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Post by Strike70 on Apr 29, 2018 22:34:21 GMT 12
Hi everyone I've just been playing around with some art work for a possible "What if" RNZAF F/A-18F Super Hornet. I know the whole F-16 saga is still raw in peoples minds but I thought this might help to put a put of a different slant on it just for a bit of fun. The Super Hornet is purely a combat ready aircraft and therefore there are no specific trainer versions of the aircraft however some of the very first aircraft off the production did have dual stick and some later ones still had the mount still installed. Currently with the Block II variants and the coming Block III, I am unaware of whether or not this feature is still fitted to the aircraft therefore my drafted art work caters for a Block II trainer aircraft for 14 Sqn and an updated combat ready Block III airframe in the markings of 75 Sqn with options that would be specific to the RNZAFs requirements. Features of each aircraft would be as follows: NZF/A-18K Block II Trainer - A standard Block two airframe with the 20mm canon and the wing mounted weapon pylons and fittings removed however all of the electronic firing system and symbology would remain for training purposes. Only the wing tip missile rails and centreline rack would remain in order to carry missile training rounds, targeting pods and telemetry pods for training use only. NZF/A-18K2 Block III Combat Ready - New generation airframe proposed in the coming years (as per actual media releases this past month) which include the new 19 inch cockpit display screens and added stealth characteristics. Externally all wing hardpoints and hardware will be standard to the current Super Hornet. RNZAF Specific equipment will utilise the ALQ-218 wing tip pods, SATCOM and Interferometers from the EA-18G Growler package but with out the wiring for the current ALQ-99 Jammer pods. An option could be made available to pre-wire the jets for the next generation jammer pod and share commonality with the RAAF Growlers. Other stores can include the SHARP Reconnaisance pod and the air to air refueling pod. That's about it but remember this is just a bit of fun and possibly something I may build in 1/72 or 1/48 scale later on. Thoughts on the scheme would be appreciated.
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Post by mumbles on Apr 29, 2018 22:55:53 GMT 12
Maybe a Taiaha instead of the fern for the 2Sqn jet and spine flashes (like the RAAF Classic Hornets) instead of the squadron titling?
Cool idea
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Post by Strike70 on Apr 29, 2018 23:28:09 GMT 12
Maybe a Taiaha instead of the fern for the 2Sqn jet and spine flashes (like the RAAF Classic Hornets) instead of the squadron titling? Cool idea Funny you should say that as I was playing around with the 14 Sqn patch to capture the winged Taiaha but my graphics program wasn’t playing ball hence I went with the simple fern. I will have another play and will include the red and blue tail flash.
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Post by mcmaster on Apr 30, 2018 14:22:42 GMT 12
Looks really cool! Agree with mumbles for 14 sqn the winged Taiaha probably would looks better, (and to differentiate with ANZ) Is it possible to stylise it rather than copy from the crest? Same with 75 sqn. I like the fin styles that have a profile eg bird cat etc facing the direction of flight. Maybe you can do something like that with the Tiki? Any chance of a E model? ;-)
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Post by Strike70 on Apr 30, 2018 16:55:03 GMT 12
Looks really cool! Agree with mumbles for 14 sqn the winged Taiaha probably would looks better, (and to differentiate with ANZ) Is it possible to stylise it rather than copy from the crest? Same with 75 sqn. I like the fin styles that have a profile eg bird cat etc facing the direction of flight. Maybe you can do something like that with the Tiki? Any chance of a E model? ;-) Thanks for the feedback. This is a first for me doing this and probably a one off for doing art work for a possible decals sheet. I've had similar feedback from a post I put up on Facebook. I am going to be changing the 14Sqn design to include the Winged Taiaha but as for stylising it, I'm reluctant to do that in order to maintain the standard style of other US Navy and RAAF Hornets which would include the standard unit emblem apart from the roundals and a few other details that make them stand out as being from other units. I will see what I can do with a little research and some artistic license!! I'm also going to include a tail flash of some description like that on the RAAF Legacy Hornets or RAF Typhoons/Tornados just to give it something different from the others. I also think that a fern of some description should be on the design somewhere as it is a very identifiable symbol of NZ but perhaps a more discrete version of. For the 75Sqn jet, haven't really decided yet but a squadron emblem will be on there in a smaller and perhaps different style and I agree with your comment that they should be facing the direction of flight. As you can understand, this was just a spur of the moment idea and will be a working progress for a while. When I get to a point where I am satisfied with the design and I get a handful of similar feedback which suggests the same by others, I may consider employing the services of a decal manufacturer to print the decals in 1/72 and 1/48 scales. Thanks anyway for you feedback, it is useful NOTE TO ALL: Please no suggestions yet of decal printers/companies as I my not even get that far plus I have my own preferences based on previous experiences and overall quality of printing.
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Post by mcmaster on Apr 30, 2018 17:45:01 GMT 12
Regarding the RAAF classics the 3 sqn aircraft for many years had the crest (old style winged bomb) in the spine flash and a southern cross on the tail. In more recent times (and adopted by the 3 sqn F35s) is a eagle with a bomb on the tail. Its seems a mainstream marking now and not a one off. I think it looks great but I'm not sure of its history. Just seems someone got approved a modern version of a winged bomb! Looking forward to seeing how you go ...great effort again.
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Post by Strike70 on Apr 30, 2018 18:59:59 GMT 12
Maybe a Taiaha instead of the fern for the 2Sqn jet and spine flashes (like the RAAF Classic Hornets) instead of the squadron titling? Cool idea Just a note - thanks for pointing out that I'd used the 2 Sqn crest on what was intended to be a 14 Sqn crest. Just spotted it while editing the design.
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Post by Strike70 on May 1, 2018 20:40:30 GMT 12
Thanks mumbels and mcmaster for your feedback on my RNZAF Super Hornet art work. After a few days of playing around with different things I have expanded the idea in to 4 schemes to provides options should this go forward for a set of decals. The scheme no consist of: NZF/A-18K2 of 14 Squadron line jet in low visibility markings. Scheme now includes a tail flash, stylised Kia and squadron flash and crest on the spine. NZF/A-18K2 of 14 Squadron, Squadron Leaders aircraft in high visibility markings NZF/A-18K3 of 75 Squadron line jet in low visibility markings. I simply used the head of the Tiki for this one on the tail but included the full thing on a flash on the spine. Again a tail flash has been included and squadron crest on the nose. NZF/A-18K3 of 75 Squadron, Squadron Leaders aircraft in high visibility
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Post by mcmaster on May 1, 2018 20:52:54 GMT 12
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Post by mcmaster on May 1, 2018 20:54:17 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 1, 2018 21:28:53 GMT 12
I am confused by the finflashes. You have mixed operational roundels with high viz finflashes on some aircraft. And for that matter operational aircraft generally don't wear finflashes of any sort these days. You don't see them on the RAAF and RCAF Hornets for example.
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Post by Strike70 on May 1, 2018 21:39:15 GMT 12
I am confused by the finflashes. You have mixed operational roundels with high viz finflashes on some aircraft. And for that matter operational aircraft generally don't wear finflashes of any sort these days. You don't see them on the RAAF and RCAF Hornets for example. The fin flashes were just a trial. They are still in use on RAF Typhoons and Tornados but I'm going to take them off of this artwork as they look out of place. The NZ Flag and the squadron emblem seems sufficient.
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Post by Strike70 on May 1, 2018 21:40:00 GMT 12
I still have a few minor touch ups to do so will try to change the resolution.
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Post by flyinkiwi on May 2, 2018 8:45:06 GMT 12
Do you think NZ would adopt the Canadian idea (I think the USMC do it as well) of painting a false canopy on the bottom of the fuselage?
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Post by mcmaster on May 2, 2018 9:49:36 GMT 12
Id be really surprised if a false canopy would be applied in this scenario and Im interested to see if the Canuks apply them to our classics when they get them. AFAIK modern short range missiles can shoot whereever the pilot is looking irrespective of if his target is turning away or towards him. The days of having to get on his tail are gone. If anything id think the false canopy increases chance of training accidents. Happy to defer to those more in the know however.
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Post by mcmaster on May 2, 2018 9:55:10 GMT 12
I am confused by the finflashes. You have mixed operational roundels with high viz finflashes on some aircraft. And for that matter operational aircraft generally don't wear finflashes of any sort these days. You don't see them on the RAAF and RCAF Hornets for example. For the RAAF I think the aussie flag replaced the finflash on the tail in the 90s. And the flag has gone grey too. Assume your kiwi flag will have to go low vis too.
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Post by mumbles on May 2, 2018 10:50:39 GMT 12
Maybe a Taiaha instead of the fern for the 2Sqn jet and spine flashes (like the RAAF Classic Hornets) instead of the squadron titling? Cool idea Funny you should say that as I was playing around with the 14 Sqn patch to capture the winged Taiaha but my graphics program wasn’t playing ball hence I went with the simple fern. I will have another play and will include the red and blue tail flash. Meanwhile I hadn't even noticed you were talking about 14 rather than 2 in the text! A Black Falcon on the fin would be cool
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Post by mumbles on May 2, 2018 10:58:46 GMT 12
I am confused by the finflashes. You have mixed operational roundels with high viz finflashes on some aircraft. And for that matter operational aircraft generally don't wear finflashes of any sort these days. You don't see them on the RAAF and RCAF Hornets for example. Hi-vis is the new lo-vis Granted these are boss/CAG jets but they are still line aircraft
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Post by Strike70 on May 2, 2018 12:24:27 GMT 12
I am confused by the finflashes. You have mixed operational roundels with high viz finflashes on some aircraft. And for that matter operational aircraft generally don't wear finflashes of any sort these days. You don't see them on the RAAF and RCAF Hornets for example. For the RAAF I think the aussie flag replaced the finflash on the tail in the 90s. And the flag has gone grey too. Assume your kiwi flag will have to go low vis too. That would be my thinking too, to remove the fin flash and keep the flag. In order make a kiwi bird more identifiable from an Aussie bird, I will keep the flag in colour.
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Post by mcmaster on May 2, 2018 14:14:49 GMT 12
Im wondering if the concept of a CAG special aircraft has been used much in Aus or NZ. That said I bet the CO likes to fly the special anniversary marking a/c if hes going to a airshow etc. I can only think of in very early days Aussie hornets being marked up for the CO that was 3 sqn who had a cobra mouth (callsign) applied to one a/c and the other being a top hat and cane for 75 squadrons CO ..the late Ross Fox.
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