 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 2002

RAAFBONE01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

Rockwell B-1B - No.6 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, 2011

RAAFBONE05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAAFBONE09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr