Research question: P-38J "Jandina" 8th FG 80th FS, Capt Jay Robbins

[oboe]

So I'm looking at updating more of my P-38Js and ran into some conflicting info and thought I'd ask for research help.   One of 80th's '38Js I've done is an OD version of "Jandina", based on this profile:



However I've run into photo evidence that the OD aircraft Robbins flew did not have the red, white and blue spinners - that these were on his next Lightning after this.  The image below shows the plane I skinned but with green spinners.



Here we have the colorful spinners, but they are on a bare-metal bird:





Actually I now noticed the colorful spinners appear to have two different versions.  One version seems to have 3 colors but the other only 2 colors.   The profile version has a white stripe in the middle of the spinner.

[Shuffler]

That is my bird...  wooot. Can't wait to see her updated.

Lookas as though Jandina III was BM with multi color spinners. Jandina IV BM and had green spinners. https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/43-28832/p38-jandina-iv-nose.html

[Greebo]

Do you have another photo of "Yellow A" that shows more of the spinners? From that photo all I can see is a white stripe on a dark shade but that's about it. It could be red and blue, or green, or just about anything really.

[oboe]

The only other photo I have is this restoration, but it does back the idea of green spinner with white trim on the OD aircraft:

[lyric1]

Here is the answer. Im sure I have seen a photo with spinners your looking for I have to go to work now so when I get home I will take a look.



Colour image of one his other P-38's.

[Shuffler]

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/43-28832/p38-jandina-iv-nose.html
Jandina IV

[oboe]

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/p-38/43-28832/p38-jandina-iv-nose.html
Jandina IV

That's Jandina IV.   That's a bare metal skin I also have in the game.  Robbins seemed to go through a lot of '38s.   I think Dan has this straight, but I still get confused by it.  Working backwards, Jandina IV is a bare metal '38J with green/white spinners.  Jandina III is a bare metal '38, with 19 kill flags, and the colorful spinners.   Jandina II appears to be a OD plane (without the name "Jandina" on the nose) with 13 kill flags and a yellow A on the nose.   Don't know what the original "Jandina" looks like; maybe its that '38G Lyric posted a color photo of.

I think its *possible* that Jandina II started out with the green/white spinners and they were later painted red, white and blue.  Jandina III was always a bare metal '38 and had a different version of the colorful spinners, without the center white stripe.    Whatever I do, I would prefer to to have it backed up by photographs, if possible.   

For more confusion, here's a painting of "Jandina IV", with fewer kill flags than depicted on Jandina III:


Glad you posted that link, Shuffler - it has 21 kill flags and its pretty clear that the spinners have a green nose cone with a bare metal base, rather than a white base as depicted in the painting.

[Shuffler]

I want my colorful spinners....      they are mesmerizing.


MAKE IT SO...... OBI WAN OBOE!

[Vraciu]

I want my colorful spinners....      they are mesmerizing.


MAKE IT SO...... OBI WAN OBOE!

Oboe Wan Kin-obi.  He's Obi Wan Kin- :roflobe's cousin. 

[oboe]

Found another profile.  I think there are definitely two different versions of the colorful spinners:

The ones on Jandina III (for which we also have photo evidence):


And the older one, which we only have photo evidence of the green spinners, but there are at least two art profiles which essentially show this scheme: 


I'm assuming Robbins had the spinners painted colors at some point after he got the plane, and carried a different version of the spinners through onto Jandina III.   I think it would be OK if I just updated this plane as olive drab, skinned just as it was before.

[Shuffler]

While I like OD better than BM, I believe they prefer using actual photographs as art often has mistakes.

[oboe]

This might be the most definitive information yet, with a color photo.  Seems to back up the first version of the colored spinners, on an OD '38J.   Funny, it was transferred to the 475th FG!

https://m.facebook.com/HowdiColourWork/photos/a.102951747940970/142801683955976/?type=3&source=57&__tn__=EH-R

[Shuffler]

Well other pics show the OD has the green and yellow. This one is a rather excellent color photo for the time. Perfect for showing just how the scheme was applied on the spinners.

Are you sticking with the OD or going BM and keeping the red and white spinners?

While I like the red and white spinners, you fellas do the hard work and I am just along for the ride. If you do the OD. That will be my new ride as I know it will look so much better updated. I can't wait either wayyyyyy. LOL

[oboe]

I'd prefer to leave it unchanged (OD) as long as its correct.  I think I found the photo evidence I was looking for with that last link I posted.

[Shuffler]

I'd prefer to leave it unchanged (OD) as long as its correct.  I think I found the photo evidence I was looking for with that last link I posted.

Either way it's my heyday.