Drving Around in a "Ford"

[Willy]

I've had this one a while and decided to take a break from the P-80s and paint some "Fords". Already had one (default?) from this squadron (VF-213 circa 1958 on board the Lexington), but figured to see if I could improve upon it. Every pic and profile I could find had some of the details different, so I went with what I thought looked good.

Taking a page from Ed's book and reworking the VC too. This is actually something I started months ago when Mrs Willy was in the hospital, and it kind of got forgotten on my laptop. Glad I "found" it.

 

[glh]

WillY:

Excellent work. I have the Virtavia model myself -- hard to beat when it is on sale for $5.

Here are some other schemes I found on modelling sites that are purported to be models of the real deal. I present them for your consideration but what ever you do, please upload your repaints here. I would like a copy (and the VC, too, when you're done) and I'm sure others would, too.


http://www.hyperscale.com/2011/features/f4dpart1mr_1.htm

http://modelingmadness.com/review/korean/sharpf4d.htm

http://www.scaleworkshop.com/gallery/f4dga_1.htm

 

[Sundog]

Can the trimmers be fixed using makemdl? They acted as big trim tabs, not as elevators, iirc. Love it just the same. I really like that paint scheme as well. Nice work.

 

[expat]

Excellent choice Willy - always liked that scheme but the default one was in need of some refinement, which you have now achieved.

 

[expat]

By the way, if anyone has the Virtavia A-4, you can merge its VC with the Ford (even says "Douglas" on the pedals!) and you have a bit more realistic looking cockpit. The default VC looks too square shaped like a '60's console television . .

 

[Willy]

Thanks guys!

On that one I was wanting to go with a different numbered F4D than the default one. I've made some subtle changes to the Virtavia paint kit for it (found some line drawings to get the panel lines more correct and riveted the heck out of it) I'm looking at one from VF-162 next. They flew it for one Med deployment in the early 60s before switching to other aircraft. I don't think anyone has done that one unless maybe for the Ito Skyray. Also I'm looking at a couple more non-squadron ones and at least one fictional paint if not two.

GLH, that VU-3 has been on the list and thanks for the link as I don't think you can ever have too many references to go by. I'm pretty sure the other two have already been done (I think I found them at FlightSim, but I do have them installed). I'm not fond of the idea of doing one that's already been done by someone else. The main reason I did the VF-213 is that it was flown off of my old ship, the USS Lexington. I hate to pass up an opportunity to do one that was flown off of her. So, I went with a different numbered one.

Still doing research one the VF-162 Fords, but here's a old pic of a couple of them.

 

[Willy]

Think I need to do a little more to VF 213 paint before release. Couple of things bugging me and if I fix 'em now I can have those details on the rest of them too

 

[Mach3DS]

Willy,

I'm also completely redoing the paint kit, the bump maps, and the panel lines at this point. I'm doing them in 4096 but likely will reduce that to 2048x2048 as there's too many texture sheets at that size and will be much more CPU friendly at the smaller size. Would you be willing to share that detailed line drawing? I've been searching for one, curious if it's better than what I've found already out there... nice job so far!

 

[Willy]

I'm painting in 4096 and reducing to 2048 when done as well.

I think this is the one I used:

I also used various close up pics of the actual aircraft where I could find useful ones.