Cold War and Modern Jets, Every Panel

The Korean War pairing

The first jet-versus-jet battles were fought between the MiG-15 and the F-86 Sabre family. You can build both sides from this collection:

• Soviet Jet Fighter MiG-15: 101 photos at 6240 × 4160, photographed in Seattle. This aircraft wears Chinese air force markings. The pack shows the nose intake, the swept wing and the gun installation of one 37 mm and two 23 mm cannons.
• Avon Sabre CA-27 1953: 75 photos shot in Australia. The pack covers intakes, gun ports, wheels, landing gear, markings and wing details.
• North American FJ-2 Fury: 28 photos, $2.99. The FJ-2 was essentially a carrier version of the F-86, with a tailhook, a catapult hook and a longer nose gear leg.

The Australian CA-27 used a Rolls-Royce Avon engine and differs from the American F-86 around the intake and the guns. Check which version your kit represents before you add detail from the photos.

Second generation and beyond

• Soviet MiG-17F: 31 photos of a North Korean aircraft, photographed in South Korea. Close-ups include the Klimov VK-1F engine and the nose intake.
• Vought XF8U-1 Crusader: 66 photos of one of only 2 prototypes built. Prototypes often differ from production aircraft in small details, so use it with care for a production F-8 build.
• TA-4J Skyhawk: 31 photos of the 2-seat trainer version of the A-4, from the VC-8 "Redtails" squadron.
• F-22 Raptor: 47 photos of a fighter still in service, shot on a Nikon D90 at 4288 × 2848.

The F-14A Tomcat and other carrier jets are grouped on the naval aviation page.

A jet bomber for scale

The B-52G Stratofortress is the largest subject in this collection: 146 photos and 2,216 MB. It has a complete exterior walkaround plus close-ups of the landing gear, the engine nacelles, the bomb bay doors and the tail gun turret. Bomber builders and game artists who need a large Cold War airframe will find the underside views especially useful.

Panel lines, stencils and surface finish

On a preserved jet you can see things a factory drawing never shows. Paint wears first along panel edges and walkways. Stencils fade unevenly. Exhaust areas take on heat staining, and intakes collect dirt in a pattern of their own. The MiG-15, Crusader, Fury and Skyhawk packs were shot at 6240 × 4160, so you can zoom in on a single row of fasteners.

Keep in mind that these are museum and display aircraft. Markings and paint may come from a restoration rather than an operational unit, so confirm a specific scheme with period photos.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have Soviet jets besides the MiG-15?

Yes. The MiG-17F pack covers the next Soviet fighter. For more Soviet aviation, including WWII types and missiles, see Soviet aircraft reference.

Is the Crusader pack a production F-8?

No. It documents an XF8U-1, one of the 2 prototypes. The overall shape matches the F-8 family, but production aircraft have their own differences.

Can I use these photos to texture a jet for a game?

Yes. Every license is royalty free and covers unlimited projects, and you can build your own 3D models and textures from the photos. Packs with identifiable aircraft markings may have an Editorial folder. Those photos work as reference, but should not appear as-is in advertising or products.

What resolution are the jet packs?

It varies by photographer. The MiG-15, Crusader, Fury, Skyhawk and B-52G were shot at 6240 × 4160, the MiG-17F and the Avon Sabre at 6000 × 4000, and the F-22 at 4288 × 2848. Each product page lists the resolution.