About This File
FS2004 GAF F-4F '37+35' 1976 Experimental. Repaint for Alphasim's F-4F Phantom II, now released as freeware, depicting '37+35' of Jagdgeschwader 71 "Richthofen" in its 1976 experimental scheme. When the German RF-4E and F-4F were delivered to their fighter, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance wings, they wore a geometrical camouflage pattern called "Norm 72", consisting of dark grey and green chunks on the upper surfaces and light grey on the aircrafts bottom. Although this pattern seemed to work well when observed from above, it soon became obvious that the disguising effect got lost in air-to-air combat. Besides the colors used, it were also the big iron crosses and colorful markings making this scheme quite ineffective. Especially the fighter wings 71 and 74 complained about this pattern, making "hiding in the clouds" almost impossible.
From the mid-1970ies on, several experimental schemes (eleven in total) were tested. The depicted scheme, made of an overall grey shade called Achatgrau ("agate grey") was applied to JG 71's F-4F 37+35 in 1976. Markings and stencils were similar to the earlier Norm 72 standard. This repaint was done utilizing the basic paint kit provided by Alphasim/Virtavia, massively improved by Steve Bryant under assistance by Gus Robatto. By Markus Hellwig.