Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Mirage 4000D - EC 1-6 'Occitanie', Armee de l'air, 1989

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

ADLA MIRAGE 4000.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

No input from me on this one! An exciting new release today has been the mighty Dassault Mirage 4000 - the F-15-sized big brother to the Mirage 2000. The Mirage 4000 for Strike Fighters has been several years in the making and it was certainly being talked about as far back as 2014. Anyway, it's an absolute cracker and comes with the actual prototype scheme and the 'in service' scheme seen here (btw my 'D' designation is speculative). We're promised additional versions and skins to show the aircraft as if it had entered service and was exported to Mirage users like Belgium. Is it me or does that centreline station look very draggy?

[SPINNERS]

BAC Thunderstrike GR.2 - No.2 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1979

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This Lightning F2A style skin is by Sundowner from one of his later advanced TSR.2's which I've applied to an earlier/simpler TSR.2 and knocked up a few 'XZ' serial numbers. Edit: It looks like the undercarriage is missing the right texture - my fault for not checking! I've done a few of these F2A style schemes myself (Starfighter, Phantom, Hunter and Harrier) and reckon the F-100D would look good in it as would the Tornado.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Lightning F.3 - 'The Red Arrows', Central Flying School, Royal Air Force, 1966

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF LIGHTNING F3ra.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Whilst I agree with Kit about giving the Red Arrows the 'lightweight' F.3 I could have saved about 12 hours by using the F.6 for which there is a superb hi-rez 2048x2048 (pixels) template by Sundowner. Because of the different belly and wings I've skinned this one from scratch at 1024x1024 and went a bit rivet crazy - seeing them in my sleep! Anyway, I've gone for the Gnat type fin colours and used red, white and blue on the wings although I did try plain red wings first. The fuselage presents a problem in doing the full length white band as the wings are right in the way so I knocked up a new all white 'treble one' style Lightning flash decal. I think I'll do a 'Black Arrows' version of the F.3 at some time.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Lightning F.3S - F10 Svenska Flygvapnet, 1970

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FLYGVAPNET LIGHTNING F3S.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I needed a break from display teams but still wanted to do a Lightning so chose the odd green and blue Flygvapnet scheme and knocked up some yellow tail codes using what I hope is the correct font (it's actually called 'Flygvapnet 64') and green RedTop missiles.

[SPINNERS]

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Not a 'what if' but this gorgeous Canberra B(I)12 was released yesterday.

[SPINNERS]

English Electric Canberra B(I)12 - No.75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1958

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RNZAF CANBERRA B12.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

From the recent Canberra B(I)12 release there are PRU Blue-ish Peruvian and South African skins and I thought WW2 Kiwi markings would look good including the tall finflash seen on RNZAF Corsairs.

[SPINNERS]

Fiat G91R3 'Gina' - Irish Air Corps, 1966

IAC G91R3 GINA.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAC G91R3 GINA.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAC G91R3 GINA.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IAC G91R3 GINA.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A little something for St. Patrick's Day!

[SPINNERS]

BAC Thunderstrike GR2 - No.16 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1984

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.11 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF THUNDERSTRIKE GR2.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Really short of time tonight so here's an off the peg TSR2 using Sundowner's superb wraparound camo including sharkmouth - no input from me except serial numbers and screenshots. It's also a chance to show the Blue Water 2 missile, something I'm not familiar with so I've just googled it!

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Stingray FRS.1 - 899 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1991

RN MIRAGE 4000.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A bit of a temporary skin this that cheekily uses the grey specular map that is included in the recent Mirage 4000 release for which a proper Aeronavale skin has been promised.

Postscript: A much better RN Mirage 4000 appears in this thread in January 2021.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Lightning F.Mk.51 - Eskadrille 726, Royal Danish Air Force, 1965

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RDAF LIGHTNING F2.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is another of my 'cut and shut' skins taking the green uppers of the F.2A and the silver lowers of the F.2 and I've used a rather high demarcation line also applying this to the specular maps so that the lower sides have a bit more shine to them. Just to ring the changes I thought I'd use a small RDAF roundel and I'm quite pleased with the overall look of this. As it appears unused (except by me!) I wonder what the Lightning F.Mk.51 was?

[SPINNERS]

Boeing RF-112C Thunderstrike - RVAH-6, United States Navy, 1975

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

USN RF-112C THUNDERSTRIKE.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've been a bit busy of late and TSR Tuesday has come around a bit too quickly for me so here's another off the peg set of screenshots with a superb RVAH-6 skin by Sundowner on a Boeing-developed advanced TSR2 with fan engines, revised undercarriage, deleted internal weapons bay, internal guns, TISEO and, on this version, a ventral recce pod à la Vigilante. The RF-112C designation is by me and follows on from the F-112 designation of the 'fleet defender' TSR2's but a more appropriate designation is required me thinks.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Canberra B(I).78 - No.110 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1967

IDF CANBERRA B68.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CANBERRA B68.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CANBERRA B68.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CANBERRA B68.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CANBERRA B68.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There has been a LOT of Canberra activity lately over at Combat Ace which has made me realise just how much I love this aircraft and especially the 'interdictor' versions. Anyway, this is a Peruvian B(I).68 with a dirty black skin that I thought I'd show in IDF service leading the first strikes in the 1967 six-day war.

[SPINNERS]

Panavia Tornado IDS - No.110 Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1985

IDF TORNADO IDF.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF TORNADO IDF.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF TORNADO IDF.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF TORNADO IDF.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF TORNADO IDF.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF TORNADO IDF.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's been so many excellent releases recently that the Tornado revamp got forgotten a bit so here's an Israeli Tornado in the Vautour camo scheme. I'm only able to do this thanks to a superb template that was also released at the same time. I've never liked the MW-1 munitions dispenser but as it was available I thought I'd give it a go.

[SPINNERS]

Hispano Aviación Ha-1112 'Buchon' - Grupo 6, Fuerza Aérea Argentina, 1951

FAA Ha-1112 BUCHON.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA Ha-1112 BUCHON.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA Ha-1112 BUCHON.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAA Ha-1112 BUCHON.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The Ha-1112 has always fascinated me with it's Merlin engine squeezed into the small airframe of the Hurricane and Spitfire's archetypal enemy. It also came into service very late (1954) and incredibly remained in service until 1965 before going onto a successful film career! Anyway, just like the real thing, this beta release is a conversion from a Bf-109 3D model and is slightly rough around the edges around the nose area so I've just tweaked the skin slightly and added some pretty generic Argentinian markings. It does fly nice though!

[SPINNERS]

BAC Canberra B(I)8A - No.213 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1974

RAF CANBERRA B8A.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B8A.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B8A.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B8A.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B8A.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF CANBERRA B8A.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's nothing special about seeing the Canberra in RAF service during the 1970's is there? However, No.213 Squadron were part of the Bruggen strike wing but whereas their partner squadrons were equipped with the Canberra B(I)8 they had to make do with the supposedly interim B(I)6. This 'what if' gives them the B(I)8, has them flying it into the era of 'tactical' national markings and also has them Martel equipped - so it's a triple whif!