Warbird paintjobs... gawdy colours

[Liberator]

Some very gawdy artwork on derelict R4D / C-117 i believe? Good artwork to wrap around the fuselages and wings.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/m ... ASM+Tucson

[Nathan]

I know where these are at. I was hoping to be able to document the markings. Ah well.

[mustangdriver]

I really like the DC-3 cockpitpaintedlikea postcard. Seems fitting. I wonder if these came from the boneyard itself as there is an area that still has DC-3's and some older stuff still in it.

[the330thbg]

When I first saw this, I thought from the header it was going to be more bad choices for warbird colors., but I was pleasantly, very pleasantly surprised.

Cool shots!

Thanks!

[WallyB]

I wonder if these came from the boneyard itself as there is an area that still has DC-3's and some older stuff still in it.

They came from the various breakers' yards which surround Davis-Monthan (AMARC) and there's lots of other airplanes 'resting' in them. This site has more details, although none of the photos seem to work http://www.amarcexperience.com/Scrapyards.asp

[k5083]

I got to see/shoot these birds at the museum a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't approach for close-ups. They had painted up a twin Beech as well.

I'm of two minds about it. The planes are derelict, not of great individual historic importance, and the benefits (publicity, visitors) outweigh any qualms about defacing them.

From an aesthetic point of view though I find it ironic. As an airplane shutterbug I'm used to seeing the planes themselves as having aesthetic merit; either art, or something you can make art with through a fairly literal representation. The DC-3 is one of the great design triumphs of the modernist/deco period. Arguably it was already much better art than anything these jokers can paint on it. It is sort of like saying, "Hey, let's paint some cool designs on the Chrysler Building, then it will be art!" Fortunately, I like irony even more than airplanes.

August

[Django]

Even as an artist, I'm not sure I can stomach those entire airfarme "paintings". I don't mind the parts though. Those are interesting.

[Chappie]

Hmm, not so crazy about that. At one time nobody thought the B-32 Dominator was of any historical signifiance either. Now we have none.


Chappie

[jamesintucson]

I thought some of you might like to see a couple of the planes and some of the other art pieces with a bit better lighting so here is a link to my Flicker page. There is also some other stuff on there that those who dislike the art might appreciate more.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planecurator/?saved=1

James

[snj5]

When Sopwith subcontractor Ruston Proctor built their 1000th Camel during the Great War, Col Ruston (a lover of Egyptian history) had it painted up ad a great Egyptian mythological figure. It went to war this way, but was quickly recalled.