F-8 Crusader

[gamary]

I decided I'd make a new topic for this one. Some minor things stil need work, but I've started "serial production" already. Only late French versions for the moment. Early French and then other nations later.

This is F-8P (P stands for Prolongé - extended life) n°10 of Flotille 12.F. This aircraft is preserved in the Le Bourget Air & Space Museum.

In June 1994, F-8P n°3 (BuNo 151734) of Flotille 12.F based at Landivisiau NAS received "invasion stripes" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

F-8E(FN) n°34 of Flottile 12.F carrying two Matra 550 Magic II IR missiles. The "Crouze" could carry AIM-9 Sidewinders or French-built Magic I and II. N°34 was later refurbished to F-8P standard in August 1993. The F-8P was mostly an overhauled F-8E(FN) with some extra avionics and a RWR installed in the fin.

Although I'm still working in the same format as the CR.42 (30cm width, 300 dpi), my filesize is now 4 times lower because tried managing layers better. Maybe my hard drive won't burst into flames after all...

More coming soon.

[santynus]

wow very nice work mate I like so much your details on this aircraft I hope to see other your crusader profiles very soon

Regards

Santino

[Supah]

I really like the look of this machine gaëtan! Better then your Mirage IV, the shapes are much clearer defined and look more realistic! Looking forward to more of this machien

[adlabs6]

Yep, nice detail work on this profile.

[gamary]

Here are some more:


Crusader # 7 of Flottille 12.F wearing the early-style camouflage and carrying missile launcher rails.

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F-8E(FN) #17 of Flottille 14.F based at Landivisiau in 1973. The aircraft is painted in the standard US Navy scheme: Light Gull Grey over Insignia White. Stenciling is also identical to USN Crusaders.

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“Crouze” #32 was sent by Flotilla 12.F to the Greenham Common Airshow in the United Kingdom in June 1981 to represent the French Aéronavale. Unlike earlier Crusaders, it is entirely painted light grey with no white undersurfaces.

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F-8P #11 of Flottille 12.F received a special livery for the retirement of the type in 1999. Note the Donald Duck painted on the aircraft's back. The paint scheme is based on that of the Crusader prototype.

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F-8P #34 is now preserved in Savigny-les-Beaune with these markings. An enlarged version of Flotille 12.F's Donal Duck mascot carrying a trident instead of the usual shotgun is located on the fin, while the air intake has been decorated with a sharkmouth, probably making #34 the most colourful Crusader in French service.

[santynus]

wow your F8 are fantastic
could you please put some info about this interesting color profiles like squadron, period and location I have very little info about french's crusader
regards
santino

[gamary]

Done.


@Santinus: check your mail for more. I'm also writing a short history of the F-8E(FN)/F-8P, which should be ready in a few days.

[Supah]

VERY nice work Gaëtan! Any chance of a nice Br.1050 Alizé? or some etendards?

[gamary]

My ultimate goal is to draw all major aircraft in French service, so you stand a good chance of seeing the Alizé, and certainly the Etendard. Depends on my mood and the material (walkaround/plans/etc...) I have...

I will now start drawing US and filipino Crusaders to complete this serie. Anybody who knows of a French Crusader scheme I haven't depicted yet is invited to let me know so I can't draw it.

[Clave]

Seriously impressive!