'Mission From Debden' - start to finish ...

[Chicoartist]

I have shown the images in the order they were "addressed" on this project. Some images may look like dupes, but look carefully and you'll see subtle changes between them. If you scroll down fast enough, you'll see it as a poor-man's "film".






















































































And, the most recent photo:



The final art to be posted in a few weeks or so ...

Wade

Last edited by Chicoartist on Fri May 16, 2008 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Ztex]

What an amazing process! I had no idea how this was done, thanks for sharing.

Cool!

[Django]

Wow, that is fantastic. Can't wait to see it completed. Thanks for posting the process!

[Starduster77]

That is excellent .
Was that Maj. Goodson P-51B before Capt. Van Wyk got it?
Eric

[Chicoartist]

. . . Was that Maj. Goodson P-51B before Capt. Van Wyk got it?

Yes -

Here's a description I did of the actual WWII photos at the top of my post:

Overall view of VF-X, the "Flying Dutchman", parked along the 336th FS flightline at the southwestern perimeter of Debden. This particular picture was taken circa late-July and late-August 1944, based on the Invasion Stripe "removal" stage seen here (removed from top of wings and fuselage, but present on bottom of fuselage and wings), and when the 4th took the time to remove the stripes per orders. Note "Colonel" in the lower corner keeping an eye on things!

This unpublished photo was very interesting to me for several reasons. Digging deep into my 4th FG archives, it turns out that this plane, 4848, was previously assigned to well-known ace Jim Goodson as VF-B, and was twice flown by "Goody" on D-Day. As the new bubbletop D-models were coming on line at about that time, it was a sure bet that Goodson as 336th's Squadron Commander was going to get a new one soon; in fact the very next day Van Wyk acquired 4848 (quickly recoded VF-X, we may assume) as his very own, with Goodson getting a new D-model. The Dutchman art, again, I'm assuming, was applied to 4848 sometime before the 21 June-5 July FRANTIC mission.

Though it was tempting to show the Mustang exactly as it looks here, I couldn't resist (as you'll see later) showing 4848 in full invasion stripes. With a bit of wear on the stripes, and the use of 108 gallon paper drop tanks on the racks for an escort mission rather than bombs for an interdiction sortie, my intention is to document the short period at Debden from July 5th, the date they returned from the Shuttle mission, and late July, when the 4th complied with the order to remove the invasion stripes from the upper surfaces.

Wade

[Clave]

I also had no idea of the process... just staggering!

Great work!

[retroaviation]

Geez-Loiuse! That is a bunch of work. Great job!!!

Gary

[p51]

As an artist myself, I always love seeing the process as it differs wildly from one artist to the next! I am curious as to what reference you used for the Jeep itself: As a WW2 Jeep owner, I immediately noticed this in your finished work. Not to pick nits that have already been picked, but us military vehicle types are pretty picky about such things. But along with that, we're pretty used to aviation artists missing wheeled vehicle details. Even Jim Dietz, who's work I love (and I'm in a few of his paintings) and has a great eye for "ground" details, has had some goof ups in vehicles. Even using collector's vehicles can be a risky thing as many collectors trick out their vehicles in ways not often seen on the battlefields. Many Jeeps back then lacked "jerry" cans and spare tires, they often didn't have working headlights and the windshields were down (or off) quite often as well. You also see Jeeps at air fields without the shovels and axes. But only "vehicle people" such as myself would know this after a lot of research…
Jeeps are deceptive things. They look so simple at first glance, until you either try to draw one or work on one. ONLY then do you realize how complex they really are!

[Chicoartist]

Here's the final result, along with a few "extreme" closeups ...


Mission From Debden
19 x 42. Oil on linen
Completed 2008
Private Collection

Having returned from the first 8th AF-flown Russia Shuttle mission (Operation FRANTIC) less than two weeks earlier, 4th Fighter Group pilot Capt. Neil "Dutch" Van Wyk steals a quick glance at his dog "Colonel" as he prepares to depart from Debden on an escort mission circa mid-July 1944. Van Wyk's P-51B was appropriately named FLYING DUTCHMAN. "Dutch" flew with the 4th from October 1943 until February 1945. Though not an ace, Van Wyk was regarded as a solid troop and promoted to squadron operations officer, leading many missions.


This painting was juried (along with my Fighting 17 Corsair) into the American Society of Aviation Artists 2008 International Aerospace Art Exhibition, to take place at The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA - June 16 to Sept 14.




A very special thanks to fellow artist Russell Smith for posing with his dog Rembrandt as models for the officer with "Colonel".









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EDIT - This painting was awarded the Boeing "Spirit of Flight" award at the 2008 ASAA exhibition -



Wade

[bobbrunn]

Awesome stuff Wade! I enjoyed your work at the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum.

[Chicoartist]

. . . I enjoyed your work at the Mighty Eighth Heritage Museum.

Thanks! We are due to be back at the 8th AF Museum in 2010 for another "Southern Wings" show. The ASAA (American Society of Aviation Artists) will hold our annual exhibition and forum there next year.

Wade