Tigercat in a new scheme vistits Planes of Fame

[ZRX61]

No one can really say anything with regards to it being authenic while it has those "Pepboys" looking gold cylinders..

[RickH]

As was 'El Jeffe' - last year's nose art on the same Tigercat.

Si'

[StangStung]

Preferred the original "Big Bossman", but La Patron is really the same thing isn't it !

Not quite. Big Bossman = El Jefe = El Patron

La Patrona is the feminine...hence that completely period/service inappropriate airbrushed thing in the dress by the name.

Yes, I know, "it's his airplane" etc. I've heard the argument. Just because it's his doesn't mean I can't venture an opinion about it. And I know exactly what that opinion is worth as soon as I write it down, so you needn't tell me.

Still, it's a beautiful aircraft with a shiny new paintjob. And even if you want to personalize your very expensive toy it could be done well with just a little bit of effort. Just have a gander at the Spit Mk I thread, or Happy Jack's Go Buggy, or any number of others to see how it could be done. Or the Yellow Rose T-shirt for that matter. These fake boobed airbrushed tarts look like 80s pinups from a truck stop urinal to me. One thing is clear, money can't buy taste.

[Mike]

One thing is clear, money can't buy taste.

That says it all!

[ChrisDNT]

I think no words are necessary

[CAPFlyer]

And we wonder why so many owners are leaving this site...

Give it a friggin' rest people. It may be an opinion, but you sure as hell don't express it as such.

[51fixer]

And even if you want to personalize your very expensive toy it could be done well with just a little bit of effort. Just have a gander at the Spit Mk I thread, or Happy Jack's Go Buggy, or any number of others to see how it could be done.

You simply can't compare a simple repaint of any airframe with the Spit I or Happy Jacks appearance.
Unless you are able to retrieve something like George Bush's TBF from the ocean floor and then rebuild it piece by piece making each component to a "back then" off the factory floor look and then assembling it like it was done at that time so that a recreation of a historical item then has a paint scheme as worn by that item at some point in it's past then it is like apples and oranges.
For Happy Jack's they had an alum factory make the metal for that restoration and even had period Mill markings applied to the metal like it was done at the factory during WWII. The Tigercat featured Anodize on the surface of the metal so even without any paint the 2 would look different.
Just painting something as a whole aircraft will never get the same look as a restored aircraft which was disassembled during the process will. Not to mention the cost. A $40K paint job will then cost $120K.
Was this a strip and paint or did they sand and paint over the previous paint. Is there a movie or TV show this will be used in so that is why it is done this way?
Maybe Mr. Lewis doesn't like blue anymore. Maybe he wants it to match up with the Thai Bearcat when they fly together.
Who knows. But it is a flying Tigercat and for that we should be thankful.
When you joke about taste you've got to take in account of the total legacy of a someones actions. To judge on one aircraft of a collection of dozens that include aircraft like Glacier Gal and so many others that are great stock or semi stock looking aircraft is something that you reconsider. If the only aircraft you have is painted outlandish, you might be able to say that. If Mr. Lewis changes most of the paint schemes to outlandish you could say that. But not on one when he has dozens.
Hold your breath and discuss the aircraft, I don't know if WIX is the place to be judging others on taste.

[Warbird Kid]

Sorry Mr. Lewis. Not a fan. But I hope you like it!

[ChrisDNT]

About this argument :

++++++++++++++
Yes, I know, "it's his airplane" etc. I've heard the argument.
++++++++++++++

I've just bought The Joconde ; my money, you know what follows....

[ChrisDNT]

About your argument, 51fixer, all WII aircrafts don't need to be painted in exact markings.
Some civil Mustangs, especially in the 60-70, wore for instance georgeous executive schemes.
A "non-authentic" finish can be elegant, it's true. But today, it's rather rare.

[ZRX61]

Rich nailed it

Still can't find any genuine WWII photos of warbirds with CAF tramp stamps for some reason...

I quite like the new paint... there was talk of it being painted like the prototype with a big orange "TEST" on the side.. kinda strange there's no pics taken from the side.... Does it have that feature or not?

[StangStung]

And we wonder why so many owners are leaving this site...

Give it a friggin' rest people. It may be an opinion, but you sure as heck don't express it as such.

A) It's great that owners are on the site. Like anyone else, I would presume that they can go and come, more or less within certain bounds, as they please. If my paultry opinion pierces their skin so much that they can't bear to read a page on the computer anymore, and they choose to take their ball and go home, I think that's less my problem and more theirs.

B) If I really thought whether any of the owners who may pop in from time to time here gave two pennies for my thoughts, I would probably still express them exactly as I have.

C) You've expressed your opinion on my opinion. Whether I agree or not, I still support your expression of it and for anything else warbird related here.

@51 fixer:

Your point about HJGB or the Spit I is well taken. I'm not saying that "La Patrona" is a specific airframe with a specific provenance that is worthy of displaying in a specific paint job. And I agree, there are likely reasons this particular paint job was chosen to which I am not privvy and honestly, don't believe any owner owes any of us out in the warbird following world an explanation. And I am thankful that this gentleman wants to spend his money on airplanes that I enjoy seeing fly (and which I don't have to spend money on). I thought I was clear on that, but if I wasn't, I hope I am now.

You did take a leap, however, I didn't take. I wasn't passing judgment on a collection of anyone or anyone's warbirds. I was expressing my opinion about the nose art on one photo of one airplane posted on a website of followers of a very narrow subset of aviation. My opinion was just that, primarily about the nose art and how it, in mine eyes only, seems completely disjointed from the history of this aircraft type. I fully agree that he could paint it pink with purple polka dots. Even so, I'd still say, "Hey, I think pink with purple polka dots is silly." And as I mentioned, I wouldn't expect the owner of this aircraft or any other to care about it.

As far as where to discuss tastefulness of nose art on vintage warbirds, I can't think of a better forum.

[MX304]

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That's the one that was owned by Daryl Greenamyer and recently sold to a new owner. It's in Chino to finish up the restoration.

[steve dickey]

Rich nailed it

Still can't find any genuine WWII photos of warbirds with CAF tramp stamps for some reason...

I quite like the new paint... there was talk of it being painted like the prototype with a big orange "TEST" on the side.. kinda strange there's no pics taken from the side.... Does it have that feature or not?

The "TEST" was painted on the nose.

[StangStung]

^^^Clearly no room for that here....

...sorry, couldn't resist, the set up was too good. Flame away: