Dislikable paint schemes and markings

[John Dupre]

Here are mine:


3. The "Tomcatters" scheme on Super Hornets. That's just wrong. It would be like having a girlfriend die and then dressing up someone else in her clothes and calling her the same name. It's just weird.

.

I am probably wrong but didn't the Tomcatter's scheme predate the Tomcat? Doesn't it date back to pre WW2 Navy schemes?

[Obergrafeter]

Brad................you give a great dissertatiion on how you would paint your warbird. But, a big mistake was made..............you forget to mention the required invasion stripes no matter what type or year airplane you have!

[Ken]

improperly constructed national insignia.

Does it strike anyone as odd that the star and bar was painted at least 4 times on thousands upon thousands of aircraft yet I don't think I've ever seen it wrong on a factory airplane? And those were painted in wartime by folks who may not have had much painting/masking experience. And they did just fine.

So many things in our daily life that require attention to detail seem to suffer, but there are 2 things that normally seem to be consistently correct: airport runway/taxiway markings and highway road signs. Sure, there will always be goofs, but it amazes me how often they get it right. Did you know that the small interstate exit number sign placed at the top of the large sign naming the exit is offset either left or right to indicate which side the exit is on? Government workers getting it right (or left)! Rock on!

[ZRX61]

But, a big mistake was made..............you forget to mention the required invasion stripes no matter what type or year airplane you have!

Or pick-up...



First $3K takes it...

[k5083]

improperly constructed national insignia.

Does it strike anyone as odd that the star and bar was painted at least 4 times on thousands upon thousands of aircraft yet I don't think I've ever seen it wrong on a factory airplane? And those were painted in wartime by folks who may not have had much painting/masking experience. And they did just fine.

So many things in our daily life that require attention to detail seem to suffer, but there are 2 things that normally seem to be consistently correct: airport runway/taxiway markings and highway road signs. Sure, there will always be goofs, but it amazes me how often they get it right. Did you know that the small interstate exit number sign placed at the top of the large sign naming the exit is offset either left or right to indicate which side the exit is on? Government workers getting it right (or left)! Rock on!

I agree with both points. As to highway road signs though, there is one goof I see a lot. Those rectangular signs with the diagonal black/yellow stripes, signifying caution to avoid an obstruction, are supposed to be oriented so that the stripes slope down toward the direction you are supposed to go. In other words if the stripes slope like "/" you are supposed to drive to the left of the sign; if they slope like "\" you are supposed to drive to the right. About half the time, I see signs that if read literally, are instructing you to crash into the median rather than drive around it. Luckily motorists don't understand the signs any more than the road crews do!

August

[Django]

A. I agree on the mix and match markings: Postwar National Insignia with WWII markings in a multitude of configurations is ridiculous.

B. I also don't like non-period correct nose art.

As for nose art on planes that it doesn't "belong" because it's not a combat aircraft... what about all the Jeeps, trucks, tent flaps, duffel bags and God knows what else that got "nose art"? If given the chance, a T-6 could have gotten some artwork. But see point B. If you're going to put it on a T-6 for the fun factor, an airbrushed Farrah Fawcett just looks dumb!

[EDowning]

Any scheme with polka dots.

[Jesse C.]

And what is wrong with Polka Dots?

[gregv]

Interesting thread. A few things I've noticed:

-shark's mouths on P-40's
-suedo-AVG artwork on P-40's
-ultra-airbrushed noseart with cutesy names
-super accurate factory-fresh-style paint & markings with ultra-airbrushed noseart with cutesy names
-yet more Jolly Rogers Corsairs
-French Navy Corsairs being repainted as Jolly Rogers....
-Old Crow Mustangs....how about a Berlin Express or a Ding Hao! B/C-model instead?
-neat & tidy invasion stripes
-incorrect/dubious paint colors; there's enough information (and misinformation) out there at the touch of a keyboard or visit to a local hobby shop to get at least the paint colors right


What I really like though is that there's folks out there who have the resources to actually buy, maintain & fly old aircraft, so hat's off to all of them, regardless of what they paint their aircraft like.

greg v.

[Garth]

Early F-102 Deuce markings, with the small national insignia on the nose and the U.S. AIR FORCE curved to fit on the intakes.

Makes it look like a 5 & Dime Store toy.

http://www.xf90.com/images/F-102/F-102-300-61041.jpg

[Ztex]

Interesting thread.
Tomcatters....in non-tomcats.




I like Vans in warbird paint... If I had an RV-8 I'd paint it in 465th BG B-24 colors...



And nose art is just plain fun....military paint or not! (and I am looking for a good one to put on my Honda)


There are a few warbird paint jobs out there that I don't like too much, some with a modern twist that are a bit funky....
But it NEVER detracts from the airplane underneath...especially if they are flying!


Mod hat on:
Just Be Nice out there!

Fun discussion!

[Clifford Bossie]

Here are mine:


3. The "Tomcatters" scheme on Super Hornets. That's just wrong. It would be like having a girlfriend die and then dressing up someone else in her clothes and calling her the same name. It's just weird.

.

I am probably wrong but didn't the Tomcatter's scheme predate the Tomcat? Doesn't it date back to pre WW2 Navy schemes?

Indeed the Tomcatters predate the F-14 era. Starting with the F4B-4 the unit has flown F3F, F4F, F6F, F8F, F9F, F2H, F3H, F-4, F-14 and now F-18 aircraft. And I am sure I have left something out! http://www.tomcattersassociation.org/VF-31/vf-31.htm

The funky F-102 scheme mentioned is one I do not like, nor do I like the looks of the short tailed Huns and Deuces. Never really cared for just the TAC lightning bolt on the tail either.

[kalamazookid]

Yeah, I know the Tomcatters go way back. I have actually built models of a "Tomcatters" Wildcat and Bearcat. I guess my point is that if you the name of a unit that fits a plane so well, why not retire the unit with the aircraft? I'm also not really a fan of the Super Hornet looks-wise in general so that really doesn't help, and I think the "Tomcatters" scheme doesn't look very good on it. Maybe if they tried doing more of a retro scheme it would look better, but the way it is now just isn't attractive to me. Just not nearly as classy-looking an aircraft or scheme as the unit has flown previously.

As for warbirds, nothing really gets on my nerves that much except for the hideous noseart on the Tigercats. For some reason, that's the only type it bothers me on. I could care less whether somebody wants to paint a P-40 pink or whatever. It's their plane, they can do what they want with it.

As for the trainers with girly noseart, I remember meeting a guy who owned a BT-13 that put the noseart of the B-17 he flew in WWII on it. Sometimes, it's not the "wannabees" that do that. Maybe some of the trainer noseart has something to do with a family member, or the previous owner.

[PeterA]

Here is a P-51 I captured back in 1974...shortly before the 'Invasion stripes' were applied.

PeterA