3 Squadron 100th anniversary Typhoon

[stratocaster]

Is that ASDA Green?

[Duxfordian]

Looks like it was knocked up in somebodys lunch break. When was the last SPECIAL RAF special paint job? The spotty Jaguar prob in 2005?

[DanO1978]

This is rough as a black-and-white woodland creature's proverbial, but surely simplicity is key when it comes to these kind of things?



Sorry, I'm meant to be revising for my finals and everything seems more interesting, including mucking around on Photoshop and hoovering my room.

That's really nice Ben!

Agree that simplicity is the way to approach these tails. RAF schemes seem to get bogged down in adding lettering, when the whole idea is surely to create a striking visual.

[SHARFA2]

There was a 3Sq harrier with anniversary tail (perhaps 90 years) but I can't seem to find any images at the moment.

[MikeH]

Inevetable sadly when the base of the fin isn't perpendicular to the ground.

As you probably mean parallel that's a bit of a red herring. The squadron badge and serial appear to be aligned with a datum (probably one used to build the aircraft?) My point is that all the extra markings appear to be aligned with nothing in particular least of all each other.

[canon55k]

I see all the moaning still go'es on, lets be thankfull that the cash poor RAF Crew have done something to make the go to sleep grey look a little bit brighter.
Well done to all those involved.
Look forward to seeing it in the 'flesh'.

[MikeH]

I see all the moaning still go'es on,

Never confuse constructive criticism with moaning- I quite like the scheme really. Its just has a bit ship/ ha'p'orth of tar concern.

[Craig]

Inevetable sadly when the base of the fin isn't perpendicular to the ground.

As you probably mean parallel that's a bit of a red herring. The squadron badge and serial appear to be aligned with a datum (probably one used to build the aircraft?) My point is that all the extra markings appear to be aligned with nothing in particular least of all each other.

An interesting diagram, but you assume the fighter bars are parallel to the ground. As far as I'm aware they're not...

[MikeH]

An interesting diagram, but you assume the fighter bars are parallel to the ground. As far as I'm aware they're not...

I'm no expert but I don't believe aircraft are designed with the ground line as a datum - why would they? The lines I added were parallel to the existing markings applied to normally marked Typhoons. I assume these markings are applied parallel to the horizontal reference datum used in design.

[Craig]

An interesting diagram, but you assume the fighter bars are parallel to the ground. As far as I'm aware they're not...

I'm no expert but I don't believe aircraft are designed with the ground line as a datum - why would they? The lines I added were parallel to the existing markings applied to normally marked Typhoons. I assume these markings are applied parallel to the horizontal reference datum used in design.

Probably not, but as yourself I have no idea! I was basing this theory purely on I doubt "top brass" would want the markings looknig wonky on the parades/anniversary celebrations, when the aircraft will almost certainly be a ground exhibit/backdrop, and looking at the pics on the site where the aircraft is on the ground they do look "level". As for the differing angle for the "1912" numerals, I can only assume it's because it's so near the spine?

[MikeH]

As a rule of thumb if it looks right it is right, and this don't. I think you credit their Airships with greater perception than they exhibit.

[Ben H]

But then again the Harrier is distinctly nose-up on the ground, whilst the F.3 and GR.4 are if anything a touch nose-down. But if special schemes were applied in order to be level with the horizon, they'd look plain stupid.

[RRconway]

An interesting diagram, but you assume the fighter bars are parallel to the ground. As far as I'm aware they're not...

I'm no expert but I don't believe aircraft are designed with the ground line as a datum - why would they? The lines I added were parallel to the existing markings applied to normally marked Typhoons. I assume these markings are applied parallel to the horizontal reference datum used in design.

You may well be right Mike.
For example, in the world of Boeing airliners the fuselage frames are refered to as 'x' distance from the datum at the front.
However the datum point at the front is actually at a theoretical point in mid-air ahead of the aircrafts nose, so in fact it isn't measured from any 'physical' point at all.

By the way, I quite like the special markings

Cheers,
Jeff.

[Craig]

But then again the Harrier is distinctly nose-up on the ground, whilst the F.3 and GR.4 are if anything a touch nose-down. But if special schemes were applied in order to be level with the horizon, they'd look plain stupid.

A very fair comment, but if you look at the first pic on the thread, the stripes are level with the horizon on the ground...

[Ben H]

A very fair comment, but if you look at the first pic on the thread, the stripes are level with the horizon on the ground...

Exactly my point

[IanOlder]

Good to see some colour on the front liners (and for the record here's a small well done) but I'm also in the "its ok but..." camp.

[Craig]

A very fair comment, but if you look at the first pic on the thread, the stripes are level with the horizon on the ground...

Exactly my point

Just trying to find logic in it, there must be some (right...? ) and the "so it looks nice and level on the ground for parades etc" is the best I can come up with.


All said and done though I do quite like it, at least it's a proper special tail, and it's the best we've seen for a fair while. The last few Tornados have been pretty poor, especially compared to the superb set for the 90 anniversaries. Something to build on!

[FGR2]

Most colourful Typhoon of any airforce so far, I think it will probably look better in the flesh on a sunny day.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Lose the red. Green middle with smaller yellow top and bottom, as per the roundel bars. Or half and half, as per the shield on the tails.

Something like this is what I had in mind...



You could put the Larkhill text along the spine, and have the dates (1912, 2012) above and below the scrolls on the rudder.

[DanO1978]

Excellent, Dan. Simple, and striking. The RAF's obsession with cluttering up these schemes with lettering lets them down.

Perhaps next time, they'll give you a shout...

[st24]

Lose the red. Green middle with smaller yellow top and bottom, as per the roundel bars. Or half and half, as per the shield on the tails.

Something like this is what I had in mind...



You could put the Larkhill text along the spine, and have the dates (1912, 2012) above and below the scrolls on the rudder.

Too much yellow Keep the thicker green with thin yellow edging on spine and fin and you've cracked it.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Yellow top and bottom you mean, like the 2002 Harrier tail? A yellow spine too?

That one above is 'inspired' by the standard shield they carry on the fin, which means the spine can be solid green.

I don't know where the red comes from in the real design, that looks so out of place.

Perhaps next time, they'll give you a shout...

Or just rip my design off again?

[T_J]

Images of the Typhoon in the sunshine at following link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beefsteak44/7138957349/

[agdickie]

Where is Lar Khill?

Looking at those shots I'd say you can bring the spine painting up to the fixed portion of the canopy, the tiny sliver of paint that passes that point to the very front just looks a bit silly.

[BatmanIX]

Lose the red. Green middle with smaller yellow top and bottom, as per the roundel bars. Or half and half, as per the shield on the tails.

Something like this is what I had in mind...



You could put the Larkhill text along the spine, and have the dates (1912, 2012) above and below the scrolls on the rudder.

Really like this but with a thin line of yellow down the spine maybe?

Cheers,
Paul