The Dragon And his Tail

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:47 pm

Thanks, Jack!

Some of us were discussing the colors of the dragon on a modeling forum earlier this week. A manufacturer released a B-24 kit with those markings about ten years ago, but printed the dragon decal in shades of gray, claiming the colors were based on "new research." Your pic clearly shows it was green (maybe not as green as the Collings rendition, but far from gray!)

SN

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:48 pm

Just awesome stuff. Was it painted on both sides?

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:51 pm

So far I believe the only known photos only show the right side, so the assumption is that was the only side that carried the artwork.

SN

Mgawa · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:13 am

I like this close up

Steve Birdsall · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:18 pm

I believe that photo is taken from an old article I did for Air Combat.

Here's a more complete, cleaner version of it . . .

As I recall the photo was taken by Allan W. Lomer. I don't want to be pedantic but I really like to see the people who actually held the camera get some credit. Not always possible, I know.

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:52 pm

Hi Steve - thanks for all your great books over the years.

Anything new in the works?

Wade

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 3:13 pm

Can't really tell you anything about the picture Steve. It was a slide my dad had that Mike Bates scanned for me (thanks again Mike).
If I recall correctly the date stamped on it was from the late 60s. Has for Air Combat I don't recall my dad reading that particular mag
and has most people know around here I don't peruse Challange Puplications products :twisted:

Steve Birdsall · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:33 pm

That fits - the photo was originally published in Air Combat 1939-1945, a quarterly magazine published by Paul Vercammen in New Jersey in the 1960's.

We can certainly agree on Challenge Publications!

No Wade, no firm plans at the moment, but thanks for the kind words.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:53 pm

What the heck magazine is that????
That looks cool! Is it related to the CP pub Air Combat????
I was still pooping in my drawers back then which is probably why I don't recall it :shock:

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:09 am

Thanks for posting the pic, Mr. Birdsall..I was just reading your "Log Of The Liberators" the other day for the ten millionth time.

As for Air Combat, I ran across a dozen or so issues in a used magazine bin some years back for a buck apiece..right now they're in a box somewhere with most of my other old mags that were packed up for a move in late '07.

SN

Steve Birdsall · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:24 am

No, Air Combat 1939-1945 is not related at all to the later version.

It was one of those labour-of-love deals. Paul Vercammen was Dutch and he was one of the first to publish photos of B-17s and B-24s down in Holland, and that's what got me in. He was mostly interested in the Luftwaffe as I recall, but when his marriage broke up he kind of lost interest. Maybe he's out there somewhere but I haven't heard from him in forty years.

Django · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:46 pm

Wow, the cleaner version posted is spectacular! Thanks for sharing that one.

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The Dragon And his Tail

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