Author Topic: Can I make/use this historically accurate skin? (Read 827 times)

tgoviper · « **on:** January 04, 2007, 11:18:40 AM »

//S// fellow AH flyers...

I'm very new to AHII (haven't even flown in the online arena yet)
Quick question for ya'

I would like to make a historically accurate skin for a B-17.
My grandfather was a B-17 pilot in World War 2 (European Theatre)
based out of Kimbolton, UK.

As some of you know, Kimbolton was home of the 379th BG
(of which my grandfather belonged to).

I would like to create a skin for the tail section of a B-17 that resembles the following:
< It's a picture of a tattoo I have. Now, granted, I would clean it up and make it look EXACTLY like it did on my grandfather's plane.

239800 was the tail number of his plane.
I have no photographs of him in which the tail
number is visible but here's another plane from his
BG in which I would just replace the serial number with his.
<. For verification purposes, if neccesary, I can produce
an entry from his flight log in which he refers to his plane as " 'ol 800[/u] "

If I can figure out how to modify a skin would I be allowed to use one with the details above on a B-17 in AHII ???

//S// and thanks for the assistance!

= tgoVIPER

Guppy35 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2007, 11:41:25 AM »

I'd suggest you visit the website of the 379th BG Association and ask them

http://www.379thbga.org/news.php

The plane in question was apparently named "Patches"

Serial number 42-39800 It was a B17G so that would work in AH since we have the G.

It flew a total of 69 missions between 10/18/43 and 12/1/44 when it was battle damaged and declared salvage.

Based on the time frame, it would have been OD/Gray with th white triangle and the black K in it on the tail and on the upper right wing and lower left. Not sure what squadron it was in but I'm guessing the guys at the 379th site probably have a photo of it somewhere and more then likely a crew photo of your grandfathers crew.

Good luck

tgoviper · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2007, 12:25:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Guppy35

The plane in question was apparently named "Patches"

Hehe , roger that... Grandpa named her "Patches" because she always came back shot up.

I used to do web work for the 379th BG website a couple years ago so I'm pretty familiar with it

Patches (42-39800) was in the 526 squadron of the 379th.

I've got plenty of photos of my grandpa and the crew but they're mostly posed in front of the nose of the aircraft with no shots of the tail.

Thanks for checkin' that out though, Guppy35...

Got any more info?

//S//

= tgoVIPER

rogerdee · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:16:26 PM »

once you have done the skin you have to send it in to skuzzy with all your info or web site addresses for what you used and they check it out to make sure its right.

i wouldnt see a problem with it being accepted for the game if you have enough info.failing that you can make it and use it offline but then only you get to see it.

if you need any help on making a skin you have picked the right place to ask

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2007, 03:37:36 PM »

Do the photos of the nose show the nose art?

If so the rest should be fairly easy to determine, in particular since you know the squadron.

It would come down to knowing the individual aircraft letter to go with the squadron codes.

tgoviper · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2007, 03:59:09 PM »

Tail letter was 'L' (LF)

There aren't any pictures that my family or I have seen that have the nose art. Pictures of my grandfather with his crew/plane are taken with the starboard side of the aircraft: i.e. http://www.4ppbg.com/tgoviper/patches.png (back row, left; under nacelle)

I don't even think the picture above is his actual plane since he flew G's and there's no chin turret on the picture above.

I was more interested in putting the tail number on the B-17 since
that's of the most meaning to me (and historically accurate part that I know of)

Got any tips to get me off the ground so I can begin work on the skin, Guppy35? //S//

= tgoVIPER

Guppy35 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 05, 2007, 05:37:42 PM »

I guess there's two ways to go with your Grandpa's bird. Do you know the time frame he was flying in it?

If it was pre August 1944 then I'd go with something like the photo below. The is the pre August 44 look of an OD/Gray 17G from the 379th. The LF codes for the 526th in gray behind the waist window and the individual squadron letter in front of the national insignia

Serial number in yellow with the individual squadron letter in yellow below the serial. Black K in white triangle on tail and top right and lower left wing.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 05, 2007, 05:40:34 PM »

If Grandpa was post August 1944 when the tail markings got more colorful, then I'd go with the yellow outlined triangle like the one below with the serial number in black inside the lower part of the yellow. I'd put a 3 at the top since that was the 526th designatior and the L below the triangle in white or yellow, probably yellow.

Skip the fuselage codes as they appear to have done away with them with the new tail markings.

Same yellow outlined triangle K on the upper right wing and lower left. no serial or aircraft letter in those however.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 05, 2007, 05:41:23 PM »

Another profile of a late 379th G

tgoviper · « **Reply #9 on:** January 05, 2007, 09:11:01 AM »

Yep, it was prior to August '44
Here's an entry of his first combat mission in his personal log: <>

I'm not quite sure where to find the individual letter.
I thought the "LF" was all I'd need for the squadron designator.
What's the individual letter represent?

Guppy35, do you do your work in Photoshop?
Any other tools that might help?

Thanks for the assistance!

//S//

= tgoVIPER

Fencer51 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 05, 2007, 10:40:48 AM »

You can use Gimp or Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. You really need something that uses layers.

Serenity · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2007, 03:27:33 PM »

The codes werent done away with, simply moved. The 'Mike' is now under the triangle on the tail on the last profile.

To answer your question about what it is for, from the books dan/corky sent me and from what I already know, apparently when in flight, the aircraft was identified by this code, for example, if this was a 303rd mission, my favorite bird, Thunderbird has a code of BN-U. BN identifying the 359th BS, and the U (uniform) being the individual identification. There, communication to that plane you sound something like "[insert letter here] to Uniform, what is time to target?" or something along those lines. The Bravo November cam in, I can only guess, when multiple ships from multiple squadrons were communicating on the same frequency.