Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: BFOOT1 on February 28, 2018, 09:54:47 AM

Title: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: BFOOT1 on February 28, 2018, 09:54:47 AM
Any chance of getting a VF-3 F4F? I'm working on a midway setup, and I'm just curious if anyone would be willing to do another Midway F4F.  :salute
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 10:59:09 AM
Like these ones?
(https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/a-jpg.90791/)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: BFOOT1 on February 28, 2018, 11:14:30 AM
Yes! I'd love to see more Midway skins in general just for more representation!
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Greebo on February 28, 2018, 02:01:17 PM
I can skin a Midway VF-3 Wildcat fairly easily, its essentially the same scheme as the default aircraft. A few more photos of them would be handy though if anyone has some.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:24:32 PM
I'll see what I can dig up
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:26:19 PM
(https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Wildcat/VF3/images/Grumman-F4F-3-Wildcat-VF-3-White-23-John-Thach-CV-5-USS-Yorktown-Battle-of-Midway-1942-0A.jpg)

Now to find a real life picture
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:29:25 PM
Verified paint schele from Ed O'Hare from Fateful Rendezvous: The Life of Butch O'Hare http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557502471/ref=nosim/usaceofworwartwo  - Pre-midway...paint scheme from January - May.  Then they were painted the lighter blue before the BoMidway began.

(http://acepilots.com/planes/f4f_profile.jpg)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:30:54 PM
Thach AND O'Hare...really cool photo (pre-midway)
(http://acepilots.com/images/wildcat-thach-ohare.jpg)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:35:23 PM
Three independent historical websites have this as Thach's paint scheme for Midway... pictures are near identical but difference sources yet the numbering from the aircraft is white yet the photos from the battle show black lettering for VF-8 yet VF-3 is white? :headscratch:
(https://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Wildcat/VF3/images/Grumman-F4F-3-Wildcat-VF-3-White-23-John-Thach-CV-5-USS-Yorktown-Battle-of-Midway-1942-0A.jpg)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:41:52 PM
And the picture higher above is VF-8 about to take off from Yorktown. USN file photo.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:43:48 PM
Not sure why the aircraft numbers are black - VF-8 - would the squadrons differ from standard USN numbering? June 4th file photo.

(http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/nnam-wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/1996.253.7386-035.jpg)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on February 28, 2018, 03:48:47 PM
Another reference to Thach's Felix the Cat.

(http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/574/pics/3_38.jpg)
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: BFOOT1 on March 01, 2018, 07:12:35 AM
I appreciate the effort here guys, means a lot!
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Greebo on March 01, 2018, 10:43:08 AM
I have an aversion to creating a skin based on just a profile, as if there are no photos of the aircraft available (particularly if its a well-known ace) the artist just makes an educated guess. Usable photos of a Midway VF-3 F4F seem to be in short supply, there are none in any books I have, just one or two close-ups showing the canopy and kill markings. F-23 in the VF-8 photo in this thread would make a good subject as would the number 9 or 13 aircraft in Mister Fork's photo assuming these are actually VF-3 Midway aircraft. What is the source of the photo and is there a caption to go with it?
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: bustr on March 01, 2018, 12:02:30 PM
Greebo, are you able to duplicate the red on the body of the pitot tube it being so small?
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: lyric1 on March 01, 2018, 12:08:49 PM
I have an aversion to creating a skin based on just a profile, as if there are no photos of the aircraft available (particularly if its a well-known ace) the artist just makes an educated guess. Usable photos of a Midway VF-3 F4F seem to be in short supply, there are none in any books I have, just one or two close-ups showing the canopy and kill markings. F-23 in the VF-8 photo in this thread would make a good subject as would the number 9 or 13 aircraft in Mister Fork's photo assuming these are actually VF-3 Midway aircraft. What is the source of the photo and is there a caption to go with it?

There is colour film but your only seeing the same things as the still shots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApRITIbMLwk
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Greebo on March 01, 2018, 02:06:15 PM
Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on March 01, 2018, 05:05:46 PM
I have an aversion to creating a skin based on just a profile, as if there are no photos of the aircraft available (particularly if its a well-known ace) the artist just makes an educated guess. Usable photos of a Midway VF-3 F4F seem to be in short supply, there are none in any books I have, just one or two close-ups showing the canopy and kill markings. F-23 in the VF-8 photo in this thread would make a good subject as would the number 9 or 13 aircraft in Mister Fork's photo assuming these are actually VF-3 Midway aircraft. What is the source of the photo and is there a caption to go with it?
US Navy military photo archive. I'll try to find the URL for you.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Mister Fork on March 01, 2018, 05:08:27 PM
Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.
They were all VF-3 pilots - saw O'Hare and Thach for sure.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: lyric1 on March 02, 2018, 02:05:23 AM
Well there is a point about 10-11 seconds in where the pilot jumps down and the top of a white number is briefly revealed, likely either 10, 12, 13, 18 or 19. So I guess that backs up the white number 26 on the profile. It seems this is a post-Midway propaganda film but apart from the kill markings the planes shouldn't have changed much since the battle.

(https://i.imgur.com/7sx4C0N.jpg)





I have who this is in the film.

Lieutenant William N. Leonard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_N._Leonard

http://www.uss-ranger.org/Captains/05Leonard.html

(https://i.imgur.com/ReEDoho.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/MDKcyY4.jpg)

His son posts in the forum below.

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/done-f4f-4-wildcat-13-vf-3-w-n-leonard-uss-yorktown-battle-of-midway-gb.18091/

(https://i.imgur.com/lm9sF4J.jpg)

White 13 taking off.

(https://i.imgur.com/YteLSmx.jpg)


Has some dice nose art as well.

(https://i.imgur.com/9hdvwnK.jpg)

The film was a documentary done by John Ford number of the scenes were filmed while the fighting was going on. There is a full view of white 8 F4F taking off.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZMbaHIm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Qbhkpiq.jpg)

Another VF-3 Wildcat.

(https://i.imgur.com/pLwFwrV.jpg)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW8tQ_6dqS8
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Greebo on March 02, 2018, 03:43:44 AM
Great stuff Lyric1, I'll skin either number 5 or 13.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: lyric1 on March 02, 2018, 05:32:36 AM
Great stuff Lyric1, I'll skin either number 5 or 13.

Ty.
One more for you off of the Yorktown #88.

(https://i.imgur.com/ktghol2.jpg)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZzRHQX-VZQ

Looking at the squadron patch on the nose i think we can add as a possible #15.

(https://i.imgur.com/m3mH5w5.jpg)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmb_XfmWXjc
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: oboe on March 02, 2018, 06:59:09 AM
#15 is Butch O'Hare's aircraft isn't it?  The O'Hare exhibit at O'Hare Airport in Chicago has a restored F4F
exhibit; it's Butch's good ol' #15.

Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: lyric1 on March 02, 2018, 11:53:56 AM
#15 is Butch O'Hare's aircraft isn't it?  The O'Hare exhibit at O'Hare Airport in Chicago has a restored F4F
exhibit; it's Butch's good ol' #15.

Earlier scheme F-15 and striped tail.

https://www.google.com/search?q=f4f+butch+o%27hare+at+airport&client=firefox-b-1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj33pX5mc7ZAhWBo1kKHSNRDtAQ_AUICigB&biw=1536&bih=782

Might still be the same plane though?
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: oboe on March 02, 2018, 12:03:03 PM
Hmm no I don't think so.  I read up on Butch O'Hare, he flew off the Lexington, not the Enterprise.  And he won the Medal of Honor in early '42, and wasn't flying combat for the Battles of Coral Sea or Midway.  Heckuva guy though.  Killed in a Hellcat in November '43 during a night engagement...
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Greebo on March 02, 2018, 04:24:17 PM
Greebo, are you able to duplicate the red on the body of the pitot tube it being so small?

Yes I can, thanks for pointing it out. I have painted the pitot mount red on the VF-3 skin.
Title: Re: VF-3 F4F?
Post by: Vraciu on March 03, 2018, 01:50:28 PM
Hmm no I don't think so.  I read up on Butch O'Hare, he flew off the Lexington, not the Enterprise.  And he won the Medal of Honor in early '42, and wasn't flying combat for the Battles of Coral Sea or Midway.  Heckuva guy though.  Killed in a Hellcat in November '43 during a night engagement...

And was my namesake's mentor.   He never got over his death.  Had a personal vendetta against Bettys as result.  Was always practicing high side runs against friendlies when stateside so he could flame more of them when he rotated back to the action.