357th FG P-51B "U've Had It!"

[oboe]

This skin has been in the game before and I've long thought it was an attractive scheme.  I just wanted to see what I could do with it.   
 
Capt England's second P-51 was transferred to the 357th FG in March 1944.  Delivered in standard factory Olive Drab/Neutral Gray finish, this aircraft was stripped down from its original paint on fuselage sides and undersides, then painted with 357th FG nose and spinner pattern, full D-Day stripes and field-fitted with Malcom hood canopy.   Prior to being passed on to another pilot, it served well to claim 2.5 of England's finaly tally of 17.5 victories.  Its also took part in summer shuttle missions to Poltava air bases in the USSR with RAF exchange pilot Flt/Lt Eric Wooley at the controls.   England finished the War as the second-ranking ace of the 357th.  He stayed on active USAF service after the War ended and claimed a MiG-15 kill during the Korean War. 

[Devil 505]

I was thinking the other day about asking you to give this one an update. Glad you beat me to the punch. She's a beauty.


Something I noticed - shouldn't the invasion stripes continue under the fuselage?

[lyric1]

 

[oboe]

Thanks, Devil.  Its not in the game any more though, so it can't be updated.  It was removed because it had swastikas in the kill markings.  The open slot created by its removal was filled quite a few months ago. 

RE: the underside D-Day stripes - I've seen pictures showing it both ways.   Here is an example I went by:

[Vraciu]

Nice work. 

[Nefarious]

Looking good! 

[oboe]

Thanks!   I already see tweaks I'd  make - for example I think I desaturated the red and yellow checkerboard too much.  I'd also add some shine to the nose art - it seems too washed out to me.

Since I can't submit it to the game, I have to be creative about finding other ways to get some use out of it.  Here it is in action on the "cover" of an old AIRFIX plastic model kit box:



This took entirely too much time to do, but I saw a skinner present his skins like this on some other site (IL-2 maybe?) long ago and thought it was a cool idea and always wanted to try it.

<S>

[Greebo]

Its a great skin Oboe, shame it won't make it into the game. The Airfix box art is a nice idea too.

[lyric1]

Thanks!   I already see tweaks I'd  make - for example I think I desaturated the red and yellow checkerboard too much.  I'd also add some shine to the nose art - it seems too washed out to me.

Since I can't submit it to the game, I have to be creative about finding other ways to get some use out of it.  Here it is in action on the "cover" of an old AIRFIX plastic model kit box:

(Image removed from quote.)

This took entirely too much time to do, but I saw a skinner present his skins like this on some other site (IL-2 maybe?) long ago and thought it was a cool idea and always wanted to try it.

<S>

[Vraciu]

I would consider letting that plane take the slot of B6*Y especially since they're the same group and "U'VE HAD IT!" is a true Malcolm Hood airplane.

[Vraciu]

Here's the skin ID info:     P51B0109162017 357FG/363FS

Skuzzy, feel free to replace this one with "U'VE HAD IT!" -- I'm fine with that.   

[oboe]

That's a kind offer, Vraciu, thank you.   If Skuzzy agrees, I can work up the submission files pretty quickly. 

[Vraciu]

That's a kind offer, Vraciu, thank you.   If Skuzzy agrees, I can work up the submission files pretty quickly.

Sounds good.  You're welcome.  It's a major upgrade to the stable.   

[Devil 505]

Even more reason to allow the active skinners to cull the herd of sub-par skins. Trading V's very good skin for Oboe's excellent skin is a half measure when there are still bad skins in the P-51B lineup.

[Vraciu]

Even more reason to allow the active skinners to cull the herd of sub-par skins. Trading V's very good skin for Oboe's excellent skin is a half measure when there are still bad skins in the P-51B lineup.

Thanks for the thought.   I wish we could just add the C and K models so we wouldn't have to lose ANY skins.   Or as some have advocated, a true birdcage B/C.   

I've gone on a tear all last month to upgrade the Bs I felt I could do some good on.   I'm sure it appears that I'm trying to dominate the airframe, but the reality is I couldn't stand to leave them looking the way they do.   It's not an issue with the people who originally made the skins, it's just the game has passed them by.   

The P-51, for good or bad, is the airplane most players seek out when they first come in here.   It is in our interests to make them look good.  "U'VE HAD IT!" certainly accomplishes this, so for the sake of the game it's the right call if other options are not viable.   

Thanks again for the kind comment.    I have had a good teacher.