Misawa Bomb Group Betty

[Greebo]

Thanks to Lyric1 for finding me the photos that this skin is based on.

This G4M1 Betty bomber was art of the IJNAF's  Misawa Bomb Group based at Rabaul in the summer of 1942. From here this Group attacked Allied bases in the Solomons including Guadalcanal. Many of the aircraft in this Group show evidence of extensive paint chipping and repair. This one appears to have been no exception, with the walked on areas of the upper surfaces repainted in a darker or less faded shade of green. Unusually for a G4M1 the natural metal finish on the lower surfaces has been extended around the leading edges of the wings and tail.

[puller]

 

[Vraciu]

Nice work.

[Nefarious]

Excellent Work! The panels and detail is really great. 

PM sent.

[Spikes]

 

[lyric1]

 

[Devil 505]

very nice.

[Greebo]

Lyric1 has just found some more info on this aircraft and it seems I have misinterpreted the scheme. So I have adapted the skin to match this new info.

The leading edges of the wings were not natural metal as I had assumed but painted, most likely in red. This was due to a High Command August 1942 directive to paint the inner half of the wing leading edges of all aircraft either red or yellow for IFF purposes. Initially some units mistakenly painted the whole leading edge which seems to be what's happened here. While yellow was almost universally used for this ID marking later on here the shade seems to match the red of the Hinomaru marking so that's what I have gone for. The leading edge of the fin may have been painted as a visual aid for the dorsal gunner to prevent him shooting it off.

[lyric1]

 

[Vraciu]

Cool.

[Volron]

In the first picture of your modified Betty, there seems to be a "cut" in the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, above the ID number.  In your original post, it's not there when it was natural metal.  Is this intentional?

[FTJR]

just love the weathering, nice job Greebo (as usual)

[Greebo]

In the first picture of your modified Betty, there seems to be a "cut" in the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, above the ID number.  In your original post, it's not there when it was natural metal.  Is this intentional?

Yes it is intentional, its something I noticed on the photos second time round. I think it relates to the aircraft being switched from the group's second squadron who used a horizontal stripe marking that was painted over, to the third squadron who used a vertical one.

[lyric1]

In the first picture of your modified Betty, there seems to be a "cut" in the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, above the ID number.  In your original post, it's not there when it was natural metal.  Is this intentional?

[Volron]

Yes it is intentional, its something I noticed on the photos second time round. I think it relates to the aircraft being switched from the group's second squadron who used a horizontal stripe marking that was painted over, to the third squadron who used a vertical one.

Alrighty.  Awesome work! 

(Image removed from quote.)

Lyric FTW!  Thank you.