Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

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McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom - 3ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, 1994
















Phantom phanatics will recognise the JASDF F-4EJ camo tweaked to fit the shorter nose and bigger ar5e of the Spey-engined F-4K (actually an 'M'). I like this one but need to give the Argentine carrier (the ARA Bernardino Rivadavia) something else - one for next weekend me thinks.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4N Phantom - 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque, Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, 1982











Why I did I overlook the Super Etendard scheme for an Argentine Phantom?!! This is the stock F-4K skin adapted to fit the F-4N (jet nozzles and ECM on the intakes) and it's a close enough match with decals bringing it to life. I'd noticed that my previous 'ARMADA' decal had an M that didn't match real COAN aircraft so I've had to create a new one using the Amarillo font for 'AR' and 'ADA' and then switching to a scaled Meiryo UI Bold for the 'M' - this took me longer than knocking up 26 serial/code numbers!

Over the weekend I'll try and get something else aboard the ARA Bernardino Rivadavia and you've certainly given me some good ideas.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell F-101N Sea Voodoo - 3ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque, Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, 1972













OK. Let's get the fact that the Voodoo was a hot-ship out of the way... this is 'what if' land! It does come with a hook however, albeit one that looks like it needs beefing up a bit - compared to the F-4 Phantom's. Perhaps McDonnell were able to give the Voodoo the same blown flap treatment as the similarly 'T' tailed Buccaneer or the F-104. The Voodoo family is really well represented in 'Strikefighters' with all major variants modelled in superb detail by 'Erikgen'. I like the shape of the F-101 and really should do more Voodoo what if's but perhaps it's overshadowed in my thoughts by the Phantom, as it was in real life.

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McDonnell Douglas F-18N Hornet - 42 Smaldeel, Belgian Air Force, 1984









There's a couple of first-generation F-18's available for 'Strikefighters' and this one already includes a fictional USAF SEA skin so I've simply added Belgian markings to that scheme with a couple of new F-16 codes. The 'N' in F-18N simply stands for NATO and means a common build standard adopted when the F-18 won the 'sale of the century' 

Eagle-eyed viewers will note that the F-18N in the last piccie has no code number but is included because it's just a great shot!

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McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - 3ra Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, 1991









The basic Ferris scheme (from Third Wire's own F-4 skin pack) has been tweaked to feature the Spey nozzles and Marconi ARI.18228 RWR fin cap plus some overspray on the rudder, a black radome and with some pretty toned down decals. Note the false canopy - featured on a couple of the stock Third Wire F-4 skins.

[SPINNERS]

Grumman F-14A Tomcat - 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina, 1982

















Whilst I belatedly used the Super Etendard scheme on the Phantom I'm making no such mistake with the Tomcat... boom! There's an excellent template for the Tomcat so creating the skin didn't take too long and a couple of simple edits have allowed the carriage of the AM39 Exocet on the outer pylons but it is a much heavier missile than the Phoenix.


Available for download at Combat Ace!

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Saunders Roe Zephyr AS.1 - 814 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1960
















Trap!

A very nice Breguet Br.1050 Alizé was released recently in Aeronavale and Indian Navy flavours and I've used the early Aeronavale Alizé to create the Saunders Roe Zephyr AS.1. I still prefer the Gannet! Hunter aficionados will recognise the Mark 6 serial numbers and British carrier fans will note that 'R09' is, of course, the Ark Royal.

[SPINNERS]

Gloster Javelin Mk.54 - 6º Stormo "Diavoli Rossi", Aeronautica Militare, 1966











Anything in classic RAF camo looks good with Aeronautica Militare marking and especially good with a bold Diavoli Rossi fin!

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas Phantom F.3 - No.11 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1985

Following the 1982 Falklands War the UK Government decided to upgrade the Falkland Islands defences by deploying a squadron of Phantom FGR.2's but realising that this would weaken the UK's interceptor force they looked for an interim stop-gap until the Tornado F.3 was available in sufficient numbers. The closeness of the Thatcher-Reagan relationship soon saw a US offer of 48 ex-USN F-4S Phantoms sufficient to not only reform No.74 squadron but also replace the two Lightning squadrons at RAF Binbrook and thus upgrade the UK's air defences.









A subtle one this as it's the slatted-wing F-4S wrapped up in the slightly tweaked stock F-4M camo. Sadly, the F-4S isn't a stock Third Wire aircraft but a superb third-party model is available from which I've removed a few parts (mainly ECM and slimers).

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - VMFA-334 'Falcons', United States Marine Corps, 1974

With all the considerable design effort being put into the marriage of the Phantom airframe and the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine McDonnell Douglas thought it might be a good idea to propose a version to the US Navy and the US Marine Corps to allow the Phantom to operate from the smaller carriers that were limited to F-8E Crusaders. In June 1966 the designation F-4L was given to the proposed Spey-powered Phantom and in October 1966 an initial order for 130 F-4L's was made, followed by an unexpected export order of 30 F-4L's for the Royal Australian Navy.

Deliveries to the US Navy commenced in February 1969 with VF-24 becoming the first operational squadron. By this time the wisdom of operating such a relatively large aircraft on the older, smaller carriers was seriously questioned and most F-4L's served aboard the larger carriers or with land-based units.

When the decision was made not to re-equip the USMC 'fighter-attack' Phantom squadrons with the hugely expensive Grumman F-14A Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas pushed hard for low-rate production of the F-4L to continue specifically for USMC use and they were eventually successful meaning that production continued until 1976 with an eventual  total of 306 F-4L's being built. Apart from Australia, F-4L's also served with the Royal Air Force where 15 ex-USN F-4L's were sold to the UK Government to allow the formation of an additional home-based Phantom squadron to release a squadron for the defence of the Falkand Isles.











First off, let me confess that the backstory is a repeat that I've just tweaked slightly. I can't believe that I've never shown the Phantom with RAF Camo and USMC markings but that's exactly what this simple 'what if' is - very little work. I'm not too sure if VMFA-334 are transitioning from the Phantom to the Harrier or vice-versa!

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - VF-51 'Screaming Eagles', United States Navy, 1979







This very colourful VF-51 skin is included in the F-4 Phantom II USN/USMC Skin Pack and needs a tiny amount of work to fit the F-4K and can also fit the Marconi ARI.18228 RWR fin cap with a bit of extra work.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - VF-102 'Diamondbacks', United States Navy, 1972















Thought I'd try the VF-102 skin on the earlier F-4K - it looks a little less British but the Speys are still there!

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - VF-1 'Wolfpack', United States Navy, 1973









It's hard to believe that VF-1 were inactive between 1945 and 1972 - I'll have to rectify that at some point! This VF-1 Phantom joins my F-111B, Tornado F-19C and MiG-23 in 'Wolfpack' markings but the Phantom nose is a bit too cluttered to have the nose stripe used on the others and I think it looks pretty cool without it.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4L Phantom - VF-1 'Wolfpack', United States Navy, 1973









Rudder changed to grey and also radome changed to cream on piccies 2, 3 and 4.

[SPINNERS]

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom - Grupo 8 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-4C'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 cutoff 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 remain in service.











This is the stock F-4C with a heavily tweaked JASDF skin and some Grupo 8 de Caza markings including a customised Phantom tail marking (with the Phantom replacing the Mirage). Most Grupo 8 de Caza Mirage piccies show I-0XX serials so I've a small batch of decals but loaded for strike missions perhaps they should be C-0XX serials.