More years ago than I care to recall, a friend and I had stopped for brews and falafel on the way back from the range and got to thinking about what the fledgling IDF/AF might have looked like had they not gone through their "French Honeymoon" period and opted instead for warplanes marked "Made in the USA." We decided to produce our imaginary air arm in styrene and settled on 1/72 as a constant scale, since most of the aircraft we needed weren't available in 1/48 at the time. The conspirators agreed that our "What-Ifs" ought to have the same general configurations and performance envelopes as the French stuff for which they were standing in, and would wear the same livery and markings. As best I can remember, the finished presentation was something like this.
1. Ouragon: F-84G (straight wings and tip tanks); blue-gray and brown upper surfaces, medium gray below.
2. Mystere IV: F-84F (swept wings and underwing drop tanks); after some debate, we went with the same colors used on the Ouragon.
3. Super Mystere: F-100 Super Saber; natural metal with the bold full-length red lightening bolts that adorned both fuselage sides of the French "Super."
4. Vautour (the tandem cockpit interdiction version): B-57 in the configuration in which it bedeviled the VC and NVA over the RVN; "cafe au lait" three-color uppers (desert tan, brown, and pale green) with pale blue undersides and a medium gray spine.
5. Mirage IIICJ: F-8E with a pair of Sidewinders on each side. (I know, we could have gone with the F-102 or F-106 to mimic the delta configuration of the Mirage but the multi-mission design and performance stats of the Crusader were much closer to those of the Frence fighter. Besides, the Vought plane's proven combat performance as both a capable ACM platform and a mud mover would have appealed greatly to the practical and cash-strapped IDF... as would the fact that the"MiG Master" had GUNS.) We initially tried to present a NMF Isreali Crusader but somehow it just didn't look right. Finally it took its' place wearing the "cafe au lait" camo applied to IDF Mirages in the 70s.
6. Nord Noratlas: Only one real option here, a C-119 clad in "cafe au lait" camo.
7. Allouette: H-47 Sioux with that massive bubble canopy; overall medium brown.
8. Super Frelon: HH-3 (Memory cells faltering; I believe that was the designation for the original "Jolly Green Giant" of 'Nam SAR fame. It was closer in terms of size and performance to the French helo than the later HH-53 "Super Jolly Green.") Overall medium brown with medium gray fuselage undersides.
9. Fouga Magister: T-37; We built two, one sporting blue-gray and medium brown upper surfaces and medium gray undersides, the other overall gloss white with International Safety Orange nose and wingtips.
9A. Tzukit (the Israeli license-built version of the Magister with such upgrades as ejection seats, increased air-to-ground capabilty, and better engines): A-37 in the white/orange scheme noted above.
{In retrospect, we probably should have gone with the T-33; although it too lacked the Magister/Tzukit butterfly tail it was otherwise more a match in plan view than the "Tweet"/Dragonfly.}
That was it, I think, at least initially. I believe the four fighters were built in-flight, the others parked on the flight line. I wish I knew where the collection was now, if it still exists at all. I bequethed it to my co-builder when I retired from big-city law enforcement nearly twenty years ago. He's gone now alas. His otherwise charming Mrs never approved of his modeling and of their sole issue, well, the less said the better. I'm certain he had no interest in his old man's "toys." Wish I could post some pictures but the only images I had were pre-digital and I can't find 'em now. Perhaps the article might inspire some among you to take up the topic as a group build...?