Hello, I am new to the Aces High Bulletin Board. I have a question that I am hoping someone can answer. Does anyone know the correct paint color of the wording 'Dallas Doll' on Lt Frank H. Bouldin's P-51D? In all the photographs, models, paintings and other artwork, the wording is painted black. There are some that believe that the wording was painted red with black outline.
Any help with this question would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you all very much!
Best Regards,
Lance
Hi Lance.
I don't have a definitive answer to your question however I do have a book with a few more photos of this aircraft that maybe be the answer to the different nose art colours.
https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/products/slybirdsFirst off the most common photo known.
Not that this colurised image is proof this particular guy does some excellent interpretations of the black and whites.
So here is some other black and whites from the book.
My best guess all of the above images I think the text is all solid black. I'm basing this off what colours were known on these aircraft in that time frame regarding blacks and comparing it to other known colours. Black and gold checker pattern on the nose, solid black theater lines on wings and tail, black serial number, solid black squadron code as well at that point in time, and the green anti glare panel. The text is very large in the above photos now look what happens later on.
The nose art has shrunk considerably and I think that was done because the checker pattern was extended further down the nose. The quality of the above three images is not so great I do think that other colours come into play like these colour images I found online.
Squadron code now has a yellow lining. The text now has shading on some portions and painted red as well in the first image. These colour images from the book shows some shadowing as well in the photos below.
Here is its new configuration with the new pilot.
So I hope this helps Lance based off what is here I think its possible both red and black are in play depending on what time frame.
Others in this forum are better at interpreting black and white images and I am sure they will make some more posts so keep looking in to see what they have to say.
Regards, Rodney.
