VMF-441 F4U-1C

[Greebo]

Lyric1 found me the info for this F4U-1C skin. It is from USMC squadron VMF-441 who were very active during the Okinawa campaign, supporting the ground troops and defending against Kamikaze attacks on shipping. This aircraft was flown by Lt. C. L. Vassey. The cowling number is unusual on a combat aircraft, these were applied Stateside for ID during transfer to the front lines and usually removed once the aircraft reached the intended squadron.

[lyric1]

 

[SmokinLoon]

Looks great, Greebo.  Thanks for all your work.  I'm amazed at how you and other skin makers crank these out.  I just recently started an M3 skin and get very frustrated very quickly. 

Thanks.   

[bacon8tr]

That is a sweet looking skin!  Great work as always Greebo.

[Gryffin]

Amazing Greebo! The weathering effects are superb.

[Krusty]

Just thought I'd share, because I have only ever seen 1 reference to this before, outside of Mark Stylings, and Stylings has gotten things wrong before, several times.

I believe it's from Squadron Signal:



Pretty good work Greebo! It's possible the font on the "96" was more misshappen because it was hand painted, but that's a minor point. I'm more curious about the demarcation under the fuselage... Almost looks like 2-tone paint, but might be just the weathering of a 1-tone paintjob (more likely). Funny effect, though!

[lyric1]

Just thought I'd share, because I have only ever seen 1 reference to this before, outside of Mark Stylings, and Stylings has gotten things wrong before, several times.

I believe it's from Squadron Signal:

(Image removed from quote.)

Pretty good work Greebo! It's possible the font on the "96" was more misshappen because it was hand painted, but that's a minor point. I'm more curious about the demarcation under the fuselage... Almost looks like 2-tone paint, but might be just the weathering of a 1-tone paintjob (more likely). Funny effect, though!

Decided it was dirt.

[STXAce8]

Decided it was dirt.

IT was a marine aircraft operating from dirt runways. 

[lyric1]

Yes & I have a profile of that aircraft as well.

[mtnman]

Wow Greebo! 

Fantastic!

[Krusty]

I sort of came to the same conclussion. Only I suspect it's not dirt but rather caused by dirt. Dirt doesn't stay on a fast moving airplane much. I suspect it's a slightly more worn area... "Sand blasted" if you will, but just enough to change the blue to a lighter shade as the rough surface is scratched up. You'll notice at the wing trailing edge it extends over the top of the wing a bit, and that the wing roots themselves are rather scratched up too.

It *IS* good to have a C-hog that doesn't look like all other C-hogs, finally! I had begun to fear none of them had any color!

[lyric1]

There is another VMF-441 that has some nose art just can't find a photo of it.
Have a profile & that's all.

Most are just blue I think there was 210 or so made I think I have photos & profiles of about 12-15% of them. Post war they had some colour splashed on while they were stationed main land Japan.

Profile of above plane.

[Greebo]

Thanks guys, glad you like it.

That photo was the reference used and Lyric1 and I discussed that demarcation line. I think it is mud staining because the conditions it was operated in would support that. Also the line appears to cross the US insignia and if it were paint they would have painted around that. The C Hog came out after the switch to the all-sea blue paint scheme, the only tri-colour ones I have seen were the two prototypes.

I will make the 96 a bit more misshapen, good spot.

[ALFAMEGA51]

Awesome Greebo! I think it looks amazing 

[Larokkit]

wow,thats nice!