Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Messerschmitt Me-277 (P.1125) Nachtjager - Luftwaffe '48

Towards the end of his four-year collaboration with the Messerschmitt company at Augsburg, Dr. Alexander Lippisch had sketched out a formidably large delta-winged all-weather interceptor but his transfer to the Luftahrtforschungsanstalt (Aviation Research Institute) in Munich led to the project being shelved due to the lack of a suitably large powerplant. The desperate but successful 'reversal campaigns' of late 1944 and early 1945 had led to stalemate on both fronts and allowed Germany time to develop and field their first-generation jet and rocket fighters to great success.

In late 1946 Dipl-Ing Hans Hornung, head of preliminary studies at Messerschmitt, dusted down the original Lippisch delta design and scaled it down slightly to suit the Junkers Jumo 'Titan' axial flow turbojet which had successfully been test flown on the port wing of a specially modified Me-323 Gigant in September 1946 and was promising sufficient thrust for the large delta-winged fighter now renamed 'Projekt Nachtjager' and given the design number of P.1125.

The project moved smoothly and the first P.1125 entered service as the Messerschmitt Me-277 in July 1948 but production was severely hampered when the factory was hit by USAAF B-50's in September 1948 leading to only a handful of Me-277's seeing service.

LUFTWAFFEF-102ADELTADAGGER01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-102ADELTADAGGER02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-102ADELTADAGGER03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-102ADELTADAGGER04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-102ADELTADAGGER05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Backstory is a bit rushed but I hope you enjoy this one!

[SPINNERS]

Messerschmitt Me-299 - Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, Luftwaffe, 1949

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFEF-106ADELTADART06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I much prefer the looks of the sexy Six to the Deuce and the skin bitmaps for the F-106A were quite easy for me to add mottling and dirt layers.

N.B. The fin badge and fuselage codes bear no relation to each other (WW2 Luftwaffe markings are not my strong point).

[SPINNERS]

Junkers EF145 'Super Gans' - Kampfgeschwader 76, Luftwaffe, 1948

Adolf Hitler's early decision to allow the Me262 programme to continue as a 'fighter only' project (and at top priority) soon reaped dividends as the world's first swept-wing jet fighter hacked down American bombers by day and, in it's Me 262 A-1a/U2 form, British bombers at night. The unsuccessful allied invasion of June 1944 (at Calais) allowed German forces to bolster the Eastern front and by September 1944 the frontline had become static in all theatres with Arado Ar234's and Me262's ruling the roost.

In October 1944 Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring instructed Junkers and Messerschmitt to design and produce very long-range bomber aircraft capable of delivering a 4,000kg bombload over a distance of 8,000km in a design competition that quickly gained the title of 'Projekt America'. Lead by Dr-Ing Heinrich Hertel the Junkers team dusted down a previously shelved project for a swing-wing tactical bomber known to the Junkers team as the 'Gans' (Goose) due to it's length and wingspan with the wing fully forward. Hertel scaled up the earlier Gans design as much as he dared based on using two of the projected Jumo 90 axial flow jet engines (each of 90kN thrust) to produce the EF145 design or 'Super Gans' but knew that the range requirement was going to be beyond the abilities of his otherwise outstanding submission unless he could cheat by assuming one-way missions or use in-flight refuelling. Impressed by the design, Göring encouraged Hertel to continue with the design and development of the EF145 for the European theatre.

Meanwhile, in February 1945 German Kommandos were delivered to the US mainland by U-Boat and on March 2nd undertook a co-ordinated attack on the three primary research and production sites of the Manhatten Project (the plutonium-production facility at the Hanford Site in eastern Washington state, the uranium enrichment facilities at Oak Ridge in Tennessee and the weapons research and design laboratory at Los Alamos in New Mexico) leading to mass evacuations at all three sites as radioactive material was scattered around the surrounding areas. With intelligence reports suggesting that the Manhatten Project had been set back at least three years Hitler asked Göring to accelerate 'Projekt America' but when informed that the best design (the EF145) was only going to have about one-half of the required range an enraged Hitler demanded that one-way missions would be acceptable and instructed Hannah Reitsch to set up a recruitment and indoctrination unit.

Junkers worked miracles to produce the EF145 prototype and, on the low installed thrust of it's Jumo 90 engines, it clawed itself into the air for the first time on March 1st, 1948 although an engine fire saw it quickly land back at Dessau. However, by this time the war situation had deteriorated for Germany. Truman's controversial decision to renege on the previously agreed 'Germany first' policy saw Japan finally defeated (conventionally) in December 1946 and the allies had made solid progress during 1947 leading to the second Calais landings of August 1947 and the simultaneous Soviet breakout through Poland and East Prussia. It is understood that just four production EF145's were delivered to KG76 during April 1948 with one successful strike mission being made against Lublin aerodrome in Poland before World War 2 finally ended on May 1st, 1948.

In a mystery that will probably remain unsolved the prototype 'Super Gans' was never found but on April 30th, 1948 a Portuguese trawler crew 50km west of the Azores reported that an unidentified "goose like aircraft with it's tail on fire" was seen to crash into the sea with only the body of a woman in civilian clothing ever recovered.

LUFTWAFFETu-22M3BACKFIRE01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFETu-22M3BACKFIRE02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFETu-22M3BACKFIRE03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LUFTWAFFETu-22M3BACKFIRE04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Forgive me as I know I've done a Luftwaffe 'Backfire' before but my new quick and easy mottling technique has caused me to revisit this.

[SPINNERS]

BAe/Mitsubishi Stratos FG.1 - No.6 Squadron, RAF Middle East Command, 2019

RAFFA-27C01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFA-27C02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFA-27C03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFFA-27C04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the F/A-27C from the Yukikaze anime 'Operation 4' given a simple 'Desert Pink' skin and No.6 squadron markings. An all grey Royal Navy bird is just a few pages back on this very thread.

[SPINNERS]

Chance Vought P-48C Corsair - 61st FS 56th FG, USAAF, March, 1944

USAAFP-48CCORSAIR05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAAFP-48CCORSAIR02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAAFP-48CCORSAIR03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAAFP-48CCORSAIR04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAAFP-48CCORSAIR06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Inspired by AeroplaneDriver's P-72 Corsair and given a bit of 'canvas' effect. BTW I know the hook is still there!

[SPINNERS]

North American P-51D Mustangs - Dhimari Air Force, 1946

DHIMARIP-51DMUSTANG01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMARIP-51DMUSTANG02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

DHIMARIP-51DMUSTANG03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I thought I'd put the Me-163 'Komet' into service with the bad boys of Paran and these Dhimari Mustangs came up to fight. The Me-163 add-on replicates the simple on/off nature of the Walter rocket-motor (although I understand a Komet pilot had to leave a full two minutes before re-lighting) and it's also great fun trying to glide back to base!

[SPINNERS]

North American Shark FGA.2 - No.41 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1975

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D17 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A really nice set of templates exist for the F-100D so I've used them to create an RAF 'Hun' in the classic 1970's tactical scheme with 'B' type national markings. 'Strike Fighters' has made appreciate what a good-looking aircraft the Super Sabre is and it has the A, C and D models covered and I released a mod to cover the little-known RF-100A 'Slick Chick'.

USAFRF-100A03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FFI http://www.spyflight.co.uk/f100.htm

[SPINNERS]

Fairchild Shadow C.3 - No.48 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1967

RAFSHADOWC301 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHADOWC302 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHADOWC303 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHADOWC304 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Just having a random trawl through some of the amazing free add-ons done for Strike Fighters and came across the AC-119G 'Shadow' which I've put into RAF SEAC service with No.48 Squadron.

[SPINNERS]

Martin B-53A Vindicator - USAF Tactical Air Command, 1957

USAFB-53AVINDICATOR01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFB-53AVINDICATOR02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFB-53AVINDICATOR04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFB-53AVINDICATOR05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USAFB-53AVINDICATOR06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

No input from me on this one (except for taking the screenshots) as this was released as a 'what if' today by pappychksix over at Combat Ace. It's such a neat idea, I feel like I've had the day off!

http://combatace.com/topic/70692-b-53a-vindicator/

[SPINNERS]

North American Shark FGA.2 - No.1 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1969

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D16 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKFGA2F-100D15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

North American Shark F.1 - No.56 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, 1957

The failure of the Supermarine Swift and development delays in the English Electric P.1B programme led to an unexpected UK order for the supersonic North American Super Sabre which was eagerly received by an ailing Royal Air Force. The first of 80 F-100K's (service designation: Shark F.1) was received in 1957 and the first squadron to re-equip was No.56 squadron who two years earlier had endured the heartache of operating the Swift F.1 and were soon to encounter teething difficulties with the Shark F.1...

RAFSHARKF1F-100D01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKF1F-100D02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKF1F-100D03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAFSHARKF1F-100D04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

[SPINNERS]

North American J36A - F13, Swedish Flygvapnet, 1965

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Such was the strength of their own aircraft industry I'm really not sure as to why the Swedes would need the Super Sabre but here is the F-100D in Flygvapnet service.

[SPINNERS]

North American J36B - F21, Swedish Flygvapnet, 1974

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've never really mastered any type of splinter camo but this is quite passable and certainly gives an impression of what a 1970's Swedish Super Sabre would have looked like.

[SPINNERS]

North American J36B - F21 (Aggressor Squadron) Swedish Flygvapnet, 1978

The J36 'Bertil' ended it's days as a dissimilar air combat 'aggressor' with F21 until it's retirement in 1980.

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE16 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE17 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNETF-100SSUPERSABRE20 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've taken a lot of time today to create a four-colour 'splinter' template in Viggen colours and it's been a good investment of my time as I can easily switch to other colours and this is a four-colour blue scheme. I was mightily tempted to make this a Finnish bird but will leave that for the future.

[SPINNERS]

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis - 1º Grupo de Caça da Força Aérea Brasileira, 1958

FABMiG-15bis01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FABMiG-15bis02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FABMiG-15bis03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I had no idea what I was going to do tonight and thought it might be something 'splintery' but a new cockpit for the Mig-15 was released today so I decided to make the stock MiG-15bis flyable (it's normally AI only) and make it a Meteor replacement for the Brazilian Air Force. I am aware that the nose gun camera needs a lick of paint!