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The Staff of SOH
Warbirdsim Little Friends II Update Uploaded
- Thread starter Bomber_12th
- Start date
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
This is perhaps the one I was most excited at having another go at. Originally, the markings had been drawn very accurately, but the colors were well off the mark. This time around I wanted to try and make it the closest depiction to the original than has possibly ever been done (including in scale model form).
In original photos of "Lou IV" the camo paint that was applied to cover the tops of the invasion stripes is a lighter shade than the other camo paint that had already been applied previously. Using color chips of '44 era USAAF Olive Drab and British/RAF Dark Green (as far as I know, the only two camo colors that USAAF ETO-based units used for field-applied topside camo) I was able to check them in grayscale/B&W and confirm that the RAF DG is quite a bit lighter in shade than the USAAF OD. It also makes sense based on information that I've heard/read that suggests the 8th AF Fighter Groups initially had access to USAAF OD, but once that stock dried-up they used British paint. I think this is the only color combination that makes any historical sense, and again it meshes well with the photographic evidence. Some have tried to argue for insignia blue having been used (due to poorly developed color photos that have a horrific blue cast over the entirety of the photos), at least in the section where the invasion stripes were painted over, but one can see in the original B&W photos that the values are quite different between the insignia blue of the stars & bars and the paint over the invasion stripes. Also, there was no precedent for ETO fighter pilots wanting blue top surfaces on their aircraft for camouflage purposes flying over Europe- it was always camouflage green (whatever green they could get their hands on, either USAAF or RAF). A number of 361st vets over the years confirmed that they never used blue on their aircraft.
I chose to use RAF Trainer/Insignia Yellow for the nose, figuring that was the likely source for that paint (the yellow bars surrounding the "Lou IV" name are a bit darker, as can be seen in original photos - that bit of nose art had already been in-place prior to the yellow nose markings being extended back to the firewall). I also re-drew the "Athelene" name/sign artwork on the starboard side to be more accurate in positions of the letters and design/shape of the sign. Although others have argued/debated it for years, I am 100% confident that the area around the gun ports on the original was just the silver paint of the wing, exposed where that section of the wing was masked prior to the application of any paint. In one of the several original photos, the bottom surfaces of the aircraft are clearly shown, and one can clearly see that the leading 50% or so of the silver paint of the wing was very dark on "Lou IV", hinting at the dark "Acme Grey Surfacer No.53N5" that was applied to the wing in that same region, below the paint, was effecting the hue/shade of the paint, and this would point to why the region of exposed silver paint around the gun barrels wasn't particularly bright - at least not as much as the silver rudder or back half of the painted wing.
In original photos of "Lou IV" the camo paint that was applied to cover the tops of the invasion stripes is a lighter shade than the other camo paint that had already been applied previously. Using color chips of '44 era USAAF Olive Drab and British/RAF Dark Green (as far as I know, the only two camo colors that USAAF ETO-based units used for field-applied topside camo) I was able to check them in grayscale/B&W and confirm that the RAF DG is quite a bit lighter in shade than the USAAF OD. It also makes sense based on information that I've heard/read that suggests the 8th AF Fighter Groups initially had access to USAAF OD, but once that stock dried-up they used British paint. I think this is the only color combination that makes any historical sense, and again it meshes well with the photographic evidence. Some have tried to argue for insignia blue having been used (due to poorly developed color photos that have a horrific blue cast over the entirety of the photos), at least in the section where the invasion stripes were painted over, but one can see in the original B&W photos that the values are quite different between the insignia blue of the stars & bars and the paint over the invasion stripes. Also, there was no precedent for ETO fighter pilots wanting blue top surfaces on their aircraft for camouflage purposes flying over Europe- it was always camouflage green (whatever green they could get their hands on, either USAAF or RAF). A number of 361st vets over the years confirmed that they never used blue on their aircraft.
I chose to use RAF Trainer/Insignia Yellow for the nose, figuring that was the likely source for that paint (the yellow bars surrounding the "Lou IV" name are a bit darker, as can be seen in original photos - that bit of nose art had already been in-place prior to the yellow nose markings being extended back to the firewall). I also re-drew the "Athelene" name/sign artwork on the starboard side to be more accurate in positions of the letters and design/shape of the sign. Although others have argued/debated it for years, I am 100% confident that the area around the gun ports on the original was just the silver paint of the wing, exposed where that section of the wing was masked prior to the application of any paint. In one of the several original photos, the bottom surfaces of the aircraft are clearly shown, and one can clearly see that the leading 50% or so of the silver paint of the wing was very dark on "Lou IV", hinting at the dark "Acme Grey Surfacer No.53N5" that was applied to the wing in that same region, below the paint, was effecting the hue/shade of the paint, and this would point to why the region of exposed silver paint around the gun barrels wasn't particularly bright - at least not as much as the silver rudder or back half of the painted wing.
Thank you
doublecool
Charter Member
After 7 years I had to get a new computer.. early Christmas Present
How do you activate warbirdsim aircraft if you purchased from them
I can't fine the website anymore?
Thank you
DC
How do you activate warbirdsim aircraft if you purchased from them
I can't fine the website anymore?
Thank you
DC
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
DC, the Warbirdsim website is temporarily offline, but I have sent you a PM.
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Zsolt, it's funny you should post that screenshot, as "Hurry Home Honey" is one of the first of my old repaints for LFII that I have been able to finish reprocessing through my new paint kit. I've remade it also with much more accurate colors throughout all of the markings, and with the checkerboard nose redrawn, accurately matching the original. I'll have it uploaded either tonight or tomorrow (depends on how the Thanksgiving festivities go).
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Yes, that would be a great one! I have had it on my list for years now and it would be a good opportunity to finally do it. It will be done accurately with the black and white nose markings too (rather than blue and white, which is so commonly depicted and absolutely incorrect). I also have an early photo of the aircraft from mid-July '44, at which point the nose was still completely black (it had yet to have the white stars or spinner).
BTW, the new "Hurry Home Honey" repaint has been uploaded. I also have 44-13305 "Hun Hunter ~ Texas" to finish up and release.
BTW, the new "Hurry Home Honey" repaint has been uploaded. I also have 44-13305 "Hun Hunter ~ Texas" to finish up and release.
