CAF Curtiss P-40N Warhawk Restoration

[drmort]

Don't confuse the color distortion of the two color films available at the time with what we see in digital glory today. Anything taken in that era wasn't something that could be developed in the field, and the mind's eye tends to try and compensate for personal discrepancies in color determination.

Until Ektachrome came about, there really was no such thing as field developing. Kodachrome was something that could only be done in lab conditions and even when Ektachrome came out it wasn't something your average camera bug could develop correctly. Then add in the fact that exposed film spent some amount of time in varying temperature and humidity conditions before it was used or even developed, particularly in amateur shots in war settings.

Combine that with the vagaries of handling in print circumstances and the repeated degradation imposed in the magazine color reproduction processes.

And finally, let us not forget what we see on our computer screens is not exactly free of conditioning.

If you're old enough to remember round color TV's you''re probably realizing how many people had to play with those three color knobs to get it to look "right."

Beauty is not the only thing in the eye of the beholder; as "best evidence" I don't think anyone should hang their opinion hat on copies of copies of copies of - you get the idea.

[RyanShort1]

So where'd that big ol decal end of going

I didn't see it today...


It's pretty, but I didn't get to look at it much closely.

Ryan

[Baldeagle]

Re: history of shark's mouth schemes-- a model of Ralph O'Neil's (5 victories) Nieuport 28 of the 147th US Aero Squadron in France, summer of 1918:



Squadron emblem is a Scotty dog patterned after the CO's, legend underneath the dog says "Who Said Rats?"

[Ken]

Don't confuse the color distortion of the two color films available at the time with what we see in digital glory today. Anything taken in that era wasn't something that could be developed in the field, and the mind's eye tends to try and compensate for personal discrepancies in color determination.

If that was supposed to mean that the color photos on the previous page are inaccurate, I disagree. The "knowns": sky, tires, struts, exhaust stacks, props, etc all look faithful to what we know them to be. Why wouldn't the camo tones be the same?

[Obergrafeter]

The tramp stamp was put under the canopy rail. Saw it being installed at Airsho and you never saw a bigger bunch of disappointed sponsors. The painter installing them was the most hated man in Texas that day. One question I have for Taylor............what is the story behind the Texas Panda Bear? I know the squadron was the Pandas, but I have been asked about the little six gun totin' Bear and don't know the real story. Don't beleive it is mentioned in his book, but I love it.
Wayne
"Tex" Hill Wing/CAF

[ChrisDNT]

Very nice restoration, but the colors..... especially when they are so many amazing finishes possible with the P-40 N.

[Jack Cook]

Ober AVG pilot/artist Bert Christman desighed a few insignia for
some of his friends. That was Tex's although I've never seen it on a a/c.
darn shame about the big ugly decal. Disappointed sponsors are NOT a good thing!!
The fact that it took 8-9 months to get it on says a whole lot!

[Taylor Stevenson]

Wayne- what jack said. It's original ( I'm typing on my cell stuck in Kansas city on my way to osh in the L-5, so I'm glad jack explained. Darn weather). Being the son of one flying sponsor (if you get kicked out of the CAF after years of service are you still a sponsor?) and seeing that I consider the other sponsor family, I can tell you it was NOT their wish that the logo be applied. It was done so at airsho by 'the powers that be'.

In regards to tramps stamps, EVERYONE go buy a 2011 Ghosts Warbird Calendar and take a careful look at the many CAF aircraft in it. I get a chuckle every time I look at mine.

[hang the expense]

Regardles of accuracy, still a nice aircraft

For the purpose of review though







Yes they would be.I have original panels from RAF Tomahawks with the original paint.The pic with Eric is spot on colorwise.



Since these were RAF ordered aircraft, wouldn't it follow that the paint schemes would match that of other RAF types like the early Mustangs and Boston etc.?






Shay
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Semper Fortis