SF2 A-1H/J Skyraider (mcz) Remod Pack by MontyCZ       1/8/2024
-For SF2, Any and All-
Another 1stGen Salvage Project...
This is an SF2 Remod of MontyCZ's A-1H Skyraider. Historically this was the VERY first aircraft mod released for SF1 in 2005. While the model still has some issues (see "Notes"), it's fully functional, with some limitations, in the SF2 environment.
This mod is supplied with just about all the original (many rebuilt) skin sets I could find from the 1stGen SF mods section and from Marcfighters. These skin sets cover US Navy, US Air Force and South Vietnam Air Force units.
You have ...
USN:
VA-35 "Black Panthers" USS Saratoga, 1959 Med cruise, (Beirut crisis?)
VA-52 "Kinghtriders" USS Ticonderoga, 1966-67 VN cruise
VA-65 "Tigers" USS Intrepid, 1960-61 Med Cruise
VA-75 "Sunday Punchers" USS Independence, mid-1962 SEA-VN cruise
VA-145 "Swordsman" USS Ranger 1958-59 WesPac (tagged "VA145E")
VA-176 "Thunderbolts" USS Intrepid, VN cruise 1966-ish (bumblebee art)
VNAF:
1st FS, Bien Hoa, 1961 (VNAF1 - overall very light grey, blue/red devil fues band )
514th FS, Dan Nang ~1963 (VNAF2 - overall medium grey, tiger stripe fues band)
518th FS, Bien Hoa AB ~1970 (VNAF3 - 3 tone SEA camo, yellow/black checks fues band)
USAF:
602nd SOS, 56th SOW (various RVN & Thai bases 1962-1970)
2nd SOS, 56th SOW (nite black unders, ~1968)
There is also an extra blank USN skin called, oddly enough, "USNGrey1" This can be used to create any other units as one desires in the Gull Gray/White scheme.
The texture set ini for each skin has a small notation at the bottom with historical notes.
While many skins had to be remade, some are still 'as issued' (un-retouched). All are in bmp format. As is usual, serial/BuNums are as historically accurate as possible. Those 100% are marked with the star (*), those correct, but unable to match to a modex are marked with the plus/cross (+), those with no mark are generic. All skins have been updated to use the last known LOD (5/2009), and have been updated to use the latest decal style. Decal randomization is TRUE. For those units listed in the game's SquadronList ini, my (patent pending) 'fake SqTail' decal is used to activate their name displayed on the Loadout screen. The SF2 'date switch is used for all services on their respective skin sets. Sounds and drop tanks are included. All weapons used are stock in-game 3rd Wire items. The data ini has been brought up, as much as possible, to current standards.
When in-game, you'll see
A-1H/J Skyraider (MCZ)
on the Aircraft Selection dropdown. This will differenize this one (MontyCZ) from the 3rd Wire or Razbam Skyraiders. This mod DOES (sorta) cover both the H & J variants, as there's very little (actual) difference between them. The wing fold is active, it uses the Standard Animation Keystroke (tm), Shift/9. The canopy CANNOT manually be controled; it's linked to the flaps.
As is always reccomended, unzip to a temp folder or your desktop to give easy access to the rest of this readme for it's install instructions. Also, give the "Notes" a browse, as it explains certain issues this model has, and the change logs.
Good Hunting and Happy Landings!
Wrench
Kevin Stein

Douglas Skyraider FB.2 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock 'AI' Thirdwire A-1H to give a flyable 'what if' RAF Skyraider FB.2 with markings for No.33 Squadron as part of 'Operation Firedog' in the 1950's.
Whilst this mod is meant for Strike Fighters 2 is does require you to have Strike Fighter 2: Vietnam so that you have the necessary Third Wire A-1H LOD's that are, of course, not included here. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the SkyraiderFB2 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the SkyraiderFB2 folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to Wrench for the lines and rivets from his 2048 x 2048 Skyraider templates squeezed into my 1024 x 1024 templates.
Extra special thanks to CA_Stary for the cockpit.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 31st, 2024
 
 

Sud-Aviation Vautour IIA 'Dhimar' for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock 'AI' Third Wire Vautour IIA to give a flyable Dhimari Vautour with markings for;
No.11 Squadron - 'The Rams'
No.14 Squadron - 'The Buffaloes' (named after the squadron's first aircraft the Brewster F2A Buffalo).
Whilst this mod is meant for Strike Fighters 2 it does require you to have Strike Fighters 2:Israel so that you have the necessary Third Wire Vautour LODs. Please also note that this revised upload switches to the Third Wire Gloster Meteor cockpit but you can easily switch to the cockpit of your choice such as the A-4B cockpit. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the VautourIIA_Dh folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the VautourIIA_Dh folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 30th, 2024

Dassault Mirage IIIC for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Mirage IIIC to give a flyable Dhimari Mirage IIIC with markings for;
No.6 Squadron - 'The Eagles'
No.8 Squadron - 'The Scorpions'

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the Mirage3C_Dh folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the Mirage3C_Dh folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 29th, 2024

BAC Lightning F.6N for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2:Europe
This mod is meant for those without the Strike Fighters 2 Expansion Pack 2 (for Strike Fighters 2 Europe) and is a simple mod of Russouk2004's superb BAC Lightning F.Mk6 from the SF1 archives to give a fictional F.6N (N for NATO) in service with four NATO air forces (Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK) in a 1966 to 1988 timeline. 
Unfortunately, the 3D model has some issues with decal bleed on the vertical tail and also with shadow 'ropes' but I've elected to leave shadows ON. I've had a play with the FM by pasting in some Third Wire Lightning DNA including adding 'ghost' outer wings to allow for this 3D model having a one-piece wing whereas the Third Wire Lightning has a two-piece wing and I've also fiddled with the mass fractions to distribute the weight. It flies really nice and will perform a 'hands free' take-off (flaps down, throttle up, brakes off) with the usual ability to supercruise and climb supersonicly.  As this mod is meant for those without the Strike Fighters 2 Expansion Pack 2 I've used the pit from the stock F-4B Phantom.
 
INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the LightningF6N folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the LightningF6N folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the SOUNDS folder drag and drop both files into your Sounds folder.
Bingo Fuel!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Massive thanks to Russouk2004 for creating the Lightning F.Mk6 a real British thoroughbred.
Thanks also to Sundowner for the silver/NMF Lightning skin used for all eight skins with tail markings pasted on top by yours truly.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 28th, 2024
 

Douglas Skyraider A-1M for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock 'AI' Thirdwire A-1H to give a flyable Dhimari Skyraider with markings for;
No.1 Squadron - 'The Panthers'
No.2 Squadron - 'The Hawks'
Whilst this mod is meant for Strike Fighters 2 is does require you to have Strike Fighter 2: Vietnam so that you have the necessary Third Wire A-1H LOD's which are, of course, not included here. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the A-1M folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the A-1M folder into your Decals folder.
3. From the WEAPONS folder drag and drop the A-1M_Tank folder into your Weapons folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Extra special thanks to CA_Stary for the cockpit.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 25th, 2024
 

Westland Whirlwind FB.2 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a very simple mod of the prolific Veltro2K's Whirlwind to give a fictional Whirldwind FB.2 in service with No.6 Squadron (the famous 'Flying Can-Openers') of the RAF's Desert Air Force. This mod is meant for SF2 and, ideally, you'll have Expansion Pack 1 for the stock 250lb bombs. More experienced WW2 modders will have access to more correct bombs but I just wanted this to be as simple as possible to install. This is an older 3D model that has a few problems that will not get fixed now so it's all released 'as is'. One possible problem that could be fixed by the community here is what sounds like the undercarriage collapsing when working up to rotation speed but this rarely affects your ability to complete the mission. I've played around with it and copied other aircraft's landing gear for ideas but I can't fix it.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the WhirlwindFB2 folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the WhirlwindFB2 folder into your Decals folder.
That's it! But you may need to add a suitable WW2 Pilot (not supplied).

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
Special thanks to Veltro2K for all of his delightfully esoteric aircraft, this is just one of many! Check them out!
Thanks also to Syrinx for the Whirlwind template which I lost back in 2016 when I suffered a complete data loss : (
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 24th, 2024.
 
 

F-105D for STRIKE FIGHTERS 2
This is a simple mod of the stock Third Wire F-105D Thunderchief to give a fictional F-105D 'Shalakh' (Osprey) of the Israeli Air Force with markings for;
107 Squadron - 'The Knights of the Orange Tail' 
119 Squadron - 'The Bat' 
253 Squadron - 'The Negev' 
This should work in any SF2 game featuring the stock Third Wire F-105D but has only been tested in a merged install of SF2/SF2V/SF2E/SF2I.

BACKSTORY
During the early 1960's Defence Secretary Robert S. McNamara and his team of whiz-kids were on a mission to streamline the US defence budget with 'commonality' being their main area of focus. With the F-4 Phantom now being procured for the USAF as well as for the USN and USMC and with the TFX (F-111) project promising further cost savings it appeared that the two aircraft had the home tactical fighter market covered. So it was no surprise when in October 1963 Republic Aviation were formally ordered to cease further development of the F-105 Thunderchief and to stop production after the current batch of F-105D's and F-105F's.
In early 1964 the Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force) were looking for a replacement for the Vautour tactical bomber and openly expressed a preference for the UK's Blackburn Buccaneer. With the end of the Thunderchief production line looming, and with no follow-on project in the immediate pipeline, Republic Aviation proposed a modified version of the Thunderchief F-105D to the Heyl Ha'Avir at a very attractive price and this was eagerly accepted. 
With the last USAF F-105D's and F-105F's going through the door production continued with the main production batch of 100 F-105D-35RE aircraft (essentially similar to the F-105D-31-RE but with some Heyl Ha'Avir specified equipment) and powered by the Pratt & Whitney J75-P20W engine rated at 26,500lbs of thrust with reheat. Deliveries of the first F-105D-35-RE aircraft to Israel began in early 1967 and the type soon gained the local name of 'Shalakh' (Osprey). As a happy consequence, the USAF ordered more F-105D's and F-105F's as attrition replacements for Vietnam and this kept the Thunderchief production line open until December 1968. 

INSTRUCTIONS
1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the F-105Didf folder into your Aircraft folder.
2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the F-105Didf folder into your Decals folder.
That's it!

CREDITS
As always, thanks to Third Wire for a great little game/sim.
And, finally, thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.
Regards 
Spinners
Version 2 - January 23rd, 2024.