FHC P-40C Repaint

[Ken]

I hadn't heard any complaints about the P-38 at Udvar-Hazy. Plain jane but still a sweet historical preservation.

[The Inspector]

Or the '38 @ Hills museum

[mustangdriver]

I understand the point on restoring it in Russian markings, and yes that would have been the most accurate thing to do. However did someone say that US markings were visible beneath the Russian ones?
What was the condition of the plane when recoverd. If it needed extensive restoration and was incomplete, then it would not be compatable to the NASM P-38. The Memphis Belle is not just a combat vet. It is on the same level as the Enola Gay and Spirit of St. Louis. if this P-40 was perhaps flown by the most celebrated Russian ace, then it may be different. I for one think for those of us into the AVG, that this is very important as it is an accurate representation of a Flying Tiger P-40 on the correct model. Let's go paint an N model in Russian markings, but these are just my opinions. Everyone is entitled to theirs.

[kalamazookid]

Warbird owners paint P-40Es in AVG markings, and people complain because they're not P-40Bs. Then an owner puts a P-40B in AVG markings and people complain some more because it should be in Russian markings. The lesson as always: you can't win.

I think Paul Allen should just say screw everybody and paint it in a Seattle Seahawks promo scheme.

[Chappie]

Very cool. I love the scheme. Can't wait to see more photos! Is there someone out there with a Corsair in Boyington's markings? That'd be a cool Boyington Heritage Flight!


Chappie

[mustangdriver]

If you look in the mirror and say that five times fast Jack Cook will show up and punch you in the face.

[Sasquatch]

Very cool. I love the scheme. Can't wait to see more photos! Is there someone out there with a Corsair in Boyington's markings? That'd be a cool Boyington Heritage Flight!

Chappie

Isn't that Corsair at Chino's Planes of Fame painted in Boyington's scheme?

This one:
http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1b/Chino09 ... rsair.html

If so, I'd be watching out for Jack

--Tom

[Warbird Kid]

If you look in the mirror and say that five times fast Jack Cook will show up and punch you in the face.

Somebody's been seeing the Paranormal Activity 3 trailer a little too much.

[gregv]

It's nice to see an accurate AVG scheme on an accurate aircraft, and I think it's great the time and effort these guys are putting into it. Sure it's a bit of a bummer that it's not in it's original markings, but it can always be repainted as such later if desired (assuming the original surviving markings were documented). No offense to anyone, but Russian schemes don't typically seem to have much pizzazz. To give FHC credit, their CC&F Hurricane is finished in a scheme of a unit that operated this type locally and didn't go overseas; they could easily have finished it as a representative Mk II from a European or African theatre unit, but instead chose something more accurate & esoteric vs a crowd-grabber. Seems like a nice balance.

greg v.

[CDF]

Warbird owners paint P-40Es in AVG markings, and people complain because they're not P-40Bs. Then an owner puts a P-40B in AVG markings and people complain some more because it should be in Russian markings. The lesson as always: you can't win. .

Well stated

[Chappie]

Isn't that Corsair at Chino's Planes of Fame painted in Boyington's scheme?

This one:
http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1b/Chino09 ... rsair.html

If so, I'd be watching out for Jack

--Tom

Well, I know that #799 was one of the Corsairs that appereaed in the TV-series, but wasn't aware that it might currently be in a scheme of a Corsair Boyington might have flown. I'll have to look that up!

Chappie

[k5083]

No, the POF Corsair is painted in something approximating its own wartime identity.

No flying Corsair is currently painted as a Boyington bird. CAF's used to be, as #883. One or two flying Corsairs have been painted as the famous #86 over the years, possibly including POF's, but you'd have to go back to the 60s or 70s for that.

Of course, temporary markings on POF's or any of several other airworthy Corsairs could easily be applied for purposes of a shoot.

BTW, why has Boyington's name come up? This is painted as Neale's bird, correct?

August

[mustangdriver]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I always found it intersting that the famous #86 that he was pictured in was not his airplane, nor was that airplane even a VMF-214 aircraft. It was just handy where they took the photo. Yet so many models and paintings are made of that aircraft. It is interesting that no VMF-214 pilot had "their own" plane. Boyington said that he trusted the mechanics enough that they would just drive a jeep down the flight line and the mechanics would give a thumbs up or down, and the gus would go to a good aircraft. He seemed to have good things to say about the ground crews. atleast in one of the books I was reading.

[JOMiller]

Chris is dead on accurate. At that point in the war
you flew what was "up". The #86' and LLulubelle"
were just for PR. I got to talk with a number of
those guys when they were still around. Harry John-
son will tell you today they set up a camera and guys
got in and out for the home town hero photos.

[Django]

It looks like to me that this will be the most accurate AVG P-40 to date. How can that be bad? I will agree, it would be neat for there to be a true survivor B/C in Russian markings, and Paul Allen has historically strived for excellence in his restoration projects... however, much like Paul Allen's final decision, I don't think I could bring myself to put it into the Russian markings, especially when nearly every single flying P-40 in AVG markings is not accuarate at all. I'm not sure of the real numbers but they only had a handful of E models. So he has an opportunity to have THE version by which all other AVG marked planes will be judged. I think he made the right choice.