Well, I am really interested in Beech C-45's and think it would be my first warbird if I was able to get one, which I am actively working towards. I know I am getting ahead of myself, as I sort of need a plane first, but I am already thinking about what paint scheme I would want to paint it in.
While I like the looks of a nicely polished C-45, I do not think the upkeep of such a finish will be possible for me at this time, therefore any aircraft I get will be painted or repainted. I have decided that I definately want it to be restored to a WWII Vintage and have narrowed my choice down to two schemes, a WWII Olive Drab and Meatball insignia or a WWII Desert or Forest Camo of if they truly had those schemes as some of the pictures online suggest.
I am really leaning towards the OD scheme as my favorite for some reason (think it is the meatball Insignia). However, in searching for pictures online, there is a real lack of them. I have been able to find three so far, but they have not answered all my questions.
MARK, I know you previously had a thread of pictures of C-45's, but I can't seem to find it. If you could possibly post some pictures in this thread, I would greatly appreciate it.I am hoping there are some people here who might be able to shed some history on the paint schemes as it seems just about every plane today is different from one another.
These are the few questions I am really hoping to get answered.1) How rare was it to have OD C-45's during WWII and where would they have been found and of what use were they for?
2) Where C-45's used outside of the CONUS during WWII?
3) For Meatball insignia Birds, was the standard insignia locations the normal Top Left Wing, Bottom Right Wing and Two Fuselage Sides? Or did they have them on the Top of Both wings as suggested by this model kit? And if they indeed were on both Tops, were any on the bottom as the one picture from below makes it look like ARMY is written under the Left Wing, but I could not find any photos shot from the right side at all.
Does that say Army?
I know this is not a Meatball, but it at least is a OD
I actually just found this photo while writing this post... But before finding it, I was hoping to find a photo like this, but only original as the thought of the Pre-WWII Flag on the tail seemed like it could look really good. Though it would look a lot better if a single color on that plane had been the correct military paint shades...