"Shiny Stallion"

[Bomber_12th]

Just a bit more polish than they originally came with. ; )

I just need to replace the external-model seat texture with the correct one, add the proper placards to the cockpit (all the correct numbers/details), and I'll upload it.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_1_zps41f893db.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_1_zps41f893db.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_2_zps3c11e90d.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_2_zps3c11e90d.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/Image2_zpsd5ad186a.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/Image2_zpsd5ad186a.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_4_zps2b86d744.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_4_zps2b86d744.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_5_zpsfad19038.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_5_zpsfad19038.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_6_zps99c195cb.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_6_zps99c195cb.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_7_zps6fd6310f.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_7_zps6fd6310f.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/polished_8_zps0b42003a.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/polished_8_zps0b42003a.jpg.html)

[Flyboy208]

Beautiful work John ! Mike :wiggle:

[skyhawka4m]

Wow....drooling!!!!!

[Quicksand]

"WOW!" is all I can say.. Beautiful paint, John!

[Ian Warren]

I'm to scared to touch my PC screen and leave a smudge :eek:... SO :cool:

[warchild]

Over in the Star Citizen forums they've just started making a big deal of Physically based rendering for their game. Ive been keeping my mouth shut, but ive SO wanted to laugh because we've been doing it here for years.. Fantastic work John.. Thank you..

[noddy]

You are an artist, wonderful.

[WarHorse47]

Beautiful. Looking forward to this one....

[racartron]

Which 'stang version is this beauty for?

[huub vink]

Where did I leave my sunglasses? Great polishing John :D!

[Bradburger]

Which 'stang version is this beauty for?

I was going to ask the same question!

Anyway, looking good as always John.

You really do know how to take great screenshots to show off your superb work!

Cheers

Paul

[WarHorse47]

Which way did he go?? :culpability:

[Bomber_12th]

I'm very sorry guys for not having this uploaded yet! I thought I would add another repaint with it, showing the aircraft as it now appears. Here's a little rundown:

Having been purchased by Jack Croul in 2007, this particular Mustang (44-74202) was, for the most part, restored by Vintage Airframes in Caldwell, Idaho (same place that did the restoration of the Museum of Flight's P-51D (Eagleston markings), and is restoring the incredible combat-vet P-47 "Dottie Mae"). After the main airframe was completed, it was sent to Westpac Restorations, in Colorado, for fitting-out. It then came to Fighter Rebuilders for the last/final touches (such as the fitting of new (perfect) wing-to-fuselage fairings). The aircraft was finished and first flown in late Spring of 2012, finished in basic "factory" markings (though it should have an OD glare panel for accuracy (and of course less polish)). The aircraft joined Jack Croul's other, already flying P-51D (44-73420), both in factory markings (formation shots of these two together in the air were published in several warbird magazines last year). This particular Mustang was soon sold, however, to Robert Dickson Sr. and R. Dickson Jr. by late summer 2012, flying to its new home from Chino, CA to Concord, NC. Through researching local vets, they came across the story of Lt. Col. Will Ford, who is still alive, and flew with the 357th FG during WWII. The decision was then made to paint their factory-fresh Mustang in the markings of Will Ford's original 357th FG mount, which was named "Swamp Fox". Great care was taken in recreating the original markings accurately (and even removing the exhaust shrouds, as was done with the original "Swamp Fox"). This past summer the aircraft was shown at EAA Airventure Oshkosh, sporting replica 108-gallon paper tanks, and took home the "Best WWII Fighter" award. Will Ford has since been reunited with "his" aircraft again.

(On a slightly related note, Jack Croul's other P-51D (44-73420) was also sold, a few months ago, and is also now based on the East coast, owned by Andrew McKenna (who is keeping it in factory markings).)

Here's a depiction of how 44-74202 looks today. This will be included with the factory-marked version, so that you can fly the aircraft in both schemes (then and now). ; )

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_1_zps332be00e.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_1_zps332be00e.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_2_zpsa1673c4c.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_2_zpsa1673c4c.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_3_zps13122380.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_3_zps13122380.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_5_zpsf3b5b81c.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_5_zpsf3b5b81c.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_6_zps7e8f1231.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_6_zps7e8f1231.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_8_zps08120845.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_8_zps08120845.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_9_zps65a7873d.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_9_zps65a7873d.jpg.html)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/Bomber_12th/swamp_fox_10_zpsc2c2ebec.jpg~original (http://s7.photobucket.com/user/Bomber_12th/media/swamp_fox_10_zpsc2c2ebec.jpg.html)

[Bomber_12th]

I hope to get them packaged together and uploaded tonight, if all goes to plan! I made them to be applied to the "Geraldine" model (restored/civie) included with "Mustang Tales", but, with a few hours, I can make them for another model of choosing.

[WarHorse47]

Shucks, Bomber. They look fantastic. :welcoming:

I figured with the nasty weather back in Minnesota, you were holed up somewhere just cranking out the repaints. No rush. Just wanted to make sure you weren't snowed under.

[Greenhouse357]

Very nice John!

[Bradburger]

Thanks for the info on this particular P-51 (44-74202)John.

I came across this video about the aircraft on YouTube : -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9mPGVDL0xU

Cheers

Paul

[WarHorse47]

Uh, oh. Looks like we lost him again. :frown-new:

What's the latest, Bomber??

[WarHorse47]

Thanks, Bomber. These are beautiful. Much appreciated. :adoration::adoration::adoration:

[Bomber_12th]

I'm sorry it took so long to finally get them finished and uploaded! It seemed like I used to have all the time in the world for these things, and now I'm lucky to get a few short breaks, here and there, throughout the week...busy, busy, busy. ; ) I hope you enjoy them! (my latest screenshots of these, I posted to the Screenshots thread)