Lt. Johnnie W. Long - P-51D "Lady Dana" (YF*F) - 355th FG, 358th FS

[Vraciu]

2nd Lt. Johnnie W. Long
P-51D-5-NA "Lady Dana" (YF*F)
S/N 44-13879
355th FG, 358th FS
Steeple Morden, March 1945


This is "Lady Dana" the P-51D-5-NA (S/N 44-13879) flown by 2nd Lt. Johnnie W. Long of the 355th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Squadron out of Steeple Morden, in March 1945.   While on a Ramrod mission to Berlin on 15 March 1945 (as Green Four) Long was hit by flak and force landed behind Soviet lines near Stendahl.   He evaded capture and returned to his base in April (MACR 13410).

A bit of strange coincidence for the 358th FS occurred the following month, on 16 April 1945, when P-51K-10-NT "Lady Dana II" [also listed as "Lady Dana" without the roman numerals] (S/N 44-12122) was shot down by flak near Straubing, Germany.   It's pilot, (another Johnnie) 2nd Lt. Johnnie Rodgers also evaded capture.

I tried a different technique to get a better metal tone but I may have to go back and adjust the paint to compensate the other direction.  I can't decide.   I'll fly it in the game and see how it looks then adjust in an update.











This is one of two 355th FG Mustangs I'm doing.  It has the late-war minimalist marking setup.   As I'm currently dating a Dana (she's awesome, btw) it seemed appropriate to use this one to represent that scheme.  I hope she likes it!   

[lyric1]

 

[Vraciu]

(Yes, the first F is crooked on purpose.)

[Devil 505]

Excellent job.

[oboe]

Beautiful.  Love that last shot especially.

The yellow looks spot on to me, I always have trouble with that.  The metal looks good, esp in the last shot.  I have taken lately to a drastic reduction the the Power value on bare metal, to try to get a broader, less defined glare line.     But its all related and connected and a change in value one place often requires rebalancing a layer somewhere else. 

[Vraciu]

Thanks guys.

Oboe, you are totally right.   My frustration is that if you darken the metal enough to prevent washout it becomes too dark without direct lighting.

I've just settled on making it look good from the cockpit.

When I am zoomed out it looks right.  When you zoom in it's almost like you wind up "inside the shine zone" but it's the only way to get high res shots.

I've gone pretty dark on my P maps as well.  Sometimes I just want to make the thing solid black.  Ha ha.

[Vraciu]

I lightened the black paint 10% to offset the darkening of the overall diffuse. 

[Greebo]

It looks really good Vraciu, no need to change a thing. My NMF is also a medium tone on the spec map and very dark on the other two. In theory the power map should be lighter for shiny surfaces but dark just seems to work better in AH. So now its mainly the contrast in tones on the spec map that defines painted and NMF areas.

[Vraciu]

Thanks,  G.   I appreciate it.

[FTJR]

Very Nice V, as usual..

[JimmyD3]

Very nice V!!! 

[Vraciu]

Thanks, guys.   

[oboe]

Beautiful work, V.  I think I use x'2b2b2b' for my black paint.   The only thing I use pure black for would be holes and ports.

Best wishes with Dana!

[Vraciu]

Many thanks.   She's a keeper!

I turned the black Down just a bit from these pics.   I also adjusted a couple of things that will show up on the update.   I'll post a shot later.

[Vraciu]

Happy birthday to MY Lady Dana.  I was glad I could find a real Mustang with your name on it.  ❤️