71chally Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 There are many illustrations, art works, a decal sheet and kit builds of Phantom XV571 of 43 squadron wearing these markings However, all the photo references that I have seen show '571 to only have worn the tail checkers, and not the spine markings. Did it ever appear, or fly, in the full markings as shown in the artwork above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod mcq Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 (edited) Modeldecal sheet 89 had an option for the aircraft with the checks on the spine and there are photos of XV571 with the spine checks in the instructions - all taken in August 1986. It must have been a short-lived scheme as the spine checks were missing when the aircraft appreared at the 1986 Leuchars airshow a month later in September. Edited December 4, 2017 by rod mcq spelling errors 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Although I cannot find evidence at the moment I am sure that 43 Sqn were told to remove the spine markings after either the Station Commander or another higher ranking officer saw the scheme. That is why it was short lived. I will keep on looking to find out more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 3 minutes ago, Jabba said: Although I cannot find evidence at the moment I am sure that 43 Sqn were told to remove the spine markings after either the Station Commander or another higher ranking officer saw the scheme. That is why it was short lived. I will keep on looking to find out more. Almost as if someone realized it made the Phantom look like a giant diesel-powered zebra crossing. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 Thanks for the responses, that confirms that XV571 appeared in those markings, all be it very briefly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Sorry I should have mentioned that there is a colour picture of this aircraft with the spine markings in Dick Wards book on Phantom Sqns published in 1988, plus a black and white one without the spine markings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 4, 2017 Author Share Posted December 4, 2017 Can you believe that I have that book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 I thought I had found some but then saw that they were very nice models! Perhaps DuncanB of this parish could help? In the meantime James just build XV579 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti_K Posted December 4, 2017 Share Posted December 4, 2017 Hello James, at least one photo appears in Patrick Martin's "British Phantoms" (vol. 2, page 93). It shows that XV571 had the checkerboard on the spine on August 1986 and a second photo (September 1987) shows only the tail checkered. Kind Regards, Antti 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 Colour picture in Phantom Squadrons of the RAF and FAA in Richard (Dick) Ward's book. I have also seen an illustraion where the fin checkerboard doesn't go to the top of the fin - finishes at about the same point as the ILS antennae. There's also a picture in the same book where she has 2 strips of checkerboard; both running from front to back of the fin, one at the base of the fin, the other running between the rwr and ILS fairings. Both stips are 2 rows deep. The fin flash is a small rectangle of pale red and blue and situated half way along the rwr fairing unlike the full checkerboard a/c whre it was slanted. There is afighting cocks badge on a white disc on the fin and a large A on the rudder in black. Modeldecal certainly did both becasue I'm looking at them on the display shelf now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 5, 2017 Author Share Posted December 5, 2017 Thanks again guys. There's quite a few pics of '751 in the later (1988?) scheme with the small checks, but really lacking on the above scheme. XV579 certainly looks good there, the black & white checks really standout against the camo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzie Posted December 5, 2017 Share Posted December 5, 2017 This is where i wish digital cameras were available when i were a lad. I have a very hazy memory of seeing this with the full spine and being told that it was only for the anniversary as mentioned in the initial post. Always liked Zulu from across the road better! Arabest, Geoff. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I reckon the VF-51 Eagle and XV574 Z of 111 were the best 2 Phantom markings ever - and that's saying something. (Here we go - thread drift - sorry) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 1 hour ago, iainpeden said: I reckon the VF-51 Eagle and XV574 Z of 111 were the best 2 Phantom markings ever - and that's saying something. (Here we go - thread drift - sorry) I may suggest other USN markings, but I'd be hard pressed to find some better looking Phantom than XV574, truly a masterpiece of aviation markings. Kind of back on topic, 43 Sqn. was part of a squadron exchange with Italian 53 Stormo in 1986 and XV571 was one of the aircrafts involved. Found the picture I was sure I had and it's of course without markings on the spine but still with those on the tail. I remember having tried to handpaint the black/white checkers on the fin of a Matchbox kit immediately after and failing completely... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 The FG.1s certainly seemed to have got the best RAF special markings, IMHO of course! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainpeden Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 A shame that the tiger painted FGR.2 (XV404?) never took to the air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 XV404, hmm a bit too gaudy for me, I often find that less is more! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 Sorry for the of topic question, but any idea what the zap is on the intake splitter plate for XV579. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 I actually have that Hasegawa Decal set in my files. It was considered when i was trying to decide which way to go with my Fg.1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) On 06/12/2017 at 18:52, Robert said: any idea what the zap is Can't quite make it out but it stayed on when the rudder checks were removed and the RWR was fitted to the fin. http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/657/657909.jpg I've added another pic which shows it a bit better. http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/347/347993.jpg Edited December 11, 2017 by Julien Please only link to copyrighted pictures 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonM Posted December 6, 2017 Share Posted December 6, 2017 3 hours ago, Robert said: Sorry for the of topic question, but any idea what the zap is on the intake splitter plate for XV579. Robert Looks like a Fighting Cock on the section nd picture Scimitar has posted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 I did originally wonder if it was a monochrome version of the cartoon fighting cock that appeared on patches etc, but would seem a bit odd to zap their own jet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 The Zap was for the Squadron's 60th anniversary in 1976, and was seen on the splitter plate of several aircraft, including a JG-71 F-4F! It's a stylised Fighting Cock, resplendent in Top Hat and Boxing Gloves, with the text "43 F SQDN 60 TH ANNIVERSARY" encircling it. The best picture I can find is on page 214 of the 3rd Edition of the Sqn history, "The Fighting Cocks" by Jimmy Beedle published in 2011. Gloria Finis! Troffa 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 7, 2017 Author Share Posted December 7, 2017 Excellent info! thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted December 7, 2017 Share Posted December 7, 2017 Thanks for the info Troffa. Robert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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