352nd FG P-51B "Snoot's Sniper" work-in-progress

[oboe]

This is one of the other schemes I wanted to work on; I wanted to see what it would look like on the bare metal base I had created.  The spec file is closer; I hope I've been able to show how the ailerons and flaps are bare metal while the main wing surface is painted.   I understand the pilot was a barber in civilian life, and the name of the ship was supposed to be "Snoot's Snipper" but the ground crew made a spelling error.  There's no weathering or paint chipping yet.   I don't know if you can tell but I've created a new pilot for these planes - new leather jacket with 8th AF arm patch, new life preserver, new flying helmet and Polaroid B-8 goggles.

[Devil 505]

Oh, that's nice. 

[oboe]

Thanks, I see a couple of errors already - I just missed them until I'm looking at the screenshot I made. 

I hope someone chimes in about the shade of blue for the nose.  Honestly I don't see how that WWII color photo can be accurate - its seems too purplish to me when I sample it and use that shade.  I've seen many different shades of blue for the Blue-nosers not sure what to think.  Maybe those guys mixed their own paint back then and the result was a lot of variation between individual aircraft?

[Nefarious]

It's 352nd for sure,  but it's not Punchy Powell's "West by Gawd Virginian"  though...

Just kidding, looks great. 

[oboe]

Thanks, I couldn't find any images of Powell's '51 with a Malcolm canopy installed.  I looked just for ya, Nef!   

Here's one of Sweet & Lovely, see how the blue is more of a medium shade:


But these images definitely show Snoot's Sniper with a darker shade.  Unless its something that happens to color film over the years?


Oops, I see it was the crew chief who was the barber, not the pilot..

[Vraciu]

Not bad.  The blue is bound to be darker though.

Hurry up with Banshee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[oboe]

Yes, I think I'll have to darken the blue.   

Doing this one helped me discover a panel line error I never would've found in Banshee, because the invasion stripes were covering it up and making it hard to spot. 

Also interesting, the lower side cowl panels seemed slightly polished where they are bare metal, opposed to the fuselage panels adjacent to them, which look more like weathered aluminum.  I'll have to see if I can duplicate that look with the spec and env. maps.

[Devil 505]

Also interesting, the lower side cowl panels seemed slightly polished where they are bare metal, opposed to the fuselage panels adjacent to them, which look more like weathered aluminum.  I'll have to see if I can duplicate that look with the spec and env. maps.

Probably has a thin film of oil in that area.

[oboe]

I definitely see some oil and grease stains, but in this image I think I'm also seeing sky reflections in the unpainted engine cowl panels, but the fuselage panels seem much less reflective:

[Devil 505]

what I mean is this: oil from there could spread out even more and leave a residue which would protect the area from oxidation - therefore more reflective

[lyric1]

 

[Blade]

 

[Skuzzy]

Looks to me like the aluminum needs a little less power and more specular.  A little too flat.

[FTJR]

Very nice Oboe 

[Vraciu]

Looks to me like the aluminum needs a little less power and more specular.  A little too flat.

By less power you mean toward the black color band and not white correct?

The effect of this makes the reflection less stark/more spread out I think. 

I post this question on behalf of others as well for understanding.