RF-84F Thunderflash, GAF camo repaint

[Wild Bill Kelso]

After struggling with the MAAM Dakota long enough, I was in the mood for this nice hairblower:

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/wildbillkelso_berlin/EB344_1.jpg

1. The Luftwaffe RF-84F
In March 1958, the first RF-84F went into Luftwaffe service at the Waffenschule 50 at Erding. About 108 Thunderflashes were delivered to the Luftwaffe.
They saw service with
- Waffenschule 50 ("BD-" markings)
- Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 "Immelmann" ("EA-" markings) and
- Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 "Panther" ("EB-" markings)
The depicted 'EB-344' (RF-84F-25-RE, USAF serial #52-7346) was in use with AG 52 from 1959 to 1966 and is now displayed at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-Gatow.
Pics can be found here:
http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/Thunder84.html
http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?cn=52-7346&manu=

2. Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 "Panther"
The AG 52 (reconnaissance squadron) was found in 1959 at Erding, later bases were Eggebek (1960-1964) and Leck (1964-1993).
In the aftermath of the RF-84F Thunderflash, RF-104G and RF-4E were in use. The squadron was disbanded in 1993.

Prior installation of the ALPHASIM freeware F-84F/RF-84F pack,
filename f-84f_04.zip at http://flightsim.com is required.

Just in case you'd like to do your own repaint of this bird with different markings, I've included the unmarked texture files ('pure' BMP format) of the nose section and the tailfin. Feel free to use them.

http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt112/wildbillkelso_berlin/EB344_2.jpg


A big "thank you!" goes to ALPHASIM for releasing this fine aircraft as freeware to the community.

Uploaded to flightsim and SOH.

Have fun!

Cheers,
Markus.

[Rubberlegs]

Thanks Wild Bill.... Nice repaint effort on a nice looking 50's era aircraft! We saw a 'few' of these birds on our AirDiv transit-ramp during the late 50's-early 60's. Jokingly believed their LR Tanks contained
an addition 1000ft of 'rolled-up portable-runway'

Walt
Fly High..Punch Holes in the Sky

[fsafranek]

Excellent. Thank you. :applause:
:ernae:

[delta_lima]

Markus - oustanding!!

I love the RF - and this version is a perfect "nifty fifties" missing link in my sim. Seeing this repaint, and the striking resemblance of the camo pattern to the RCAF Sabres of the same period, makes me wonder what if Canada had purchased RF-84s for it's German commitments during that period? That would have certainly fit within the recce/strike mandate that future German-based Starfighters would serve. Food for thought ...

Anyway - brilliant bird. I have all the USAF and NATO repaints for this bird, and I'm eagerly awaiting this too.

cheers,

dl

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Thank you for your kind words, gentlemen!

@ Walt:
I love those odd-looking tubes on this bird! They always appear like intended to be dropped off, but being stopped half way down...
The portable runway seems like a good idea - fully loaded, some more 1000ft aren't bad to get her airborne...

@ Frank:
I'm very glad about your judgement! Beginning this repaint, I had to overcome some hesitation to splash my colours over your marvellous metal textures - so much the more I feel reassured that you like the result.
I hope you can imagine how many trials it took to get the correct two colours on those wing fences...

@ DL:
Funny thing about the resemblance between the CAF and the GAF camo patterns. But comparing the early GAF Mk5 Sabres (RCAF camo, "blue belly") and the Mk6 in GAF colours ("RAL" tones) points out that the pattern is slightly different.
The colours itself do differ too, and I emphasized this difference with my Sabre repaints.
I agree, a "what if" repaint of a RCAF Thunderflash would be interesting...

Cheers,
Markus.

[Rubberlegs]

Thanks Wild Bill..! Just downloaded your repaint....super!
And if you are really thinking of slapping a few 'Red Maple Leafs' ( old RCAF style) onto this
classic airframe....don't hesitate.. that's what makes this FS hobby so enjoyable. ...
variety is the spice of.....! So please do!

Walt
Fly high....Punch Holes in the Sky