Research Assistance Requested - P-51D "The Deacon" - 21st FG (Iwo Jima)

[Devil 505]

Looks good. Just needs those panels to be a lighter shade of metal.

[Vraciu]

Looks good. Just needs those panels to be a lighter shade of metal.

Thanks.   I haven't started on that yet.  I also have to adjust shadows and highlights as I've darkened the metal so it diminished their effects. 

[LNG15]

Hey V I think those white puffy pieces could be wings something akin of something from ancient or mythical times.

[Vraciu]

Hey V I think those white puffy pieces could be wings something akin of something from ancient or mythical times.

Good suggestion.  I would never have considered that.  Thanks. 

[Mister Fork]

You know what I think?  Prior to painting, the artist cleaned the side of the aircraft.  Not many pilots did and what we're seeing is the cleaned aluminum panelling. That makes a lot more sense than everything else. And the deacon name - I've seen a couple of P-51D aircraft where that panel is lighter than the rest.

And lets face it, most of these planes were working in pretty grungy conditions - it's not like they had a aircraft wash station setup to give their birds a wash-down after a long week of flying in rain, taxiing in mud, taking off on grass strips etc.  Some pilots however did keep clean birds, just not this one.

It's the only logical explanation. The pilots were working in a dirty environment

[Mister Fork]

I've got it. 

Prior to paining, they don't actually paint on the aircraft, the artist/painter removed the panels and work on them. And they would of cleaned them off prior to painting - or used NEW panels and then just put them back on. Hence the different colouring look.

And by looking at the art, they were isolated to individual panels. So, it could be new or cleaned.

[Vraciu]

You might be onto something, although my understanding is the VLR groups went above and beyond to keep their airplanes clean.   Squeezing every last drop of gas out of these birds was a priority.

Still, it's a plausible explanation.   

[Mister Fork]

I've just investigated a bunch of P-51D pictures, the top panel with "The Deacon" is normally lighter and some also have the lighter side panel with the larger graphic. So, it's chalk it up to either a new panel or just regular different metal colour for that panel.

[Vraciu]

I've just investigated a bunch of P-51D pictures, the top panel with "The Deacon" is normally lighter and some also have the lighter side panel with the larger graphic. So, it's chalk it up to either a new panel or just regular different metal colour for that panel.

I think those panels just vary a lot.   A lighter panel is not uncommon.   I believe I have it nailed down.   I'll post it tonight.   I'm still fighting with the normal map.

[Vraciu]

Here's the final result thus far:

https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,401118.0.html