WIP RNZAF F4U-1A Buno 49867. NZ5307/NZ5372

[whiteman]

This plane is a Frankenstein, two crashed air frames put together. NZ5307 crashed in June 1944 and damaged the tail. NZ5372 Crashed in September 1944 and lost the front. The rudder NZ5307 was the only part of the tail section used on this mashup. The planes were in completely different paint jobs and left that way after.

Where I'm getting stuck is the point of the paint lines up different on both sides. Pics of it on the ground are the right side being rebuilt, left side in the air shows a different mark. I haven't found anyone that knows if they ever matched up or why they are different. Profiles show both sides at both points so those haven't helped much. Also the band on tail looks vertical on the right and at an angle on the left in flight. That was from the same aircraft and i'm not familiar with how those were handled.

EDIT, think i came across someone that has the most reasonable lines of the joining and adjusting.

50181-02 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

F4U-NZ-3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

Espirito-Santo-Bougainville-1945-02 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

307 1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

307 3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

307 2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

[Arlo]

I like it. 

[lyric1]

 

[Devil 505]

Looks great.

I did notice one discrepancy between the reference photos and your skin. The darker blue should extend one panel farther aft on the starboard side, to the back end of the cockpit opening.

[whiteman]

Adjusted the dark panels, roundels, the tail strip on the left side and the 0 in 307 on the tail.

307 fix1 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

307 fix3 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

307 fix 2 by whitemanLS1, on Flickr

[SIK1]

That's cool. Very unique bird Tex.

 
Sik

[Nefarious]

Great skin! Interesting specimen! <S>

[Greebo]

Nice job on an interesting scheme Whiteman.

[DaddyAce]

Nice work Tex!