New P-51D Mustang - Little Friends

[skyhawka4m]

'Ol Flak Joe

View attachment 43163

Bruce

Love the 357th aircraft!!!

 

[Bomber_12th]

Once I get the artwork together I'll get it done. I am most likely going to paint the scheme that had the yellow Cripes on the nose. I've also found another BBD variation other than what John T. has and will be releasing.

357th FG, or 55th FG? When with the 55th FG, Landers was assigned a P-51D for the first time, and this became the first "BBD". When he was transferred to the 357th, the aircraft came with him, changing group markings, but keeping the same personal markings. When he went to the 78th FG, he was assigned a new P-51D, which became the most famous of Landers' Big Beautiful Doll schemes, and it is his 78th FG P-51D that followed him when he was transferred to the 361st. So two different P-51D's, with four different paint schemes between them!

55th FG - yellow/green nose colors

357th FG -

 

[Bomber_12th]

Great to see the repaints coming together, Bruce, John, and Jan Kees!

I actually have all of the layers for the paint scheme of Preddy's last "Cripes A' Mighty" completed, as it was the day it was lost in December 1944. Unfortunately there isn't quite a correct model to apply it to, but as long as that is okay, I'll see what I can do tomorrow. This is the first Mustang for any flight sim that I am aware of, that allows you to properly and fully recreate the markings of "Cripes A' Mighty", with the barbershop pole graphics around the aircraft - due in large part, because I used it as a 'test scheme' throughout early development. : )

I have also had plans for Preddy's more famous Cripes A' Mighty 3rd, but that's for another day, down the road (P-51D-5-NA - i.e., no dorsal fin fillet (and a hundred other differences inside and out, compared to later-model D's) - you can take that as a hint of possible things to come!)... ; )

 

[skyhawka4m]

The BBD scheme I am reerring to has I think 3 rows of checkers on the wing tips, to forward section of the fin cap is alsoblack along with the vert. stab, and has a red name bock on the canopy. The scheme reminds me of the "SHERMAN WAS RIGHT" scheme. The date of the sheme is summer 1944, with the 78th.


Here's 2 shots of HEL-ETER....all finsihed I believe......

View attachment 43176


View attachment 43175

 

[Bomber_12th]

Looking great John! Remember though, that the paint applied in the field, would cover up factory-applied stencils/stencil sealant, so there are a lot of stencils in the rear-fuselage/tail area that would not be present, because they were over-painted by the tail colors. All of the changes and markings that you do in with the base textures, should also then of course be reflected in both the spec maps and alpha channels as well.

- One exception about stencils, is a few groups, like the 357th FG, re-applied specific stencils on aircraft they painted.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Big Beautiful Doll

One thing I noticed while recreating the 78th FG "Big Beauitful Doll", is that there has been a number of incorrect depictions of the scheme, in various profiles, artwork, and in past flight sim versions. In some cases, it almost has looked as if the creators of said-works, haven't even used actual research to portray the scheme, rather simply pulled together things from their imagination, or from other's inaccurate work. The way the Warbirdsim "BBD" is depicted, is exactly how the aircraft looked at the very end of its 78th FG service, using all of the available photos and most latest research from the original. Within the 78th FG, Landers only ever had the one "Big Beautiful Doll", so while there were a few changes to the scheme through Landers' time in the 78th, it was more of a development-over-time, reaching the final look at the end of Landers' time with the 78th, rather than significant scheme differences. Of all of the original wartime photos I have seen of BBD within the 78th FG, it never looked any different than as depicted in Warbirdsim's recreation, other than the changing of minor detals, like the scoreboard, and rank on the canopy frame.

Some have stated that in one of the earliest photos of the 78th FG "BBD", that the background color behind the name on the canopy was yellow, due to how light the shade is within the B&W photo. Well, in the exact same photo, the red paint on the nose, on the chin scoop, and around the checkerboard markings, is also very, very light - in fact being the same shade as the background of the name on the canopy - thus it was red all along.

Here are just some of the images of the original 78th FG "Big Beautiful Doll", that I scrounged together when researching the scheme:

 

[Bomber_12th]

Note how in this photo, you can most clearly see the design of the red border that extends around the anti-glare shield, as well as the red border around the black name plate in front of the windscreen.

And another similar close-up, with a different pilot.

 

[Thunderbolt]

 

[Cirrus N210MS]

very Nice Guys! I may have to Pickup This Bird! soon

 

[skyhawka4m]

Thanks john....as to the textures......I understand and will correct the stencils. As for the alpha I've not found an easy whay to do this...I have corrected for the tail colors with the appropriate white....the rest I will have to work on.

 

[gatlin7]

One thing I noticed while recreating the 78th FG "Big Beauitful Doll", is that there has been a number of incorrect depictions of the scheme, in various profiles, artwork, and in past flight sim versions. In some cases, it almost has looked as if the creators of said-works, haven't even used actual research to portray the scheme, rather simply pulled together things from their imagination, or from other's inaccurate work. The way the Warbirdsim "BBD" is depicted, is exactly how the aircraft looked at the very end of its 78th FG service, using all of the available photos and most latest research from the original. Within the 78th FG, Landers only ever had the one "Big Beautiful Doll", so while there were a few changes to the scheme through Landers' time in the 78th, it was more of a development-over-time, reaching the final look at the end of Landers' time with the 78th, rather than significant scheme differences. Of all of the original wartime photos I have seen of BBD within the 78th FG, it never looked any different than as depicted in Warbirdsim's recreation, other than the changing of minor detals, like the scoreboard, and rank on the canopy frame.

Some have stated that in one of the earliest photos of the 78th FG "BBD", that the background color behind the name on the canopy was yellow, due to how light the shade is within the B&W photo. Well, in the exact same photo, the red paint on the nose, on the chin scoop, and around the checkerboard markings, is also very, very light - in fact being the same shade as the background of the name on the canopy - thus it was red all along.

Here are just some of the images of the original 78th FG "Big Beautiful Doll", that I scrounged together when researching the scheme:

John, in the very last image you included, the name on the canopy frame is most definitely different from the others. The name appears black instead of white, and the background looks significantly lighter than the red shadow-shading of the nose art. Perhaps this is where the possibility of yellow has entered the conversation. At any rate, I prefer the texture you created/emulated for this plane. Absolutely beautiful work all around!

 

[ColinT46]

Have been trying to buy this product for over 6 hours having registered my email address. Still waiting for activation confirmation before I can order it.

Does anybody here know how long this process should take.

Colin

 

[jankees]

either check your spam box, or, like me, you received a download that still needs the extension .zip for it to work.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Colin, it is all instant, the way the purchase/activation system works, so if it does not show up in your e-mail inbox right away, make sure to check you spam folder. If nothing there, then contact Warbirdsim support. ; )

 

[ColinT46]

Colin, it is all instant, the way the purchase/activation system works, so if it does not show up in your e-mail inbox right away, make sure to check you spam folder. If nothing there, then contact Warbirdsim support. ; )

Have sent 2 emails already but no response. Maybe I should re-register with my secondary email account.

Colin

 

[ColinT46]

Colin, it is all instant, the way the purchase/activation system works, so if it does not show up in your e-mail inbox right away, make sure to check you spam folder. If nothing there, then contact Warbirdsim support. ; )

Thanks guys,
Was another spam filter problem. Not had this before from any other FS Payware site.
Interesting to read about the zip addendum to the file.
Anyway downloading now.

For Yankees: Keep up the great paints you do. I have lots of your paints on other planes.

Colin.

 

[jankees]

For Jankees: Keep up the great paints you do.
Colin.

OK Kolin, if you insist (still work in progress..):

I think the piano keys of the 20th FG are about the coolest of colors on the P-51, so, another one, KI-B "Josephine" as flown by Lt. Joe Peterburs of the 55th FS/20th FG, based in Kingscliffe, UK.
On 10 april 1945, while on his 49th mission, he shot down a Me 262, piloted by Oberleunant Walter Schuck, a top German Ace with 206 confirmed air victories. Later that same day, while strafing an airfield, he was shot down by flak and was captured. He managed to escape, reach the Russian army, and fought with the Russians in the battle of Wittenburg. More on Joe Peterburs on his website: http://www.joepeterburs.com/

 

[UnknownGuest12]

A gem and expensive as a jewel...
When I see this kind of prices always wonder about a balance between sales numbers and profits...High price better profit per unit, less units sold. Lower prices more units sold. I know everybody should get fair revenues for a good work done. Simply, I can´t afford to pay for this one. Bought CS 707 and B-52 for 10.98 € on a sale. Anyway got P-51 already...
For sure better people than myself on this matters studied this relation price/market/sales and the effect on piracy mentioned on their site...

 

[Bomber_12th]

Very nice work, Jan Kees, really looking forward to 'Josephine"!

I have had an interest in the 20th FG for a while now too, ever since getting involved with recreating "HJGB" back on the original P-51D release. I always have liked the OD/RAF green over bare aluminum look on the P-51D as well.

 

[jankees]

Glad you like it, John.
Say, did you change anything with the reflections of the canopy? Made it slightly softer or something? I think they look perfect now!

Here's a small update, and me enjoying the reflections:

most of the 20th FG ones with painted wings were D-5 models though...same with the 357th two toners.