P-51B "First Of The Few" - 31st FG, 309th FS - AH3 Adoption

[Vraciu]

This P-51B named "First Of The Few" was part of the 31st FG, 309th FS.   I could find no details about the airplane or who flew it.   My only reference photos were a couple of grainy thumbnails cached by search engines.   Very frustrating.

It is olive drab over gray but had the paint stripped off the tail, presumably to make the red stripes more visible.  It was originally skinned by Player1.  I retained his version of these (cleaned up) as a hat tip to his artistry.   This is one that really didn't need much to update it—I could have almost gotten away with a restoration rather than a redraw as the basic work done was quite good overall.   However, since my name is going to be on it I went ahead and did everything over.

The top two screenshots are the final final final version.  The other two I found a couple of things to tweak, but I didn't want to go take more shots.  They're good enough to get the idea I hope.   

[Vraciu]

Comparison to the original.   





Resized Image Test:

[Devil 505]

Very nice

I love the contrast between the OD and yellow stripes on the wings.

[Vraciu]

Very nice

I love the contrast between the OD and yellow stripes on the wings.

Thanks, Sensei.   

[oboe]

Much nicer than the original, Vraciu.   Big improvement!

[Vraciu]

Much nicer than the original, Vraciu.   Big improvement!

Thank you, Chairman.    The upload pixelated the tail stripes some otherwise it might look a bit better.   

[lyric1]

 

[FTJR]

Very nice V.

[Greebo]

Looks a lot better than before Vraciu, well done.

[Vraciu]

Thanks, gents.   

The leading edge paint has some erosion on the stripes and paint chips.  These angles don’t show that well...   

[Puma44]

Very nice work!  For reference only, a view of the exhaust stain on Crazy Horse 2.

 

[Vraciu]

Very nice work!  For reference only, a view of the exhaust stain on Crazy Horse 2.

 

Yeah I am trying to imagine it with people rubbing up against it, etc.   I have the exhaust figured out for my NMF airplanes.  Not so much for olive drab.     Will probably tweak this one a tad more before I submit it.  Thanks for the photo. 

[oboe]

I've had trouble with adding dark colors for engine soot and grime - it may look OK while in Photoshop, but in game the dark color shows up as reddish brown if applied over the top of drab green.  Tried many things as work around but still not completely satisfied.

[Vraciu]

I've had trouble with adding dark colors for engine soot and grime - it may look OK while in Photoshop, but in game the dark color shows up as reddish brown if applied over the top of drab green.  Tried many things as work around but still not completely satisfied.

Well at least I know it’s not just me.   

 

[Vraciu]

Maybe I can just widen it.  Then again, the whole spiraling slipstream theory could explain why the two sides wouldn’t match.