Author Topic: oboe or Kev, vet's p38 skin request (Read 1281 times)

Guppy35 · « **on:** April 29, 2005, 12:37:48 AM »

I've been trading e-mails with the pilot of this one as he's been helping me with some Headhunter research on a lost pilot.

He was first with the 80th FS and then moved to the 431st FS, 475th FG when they were formed.

Obviously he didn't forget his first squadron when he went to his second. I'd love to show it to him if either of you gents had time to do it.

Thanks

Dan/CorkyJr

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2005, 12:45:43 AM »

Hehe Maiden Head Hunter...cherry picker!

ack-ack

jetb123 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2005, 01:59:41 AM »

I cant wait to see the finished product.

oboe · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2005, 06:59:42 AM »

I'd be glad to do this one.

More info - whose the pilot? This is a 475th bird then? ANy other pics available of the kill marker/pilot info area on the nose?

Also, am I seeing this correctly - there look to be two different versions of the US insignia. The boom insignia has a much darker blue and blue outlines around the bar. The wing insignia seems to be lighter blue and lack the blue outlines on the bar...

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2005, 12:35:43 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by oboe
I'd be glad to do this one.

More info - whose the pilot? This is a 475th bird then? ANy other pics available of the kill marker/pilot info area on the nose?

Also, am I seeing this correctly - there look to be two different versions of the US insignia. The boom insignia has a much darker blue and blue outlines around the bar. The wing insignia seems to be lighter blue and lack the blue outlines on the bar...

Thanks oboe, Pilot is Marion Kirby and it's of his P38H when he was Ops officer for the 431st FS, 475th FG. He returned home in January 44 so he never flew anything but early 38s in combat.

It would be the star and bar without the blue outline to the bar that was used for a time. I wouldn't change the shade of blue on the star and bar between the upper wing and boom Seems to me that was the artist guess and his attempt at fading the upper wing.

Kirby has confirmed the details on the markings

Including apparently the only known photo of his aircraft.

It said

PILOT
Lt. M.F. Kirby

above the 5 Japanese flags that are 3 on top of 2

Dan/CorkyJr

Citabria · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2005, 01:22:19 PM »

I will do a version of this for my p-38G skin.

I had to start from scratch after my fiance pulled the wrong plug and shutoff my PC while I was working on it. corrupted the whole file.

it takes me a long time because all the surfaces of the aircraft are photoresearched to be as accurate as possible. the current p-38 details of the ah skins have much innacuracy.

I still need a good photo of the top of the wing inboard fo the engine nacel that has the rivet patterns of the leading edge of the wing and the forward fuel tank area.

oboe · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2005, 03:02:22 PM »

That sounds great, Citabria. I won't start this one then. Be sure to export a brand new version of the P-38G before you start - Skuzzy said there were changes made to the hard points and any skin that doesn't have these will get kicked back to the skinner.

Here's a photo Guppy posted a while ago, don't know if its got enough detail for you:

Citabria · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:29:05 PM »

thanks! the scratched paint shows some of the details i was looking for.

Citabria · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2005, 04:35:56 PM »

Guppy35:

can you ask him if the Head Hunter name was yellow?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2005, 10:54:42 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Citabria
Guppy35:

can you ask him if the Head Hunter name was yellow?

Will do. I can see by the photo that it doesn't look nearly as bright as the white of the number, so I think it's a safe bet it was yellow.

Dan/CorkyJr

Citabria · « **Reply #10 on:** May 01, 2005, 04:20:14 PM »

yeah im gonna go with yellow.

only other discrepancy I see is the numbers look like the are not bordered by red. seems the white area is to thick for that.

Edbert1 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2005, 12:51:31 PM »

It wont matter in flight, but it looks like the leading edges of the props have a (yellow?) stripe on them too.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2005, 01:10:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert
It wont matter in flight, but it looks like the leading edges of the props have a (yellow?) stripe on them too.

More likely just where paint has worn off the leading edge of the blade.

Dan/CorkyJr

Edbert1 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 02, 2005, 02:48:09 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Guppy35
More likely just where paint has worn off the leading edge of the blade.

Dan/CorkyJr

i thought about that but the line looks VERY smooth and even. Never seen a stripe like that before, I guess that's why it stood out to me.

it might be worth asking the pilot if it is possible.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 02, 2005, 03:15:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Edbert
i thought about that but the line looks VERY smooth and even. Never seen a stripe like that before, I guess that's why it stood out to me.

it might be worth asking the pilot if it is possible.

It got me curious so I went looking at all the color images I could find of wartime 38s and on many of them showing the prop blades, it had the same look and its just the leading edge showing silver.

Not sure why, but it's that same uniform look. Makes me want to see the leading edge of a 38 prop blade to see what it looks like up close

Dan/CorkyJr