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Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
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The 461st Bomb Group is open for business!
- Thread starter edakridge
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tgycgijoes
Members +
One Of Our Little Friends
While we are waiting for Mike Cyul to finish and release the Flight Replicas B24, I decided to play around with some escorts. This is my repaint of the WOP II P51D that I installed from the Aircraft Powerpack from "ol' Shockwave" the predecessor of A2A. All in all its a nice aircraft and I was able to find the paintkit for it in their Forum. It was a challenge but I was pleased last night when I finished it. Interestingly, I painted it exactly as the profile below shows but towards the end I found a real photo that obviously shows it with a yellow nose like the stripes and empennage backgrounds NOT red like USAAF instructions say it should be for all 15th AF fighters. It shows that if you can find a REAL photo go with it even thought it contradicts directives. I may decide to repaint the drop tanks in gray with yellow noses in the future. Right now those squares got me kinda burned out. I am not the fastest repainter or the best so this took me 30 hours or so to do. I have some info for the P-47 which the 325th used in 1944 before transitioning to first the P51C and then this P51D so that when we begin flying our first mission the "Jug" is available. I believe that this repaint won't work with the WOP III P51D and it doesn't work with its Tacpack update (I tried). It will have to have its OWN tacpack update to fit with the model.
While we are waiting for Mike Cyul to finish and release the Flight Replicas B24, I decided to play around with some escorts. This is my repaint of the WOP II P51D that I installed from the Aircraft Powerpack from "ol' Shockwave" the predecessor of A2A. All in all its a nice aircraft and I was able to find the paintkit for it in their Forum. It was a challenge but I was pleased last night when I finished it. Interestingly, I painted it exactly as the profile below shows but towards the end I found a real photo that obviously shows it with a yellow nose like the stripes and empennage backgrounds NOT red like USAAF instructions say it should be for all 15th AF fighters. It shows that if you can find a REAL photo go with it even thought it contradicts directives. I may decide to repaint the drop tanks in gray with yellow noses in the future. Right now those squares got me kinda burned out. I am not the fastest repainter or the best so this took me 30 hours or so to do. I have some info for the P-47 which the 325th used in 1944 before transitioning to first the P51C and then this P51D so that when we begin flying our first mission the "Jug" is available. I believe that this repaint won't work with the WOP III P51D and it doesn't work with its Tacpack update (I tried). It will have to have its OWN tacpack update to fit with the model.
Attachments
jankees
SOH-CM-2026
seeing that old A2A model made me think of my old B-24 paints, so I had a look, and lo and behold, I painted a 461st aircraft for the Alphasim B-24 as well:
14-1065
Richard, as for the nose of Squeezie being yellow, I'm not so sure. I have looked at lots of old Mustang shots for all my P-51 paints, and quite often, red will look really light in these old photographs.
Also, I don't think the droptanks have a yellow front, the darker part is dark because of the shadow of the wing, I'm sure the front of the tank is just bare metal. I've never seen painted drop tanks.
As for the checkers, I know they can be a pain to do! But if you look at the picture, you'll see they line up along the front of the tail, and I don't think yours do? The good news, if you decide to redo them, is that are less of them I think...
14-1065Richard, as for the nose of Squeezie being yellow, I'm not so sure. I have looked at lots of old Mustang shots for all my P-51 paints, and quite often, red will look really light in these old photographs.
Also, I don't think the droptanks have a yellow front, the darker part is dark because of the shadow of the wing, I'm sure the front of the tank is just bare metal. I've never seen painted drop tanks.
As for the checkers, I know they can be a pain to do! But if you look at the picture, you'll see they line up along the front of the tail, and I don't think yours do? The good news, if you decide to redo them, is that are less of them I think...
tgycgijoes
Members +
Thank You
After all of them merging together in my old eyesight, LOL, I agree you are right. Photoshop is so cool!!! Each row or some individuals are each a layer so not difficult to correct. I counted the squares on the horizontal stab and will carefully count them on the vertical stab and the fuselage better. I thank you for your observation and I will be correcting this to be more accurate. I do not have ANY other reference that does not show the nose and spinner anything but red so will correct that too. My mentor when I was a shipmodeler and restorer of the Smithsonian Institute taught me that you do it right or you don't do it because you are preserving history. Your model (repaint) may be all that's left in the future. Again thanks and its back to the paintshed. At least I don't have to do the P-47. I just downloaded Tom Weiss repaint for the 325th at the A2A Forum. Great job on the Alphasim B-24 for the 461st, if you PM me a link, with your permission I will share it on the website.
After all of them merging together in my old eyesight, LOL, I agree you are right. Photoshop is so cool!!! Each row or some individuals are each a layer so not difficult to correct. I counted the squares on the horizontal stab and will carefully count them on the vertical stab and the fuselage better. I thank you for your observation and I will be correcting this to be more accurate. I do not have ANY other reference that does not show the nose and spinner anything but red so will correct that too. My mentor when I was a shipmodeler and restorer of the Smithsonian Institute taught me that you do it right or you don't do it because you are preserving history. Your model (repaint) may be all that's left in the future. Again thanks and its back to the paintshed. At least I don't have to do the P-47. I just downloaded Tom Weiss repaint for the 325th at the A2A Forum. Great job on the Alphasim B-24 for the 461st, if you PM me a link, with your permission I will share it on the website.
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
With regard to the 325th FG P-51D "Squeezie", don't let black and white photos fool you. Take for instance this photo, which shows a 332nd FG P-51D in the background - both the nose and tail of that aircraft were red, but note how light it appears in the photo. The nose of "Double Zero" in the foreground was also red, but with a black stripe at the rear. It has been the subject of articles/research I've read in the past where a certain type of B&W film used at the time had some trouble with red tones. The tonal values are just ever so slightly different in this B&W photo from the red-painted nose to the yellow-painted tail checkers.
Here is another photo of "Squeezie". Note too the red gas cap and red circle around the gas cap on the drop tank in this photo also appears very light - just about the same tonal value as the yellow stripes on the wings.
Here is another photo of "Squeezie". Note too the red gas cap and red circle around the gas cap on the drop tank in this photo also appears very light - just about the same tonal value as the yellow stripes on the wings.
tgycgijoes
Members +
Interesting
The photo I have of Squeegie is the same photo you have on the bottom (which I downloaded) where it very apparent that the nose is red. Ignore my PM about contacting them. These photos are proof that they were all red. I do not have the Warbirdsim "B" only the WOP II "D" but the repaints are beautiful. This afternoon when I redid the tail, I redid the yellow as well not just squares so that that part is now natural metal where the horizontal stab is attached.
That's enough squares for one day LOL. I think I'll give my ol' eyes a rest and have a chocolate and some tea and call it. Thank you again for taking all the time to help me. I am going to wait for a sale somewhere and then pick the Warbirdsim P51B and C.
The photo I have of Squeegie is the same photo you have on the bottom (which I downloaded) where it very apparent that the nose is red. Ignore my PM about contacting them. These photos are proof that they were all red. I do not have the Warbirdsim "B" only the WOP II "D" but the repaints are beautiful. This afternoon when I redid the tail, I redid the yellow as well not just squares so that that part is now natural metal where the horizontal stab is attached.
That's enough squares for one day LOL. I think I'll give my ol' eyes a rest and have a chocolate and some tea and call it. Thank you again for taking all the time to help me. I am going to wait for a sale somewhere and then pick the Warbirdsim P51B and C.
Greenhouse357
SOH-CM-2023
tgycgijoes
Members +
Come On
Hey Greenhouse357 when we start flying our missions with the FR B24J come and escort our formations with a 325th P47 or P51. If you are Tacpack equipped you will actually be able to dogfight with the ai Axis fighters in FSX@War/FSCAI. Ed Tackpacked equipped the Virtavia/Alphasim B24J too so you ARE welcome to fly that. Its available for download ready to fly in the 461st Colors and with the Tackpack Panel. If you don't own Tacpack you can still fly with us.
Hey Greenhouse357 when we start flying our missions with the FR B24J come and escort our formations with a 325th P47 or P51. If you are Tacpack equipped you will actually be able to dogfight with the ai Axis fighters in FSX@War/FSCAI. Ed Tackpacked equipped the Virtavia/Alphasim B24J too so you ARE welcome to fly that. Its available for download ready to fly in the 461st Colors and with the Tackpack Panel. If you don't own Tacpack you can still fly with us.
Greenhouse357
SOH-CM-2023
Thank you tgycgijoes, for the invite. This is a very busy time of the year for me. I also don't have tacpac, yet, anyway. I plan on re-doing this paint and another one I did for the FR B24J when its released. The mustangs are Johns' (Warbirdsim Mustang Tales), the only ones I fly. Years ago, I used to fly with the virtual 352nd in cfs1. Really enjoyed the missions we flew. When myself and a friend first joined the group, the first mission we flew, I shot the bomber we were supposed to protect. Got yelled at lol. I will be in touch.
tgycgijoes
Members +
You're Welcome
Thank you for reply and we look forward to you joining whenever you can.
Richard
Thank you for reply and we look forward to you joining whenever you can.
Richard
tgycgijoes
Members +
461st BG(H) Virtual Video
tgycgijoes
Members +
Really Cool FSCAI
This is a really cool representation of FSCAI capability but the 461st Missions are coded in FSX@War teaming up with FSCAI. Dutch and Ed have been teamed up. The same but different. Thanks for sending this for all of us to enjoy.
This is a really cool representation of FSCAI capability but the 461st Missions are coded in FSX@War teaming up with FSCAI. Dutch and Ed have been teamed up. The same but different. Thanks for sending this for all of us to enjoy.
tgycgijoes
Members +
325th Checkertail Clan
I just latched onto a first edition 1969 copy of Checkertail Clan in excellent condition and have started reading it with all kinds of interest. Back above Jan Kees, rightly so critiqued my P51D Squeezie about the checkerboard squares. I just read that the P-40 had 14 inch squares; P47s reduced the size of the checkers to 12 inch squares and finally, the P51s had 10 inch squares. If you didn't know it you'd never see the difference in comparison photos of the three different aircraft's tails.
I just latched onto a first edition 1969 copy of Checkertail Clan in excellent condition and have started reading it with all kinds of interest. Back above Jan Kees, rightly so critiqued my P51D Squeezie about the checkerboard squares. I just read that the P-40 had 14 inch squares; P47s reduced the size of the checkers to 12 inch squares and finally, the P51s had 10 inch squares. If you didn't know it you'd never see the difference in comparison photos of the three different aircraft's tails.
xpelekis
Members +
My point is, that when in 461st FSX@War/FSCAI sorties - missions, situation comes to
dogfight against an AI, it will look something like video above.
Not "sitting duck" that is. Actually, much more than this sounds...
AI BF-109 on flames in video photo above, didn't check his "six" (they periodically do...).
commited chasing the AI P-40 at right of photo. Easy kill...
mhutche229
Members +
Torretto scenery
Do you have the airfield started yet? I started making the airfield some years ago before I had P3D, but is unfinished. My cousin was a nose gunner for the 454th BG at San Giovanni. I have done research on the location and tried to replicate the exact location of runways, taxi ways and hardstands.
San Giovanni looks good in FSX but I have not mastered it under P3D while using ADE 1.75
Michael -
Do you have the airfield started yet? I started making the airfield some years ago before I had P3D, but is unfinished. My cousin was a nose gunner for the 454th BG at San Giovanni. I have done research on the location and tried to replicate the exact location of runways, taxi ways and hardstands.
San Giovanni looks good in FSX but I have not mastered it under P3D while using ADE 1.75
Michael -
tgycgijoes
Members +
Torretta AAF
Yes, Torretta has been finished and edakridge has totally acclimated it into FSX@War in the 461st BG Campaign which we will be using for all our missions on our dedicated server. I used the photos from the 461st BG Reunion site and plotted each hard stand all 100. (Took me days in ADEx and almost got carpel tunnel LOL) It works on all flight sim platforms including P3DV4+ which he uses. We have flown test flights from it at least 10 times now and are waiting now for the B24J from Flight Replicas. You can see in another post the repaints I am redoing from those done for the Virtavia B24J. We would love to have you join us. We will be flying the new Flight Replicas B24J as soon as it is available and released. Go to the website: https://tgycgijoes5.wixsite.com/liberaiders and check it all out and then just click the JOIN US button and fill out the application.
Yes, Torretta has been finished and edakridge has totally acclimated it into FSX@War in the 461st BG Campaign which we will be using for all our missions on our dedicated server. I used the photos from the 461st BG Reunion site and plotted each hard stand all 100. (Took me days in ADEx and almost got carpel tunnel LOL) It works on all flight sim platforms including P3DV4+ which he uses. We have flown test flights from it at least 10 times now and are waiting now for the B24J from Flight Replicas. You can see in another post the repaints I am redoing from those done for the Virtavia B24J. We would love to have you join us. We will be flying the new Flight Replicas B24J as soon as it is available and released. Go to the website: https://tgycgijoes5.wixsite.com/liberaiders and check it all out and then just click the JOIN US button and fill out the application.