IRIS Kittyhawk 15 Sq RNZAF

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ May 8 2010, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now, I don't know anything about this plane... but is the cat on both sides of the nose?

Shes looking Great , pointed out , the aircraft id in the airshow livery off today .. not the way she was during the period

[Wildbillkelso]

Thanks for this kind feedback, guys!

QUOTE (Syncop8r @ May 8 2010, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... but is the cat on both sides of the nose?

Referring to this pic here:
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/pages/01ofmc28.html
the cat and the killmarks were applied on port side only for this Duxford 2001 version.

Geoff Fisken's original "Wairarapa Wildcat" (NZ3072) apparently wore the cat and the #19 on starboard side too:
http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/gf.html

Cheers,
Markus.

[Wildbillkelso]

Ooops!

Last minute change:
Just found out that the ailerons didn't show the white ID bands:

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/399362.html
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/399355.html

Have to fix it...

[Wildbillkelso]

Go get it now!

http://flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=146250
Name: kitty_zkrmh2001.zip

[Wildbillkelso]

Next in line will be Geoff Fisken's NZ3072, the "original" Wairarapa Wildcat.
Great references here:
http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/gf.html

I assume it was painted in Foliage Green (FS24092), but the RGB values of this colour make this aircraft look quite turquoise:



Can anyone confirm this Foliage Green?

[Ian Warren]

Indeed was Foliage Green and also known as Grey Green , course the white white markings were put on , orders from the American South West Commander decreed all P-40s as there was a few incidents were there were mix ups with the Japanese 'Tony' .

[Wildbillkelso]

Thanks for confirming the Foliage Green, Ian!
But is this depicted shade correct?

Unfortunately, I don't have any coloured references on this certain green tone.
For it looks quite unusual to me, compared to the more accustomed Olive Drab, I needed to know if the RGB values used above do represent the accurate green shade.

Cheers,
Markus.

[Adamski]

Great stuff! Would love to see this repaint in Real Life!!

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Wildbillkelso @ May 13 2010, 12:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Unfortunately, I don't have any coloured references on this certain green tone.

I'll scan and post you the couple off colour templates and photos i have and get them to you .

[Wildbillkelso]

Thanks, mates!
Looking foreward to it, Ian!

Anyone out for a dirty cat?
What do you think about this one?





Just did some tweaking on the 'dirt&stain section' (duplicating and colourizing the "weathering" layer and fiddling with their opacities).
Furthermore, I created the perforated air intake panel (just in front of the exhaust rack) of the Mk.III model (still have to add it to the port side...).

Juicy, isn't it?

[Markk]

Looks great Markus!!
However I thought NZ3072 was in olive drab at that time (I may be wrong) might have been a greeny shade of olive drab but I do have some book references to it having the foliage green put on it after its tour of duty in the Pacific.

[Wildbillkelso]

Hmmm - US Olive Drab 41 (FS34087) comes up like that:





Not bad either...

Let's consider the facts we have:
F/O Geoffrey Bryson Fisken's NZ3072 was a P-40M-5-CU, c/n 27193, Bu.No. 43-5505.
IRIS does not provide the M (Mk.III) model, but I think the Allison-powered E (Mk.Ia) version with the carburretor air scoop on top comes close to it.

This site
http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/p40col.html
tells about the colours of the P-40Ks and Ms:

"The first of the 'K' models appear to have been received in the Dark Green/Dark Earth/Pale Blue scheme with Red/White/Blue roundels in six positions and the wide unequal width fin flash. The demarkation between the upper and lower colours was in a 'wavy' form, not usually seen on any other P-40 marks.
As with the E models, these colours were probably the U.S. equivalents. (Drawing B)
Later deliveries of K's were in the Olive Drab/ Neutral Gray scheme, and many appeared to have the spinner painted O.D.
On Operational aircraft, the central red dot of the RAF type roundels was soon reduced to a tiny 1" dot at first (drawing C), then by May 1943, this began to be replaced with a central dot of RNZAF Roundel Blue in various diameters. (drawing E)
This measure was adopted to avoid any large areas of red showing on aircraft, as this could, and was, often taken as being the Japanese Hinomaru during the heat of combat.
Most of these aircraft appear to have been repainted, firstly with the Dark Earth areas repainted in (NZ) Sea Blue Grey, then the whole aircraft was repainted in the Foliage Green/(NZ) Sky Grey scheme. Later aircraft were received in the standard USAAF colours of Olive Drab uppers, (some with the Medium Green patches on leading edge of wings, tailplanes and fin), with Neutral Grey undersides. (drawing D).

By May /June, 6" identity stripes in white were painted fore and aft of the cockpit, diagonally across the fin and rudder, diagonally across the tailplanes, and diagonally across the wings (upper and lower). These stripes were added to stop confusion between the P-40's and the superficially similar layout of the Japanese Ki.61 'Tony'. Needless to say, this measure didn't always work!

The surviving K's and M's were ferried back to New Zealand when sufficient supplies of the N's reached the Islands, and most were repainted in Foliage Green/ (NZ) Sky Grey. "

Aircam Aviation Series No. 6 on the Kittyhawk Mk.I-IV in Commenwealth service provides some fine contemporary pics of ID-band-bearing Mk.IIIs and IVs and claims "Olive Drab" for the upper surfaces. Not a sign of "Foliage Green".

Still confusing...

Any more ideas?

[Markk]

well, I like the foliage green, it looks better than the olive drab!
The reference doesnt say what the P-40ms were originally before receiving the coat of foliage green back at home...perhaps both p-40ms and later ks were delivered at the same time so it may be assumed that they were in the O/D scheme with the green blotches. I don't really know for sure though. Havent got any more ideas.
only one man to ask, and that's Geoff Fisken or someone else who knows! But the foliage green looks great, I think it would be OK as it was in foliage green later on., I would be happy with that and perhaps the other guys here would be too.

[Wildbillkelso]

QUOTE (Markk @ May 14 2010, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But the foliage green looks great, I think it would be OK as it was in foliage green later on., I would be happy with that and perhaps the other guys here would be too.

Good point, mate!
After all, it's just a matter of taste, so why not letting the customer decide?
I'll offer both greens in one package. No big thing, for I'll just have to change one simple green layer before merging them.

So this is going to be a "two-in-one" pack!

Time for packing!

Cheers,
Markus.

[K5054NZ]

The Olive Drab looks superb! That's the one I'll fly, looks just like my model of NZ3072: http://arcair.com/Gal8/7601-7700/gal7627-P-40-Yates/00.shtm

[K5054NZ]

Correction: it IS the one I AM flying.



Great job on the paint, I have a feeling this is my new favourite -40 to virtually fly.

[Wildbillkelso]

Thanks, mate!
Glad you like it.

In the meantime, I fiddled on the model file to get rid of this nasty shine, unappropriate for a war-beaten battleaxe like this.
Without specular shine, it looks like this:



My almost-ready-for-upload RCAF desert scheme deserves this de-shined model as well:





I contacted IRIS to obtain permission to bundle the tweaked model file along with the repaint, still waiting for their "GO!"...

Cheers,
Markus.

[Ian Warren]

Markus , it quite impressive to see the types loose there glow after being at Wanaka , early days Sir Tim had his then young Sons wiping and cleaning the Spitfire ' circa' 1992-96 back , recent mentioned was the many different paints the aircraft wore over such a short period .. sorta kept it tidy

Paints Looking good , i didnt get that template to you , did you still require it ?

[Wildbillkelso]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jun 3 2010, 03:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

... i didnt get that template to you , did you still require it ?

No thanks, matey!
This job is done.
Matt Wynn of IRIS just announced to release an improved paint kit for the FS2004 P-40 soon, so maybe other repainters might be interested so set their digital brushes on her.
So I'll probably restrain myself from this ol' gal a little...

Cheers,
Markus.

[K5054NZ]

Am absolutely loving the Wildcat, Markus! Thank you very much for your hard work!