Re: Spinners' Strike Fighters Thread

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Stingray FRS.1 - 899 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1988

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN MIRAGE 4000RN.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I have shown a Fleet Air Arm Mirage 4000 before created using the specular map (broadly giving a MSG scheme) but the results weren't brilliant. This time I've tried tinting the normal skin (very well detailed btw) to something approaching EDSG and overpainted the national insignia. There's a lot of French stencilling on this skin so don't look too close!

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Stingray FRS.2 - 807 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1991

RN STINGRAY FRS2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the two-seater M2 version of the Mirage 4000M. I never find two-seaters more attractive than the single-seater and, like the F-15E, the Mirage 4000M is no exception and I'm not a fan of the tinted rear canopy either so I might do another FAA squadron without the tint. Anyway, this was all made in the same way I did the single-seater; overpaint the national markings, tint the skin to something approaching EDSG and I did tackle some of the more obvious French stencilling including adding my own 'rescue' arrows to replace the 'Sauvetage' arrows. Overall, quite pleased and I love the big 807NAS scimitar.

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Stingray FRS.2 - 800 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1991

RN STINGRAY FRS2.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN STINGRAY FRS2.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The final Stingray for now but I will re-visit the superb Mirage 4000 at some time. This one has a single colour cockpit canopy, 800 Naval Air Squadron markings, Sea Eagles and pale roundels which don't quite work on EDSG. BTW the 3D modeller references the aircraft length as being 17.54m for the single-seater and 18.20m for the two-seater - barely two foot difference.

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Aviation Mirage GR.4 - No.14 Squadron, RAF Germany, 1988

RAF MIRAGE GR4.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE GR4.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE GR4.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE GR4.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF MIRAGE GR4.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There are single-seat and two-seat Mirage 2000's available for Strike Fighters created by different 3D modellers and this is the two-seat Mirage 2000N by 'Amokfloo' dressed up as an RAF strike/attack aircraft in service with RAFG. This uses the original Armée de l'air skin also by 'Amokfloo' and I've not attempted to remove the French stencilling but the No.14 squadron markings really do suit it and I've spent some time doing a nicely shaped finflash for the Mirage 2K and saved some time by re-using serial numbers from another project.

[SPINNERS]

Gloster Griffin T.1 - No.4 Flying Training School, RAF Flying Training Command, 1964

RAF GRIFFIN T1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GRIFFIN T1.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I was taking a look at the Combat Ace downloads section and came across the Aero L-29 Delfin, an aircraft I haven't looked at since 2012 when I did an indigenous Israeli trainer/light attack machine (page 59). This time around I thought I'd create an RAF trainer using one of the silver skins that just needed a small amount of overpainting and then decals for a No.4 FTS machine with yellow trainer bands. Whilst I've selected Gloster as the manufacturer I am seeing a bit of the Saunders-Roe SR. 53 in that fin area!

[SPINNERS]

North American Shark FGA.2 - Air Fighting Development Squadron, Royal Air Force, 1960

RAF SHARK FGA2.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHARK FGA2.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHARK FGA2.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SHARK FGA2.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Over the years I've done quite a few RAF F-100's and used the stock silver skin to knock-up this AFDS 'Shark' - I'm not liking the twin red 'engine' lines though.

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Panavia Condor - 117 'First Jet' Squadron, Israeli Air Force, 1983

IDF CONDOR.13 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CONDOR.14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CONDOR.15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CONDOR.16 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

IDF CONDOR.17 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This photoset is from early May 2020 but somehow got missed. To recap, the Condor is a 3D model by 'Cocas' and I believe it's based on a McDonnell Douglas study into a single-engine delta wing F-15. 

[SPINNERS]

British Aerospace Sea Hawk FRS.51 - 300 Indian Naval Air Squadron, Indian Navy, 1984

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

INAS SEA HAWK FRS51.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I've been trying to get some of my 16,000 images on Photobucket (aka blackmailing scumbags) moved over to Flickr and I came across my Royal Navy Hawk 200 and thought it would make a quick and easy Indian Sea Hawk FRS.51 and it's been a doddle although I've no real knowledge of INAS serials so there's a bit of artistic licence there.

[SPINNERS]

British Aerospace Sea Hawk FRS.1 - 893 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Navy, 1988

RN SEA HAWK FRS1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN SEA HAWK FRS1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN SEA HAWK FRS1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RN SEA HAWK FRS1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

The 3D modeller of the Hawk 200 thoughtfully included a template so I've done a very simple overall EDSG scheme with tactical roundels and black code numbers, serials, 'E' (for Elizabeth) and 'Royal Navy' with just 893's Sea Vixen era fin marking adding a splash of colour. You'll note that I'm a Sidewinder short upon my return to the HMS Queen Elizabeth (CVN-68 standing in for CVA-01) after a successful encounter with a MiG-23. I couldn't use my Skyflash as I'd forgotten what keyboard key I've assigned to the radar! Whilst the 3D model does not include a tailhook you can add a 'virtual' hook that works just fine.

[SPINNERS]

BAC Goliath C.1 - No.30 Squadron, RAF Strike Command, 1986

RAF GOLIATH C1.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GOLIATH C1.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GOLIATH C1.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GOLIATH C1.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF GOLIATH C1.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

There's been a flurry of transport aircraft activity at Combat Ace recently with the IL-76 'Candid' and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II being released recently and there's the promise of the C-133 Cargomaster and a H.P. Hastings following quite soon. Sweet! Anyway, this is the IL-76 masquerading as the BAC Goliath C.1 and clearly coming from the Vickers side of the BAC family! The 'Candid' 3D model is by the prolific 'Veltro2K' and contains no less than 28 skins all by the equally prolific 'paulopanz'. This is one of his grey IAF skins just given a slight tint by me (darkened by 15%) and some markings loosely based on the RAF C-17 Globemaster III but I've not copied the full serial number being repeated on the nose (yuk!) and just used the last three even though this required making even more decals.

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Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-6 - No.302 Squadron, Polish Air Force, 1947

PWL Fw190A-6.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PWL Fw190A-6.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PWL Fw190A-6.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PWL Fw190A-6.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

PWL Fw190A-6.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

A really sweet Fw 190A-6 by 'Torno' from Argentina was released recently and it thoughtfully includes a plain camo skin (i.e. with no painted on markings) so I just had to knock up a new checkerboard insignia and a few fuselage number decals to make this Polish 'butcher bird'.

[SPINNERS]

Dassault Super Mystère B.2 - 8th Squadron, Lebanese Air Force, 1967

Dassault's steady evolution of the Ouragan and Mystère family culminated in the excellent Super Mystère B.2 which entered production in 1957. Featuring a new thin wing with 45° of sweep the Super Mystère B.2 was powered by the SNECMA Atar 101G and was the first Western European production aircraft to exceed Mach 1 in level flight. Dassault received a production order for 220 Super Mystère B.2's but a combination of defence cuts and the dazzling potential of the forthcoming Mirage III saw the Armée de l'Air order cut to 178 and then to 158. An entirely expected Israeli order for 24 Super Mystère B.2's restored production orders to 178 and Dassault's salesmen pitched the Super Mystère B.2 to many Middle-East and Sub-Saharan African countries but only the Lebanese Republic showed any interest.

After the end of the 1958 Lebanon crisis a new government of national unity was formed under President Fuad Cheha and the returning Prime Minister Rashid Karami. Whilst grateful to the United States (who had sent 5,000 United States Marines to Beirut during the crisis) Lebanon's french-speaking Prime Minister Rashid Karami had warm relations with the French Government and supported the Lebanese Air Force's request for modern jets to replace the obsolete de Havilland Vampires. This led to the purchase of 18 Super Mystère B.2's for delivery in 1960 with these aircraft becoming the last of their type to roll off the Dassault production line at Mérignac. Entering service in March 1960 with the 8th Squadron of the Lebanese Air Force based at Rayak Air Base the Super Mystère B.2's were popular with Lebanese pilots. In 1962 a Lebanese Super Mystère B.2 shot down an Israeli jet over Kfirmishki. In 1967 two Lebanese Super Mystère B.2's were shot down on the first day of the Six-Day War by four Israeli Air Force Mirage IIICJ's. Lebanon played no part in the 1973 October War and the Super Mystère B.2's were retired in September, 1983.

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

LAF SUPER MYSTERE B2L.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

Whilst migrating from Photobucket to Flickr I'm running a lengthening ideas list and for the Super Mystère I wrote down Iran and Iraq thinking that at least one of them had operated the later Mirage III but, no, neither did so I switched to Lebanon and this is my first Lebanese 'what if'. I've used stock insignia and the serials seen on their Hunters but the 8th Squadron nosebars are right out of me own 'ed! Of course, I can still do an Iran and/or Iraqi Super Mystère so they will stay on the list.

[SPINNERS]

Hawker Hunter T.61 - Escuadrón Aéreo de Pelea 200, Fuerza Aérea Mexicana, 1981

FAM HUNTER T61.01 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAM HUNTER T61.02 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAM HUNTER T61.03 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAM HUNTER T61.04 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAM HUNTER T61.05 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

FAM HUNTER T61.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

I was given this twin-tub Hunter back last summer to play with and although it's a beta (I think it's an FSX conversion) it flies real nice even with a stand-in A-6 Intruder cockpit c/w refuelling probe spoiling the view! I managed to overspray the painted-on markings to create a blank camo skin and I thought I'd use the decals from the Mexican single-seater I did nearly three years ago now (Page 123) to save some time. But no. This one fought me all the way with decals stubbornly refusing to show up on the left wing despite me trying all the mesh names under the sun so I had to revert to painting the FAM triangles directly onto the skin - not my preferred method. The rudder and all other markings are decals though and this brings back fond memories of the Matchbox F.6/T.8 kit of the 1970's.

[SPINNERS]

Canadair Sabre FB.6 - No.28 Squadron, RAF South East Asia Command, 1959

RAF SABRE FB6.06 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SABRE FB6.07 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SABRE FB6.08 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SABRE FB6.09 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

RAF SABRE FB6.10 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This Canadair CL-13B Mk6 Sabre is from 2009 but is based on an even earlier 3D model. The original and the updated are superb but the updated has fantastic skins that just needed a little touch of overspray to make a nice canvas for SEAC markings. I might do a No.20 Squadron machine with normal RAF markings or perhaps 1970's tactical markings.

[SPINNERS]

SOKO Komete - 101st Fighter Squadron, Serbian Air Force and Air Defence, 2010

In May 1982 the government of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, led by Petar Stambolić, announced the ambitious 'Novi Avion' programme with the aim of designing and manufacturing an air superiority fighter to supplement and eventually replace the Yugoslavian Air Force's substantial MiG-21 force. SOKO (the state aircraft manufacturer) were awarded a design study contract and by 1984 their proposal had crystallized into a single-engine, supersonic fighter aircraft featuring a delta wing with a canard foreplane. The 'Novi Avion' programme seemed to mimic the Republic's move away from Communism to a market economy by becoming a much more capable multi-role aircraft and therefore more attractive to potential export customers. Whilst this did mean an unavoidable escalation in aircraft size and weight it did mean that the excellent Lyulka AL-31F engine (as used in the Sukhoi Su-27) would be a perfect match.

In May 1986 the Yugoslavian Government ordered 150 'Novi Avion' aircraft to replace both its MiG-21 and Soko J-21 Jastreb fleets and the following month saw SOKO rename the aircraft as the SOKO Kometa (Comet). Development moved smoothly during the remainder of the decade and many elements of the aircraft programme such as production facilities, mock-up, cockpit simulator, etc. had been constructed. However the start of the new decade saw the political situation in Yugoslavia worsen and by 1991 Yugoslavia had begun to disintegrate into several smaller nations. Putting a brave face on the situation, SOKO announced a postponement of the programme but also an intent to continue "as soon as possible". Production facilities were partially dismantled and relocated to Serbia with SOKO absorbing Utva Aviation Industry (based in Pančevo) who had previously worked with SOKO in the manufacturing of the J-22 Orao and also the G-4 Super Galeb.

On April 28th, 1992 the two remaining republics of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro, formed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and President Dobrica Ćosić wasted no time in re-launching the Kometa programme. Behind the scenes, SOKO were instructed to simplify certain aspects of the Kometa which included reducing the number of weapon stations from 11 down to 7 by eliminating the four body pylons. The UN economic sanctions imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were bypassed largely by switching to Chinese avionics. SOKO worked miracles in assembling the first Kometa prototype during 1997 although the first flight would have to wait until May 1st, 1998 when Major General Dragan Mihajlović lifted off from Batajnica Air Base. In 2003 the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia became officially known as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro but by 2006 Montenegro left the union following a referendum leading to the full independence of Serbia and Montenegro. This political instability slowed the programme even further and it was not until June 5th, 2006 that the Kometa entered service with the 101st Squadron of the Serbian Air Force.

SERBIA KOMETA.12 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SERBIA KOMETA.13 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SERBIA KOMETA.14 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

SERBIA KOMETA.15 by Spinners1961, on Flickr

This is the Chengdu J-10A 'Vigorous Dragon' (sounds like a Viagra knock-off to me) masquerading as the Novi Avion a real world project that died the death when Yugoslavia disintegrated in the early 1990's. Some images of the Novi Avion show a Eurofighter Typhoon style intake whilst most show something resembling a single-engine Dassault Rafale. The J-10 is only slightly longer than the Novi Avion but is much heavier hence my backstory of a bigger aircraft essentially due to mission creep. Given the political situation there's absolutely no way this could ever have happened (I haven't even mentioned the hyperinflation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of 2% per hour and 116.546 billion percent per year) but I quite enjoyed weaving a few elements of the real world into this backstory.

It won't surprise you to know that the 3D model originates from China but I removed the bolt-on refuelling probe and the weapon stations referred to in my backstory. The nose numbers take ages to do and I might re-use all of the decals on something else in Serbian colours.