Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: oboe on September 11, 2007, 12:21:30 PM

Title: Question about USAAF antiglare panel colors
Post by: oboe on September 11, 2007, 12:21:30 PM
Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there a definitive color for USAAF antiglare panels?

I see alot of black in artists depictions, but I'm wondering if Olive Drab was the real color used and many artists simpy misinterpreted the B&W photos because flat black makes sense and that is what is used nowadays.

Thanks!
Title: Question about USAAF antiglare panel colors
Post by: Bullethead on September 11, 2007, 03:06:00 PM
There are contemporary color photos that show both black and OD as the anti-glare color.  I think I've also seen some other colors used on occasion, such as dark blue, dark non-OD green, maybe others, but these were often on non-combat planes.  Can't remember the details at present.

I think the most common color in WW2 was OD, however.
Title: Question about USAAF antiglare panel colors
Post by: lyric1 on September 11, 2007, 10:43:58 PM
This is from a American built p51 that was supplied to the Australian airforce. The only thing I can say is no one is for sure what it should have been. (http://www.picburst.com/uploads/8860644b03.jpg) (http://www.picburst.com)
Title: Re: Question about USAAF antiglare panel colors
Post by: Widewing on September 11, 2007, 11:17:47 PM
Quote
Originally posted by oboe
Apologies if this has been asked before, but is there a definitive color for USAAF antiglare panels?

I see alot of black in artists depictions, but I'm wondering if Olive Drab was the real color used and many artists simpy misinterpreted the B&W photos because flat black makes sense and that is what is used nowadays.

Thanks!


Dull dark green was standard. From the Vultee Vibrator and T-6 Texan through the P-38, P-47 and P-51, this dark green (similar to OD green, but darker) was standard. Many artists have used B&W photos and assumed it was black. However, I have lots of WWII Kodachromes and every fighter has the dark green anti-glare paint.

If you can scare up a copy of Bodie and Ethell's WWII War Eagles, there are many excellent photos showing the correct color.

My regards,

Widewing
Title: Question about USAAF antiglare panel colors
Post by: Guppy35 on September 13, 2007, 02:20:56 AM
You can find examples  where the anti-glare was repainted black deliberately.  I know I've seen 4th FG birds where a couple were definately black but it was a repaint.

Standard was the green already mentioned.