Great stuff Dan!
First, a clarification. The 1st FG 38s you show seem to have black bordered yellow bands on the booms, with natural metal tail sections (elevator, horizontal and vertical stabs). Or do you mean to include the aft part of the booms when you refer to the tail? I'd definitely consider skinning the 1st FG P-38L from the photo - she's a real clean ship.
I do have the P-38 MTO Aces book - its packed away and I just haven't dug it out yet, but I will soon. Does anyone know, will HTC accept a P-38J-25 skin for the 38L model?
Not sure what J model Baby Shoes is, but I just deleted the dive recovery flaps from the lower wing panel lines as part of my resubmit of that skin. I guess if she is a J25 or later, the panel lines would've been correct to show them even if they don't work in AH's 38J. I finally figured out how those flaps work from a photo I saw in "P-38s In Action", which I bought last weekend! I never really knew where or how they were represented in the panel lines until now.
I'd consider doing that shark-mouthed J if there are some more images that show closeups of the nose art and the tail reg number, and whether the tail was all red. It's really aggressive-looking and might be popular with the pilots. Another question for the 82nd website guys, I think.
I do like the Krebs version too, but wouldn't do it if all I have to go on is his paintings, esp if it conflicts with historical photos of the bird.
So, "Paddy", an 82nd FG 38L for sure, and this 94th FS 1stFG 38L is a real possibility too, if we are in agreement on the color patterns in the tail section.
Any color images of 14th FG L's anywhere? I'll also look at the ETO/MTO Aces book when I get a chance. I thought that book showed boom stripe colors from the 1st FG as White, Black, or Red though.
I think I remember an ETO 38L with the noseart "BOOMERANG" from that book.
Thanks for your help!
[EDIT] Missed your last post but that one looks great. I'd like to try one with checkerboard on the nose, just to see how acceptable it would look with the stretching issues on the 3D model.