Post by mickaelusa on Nov 7, 2016 0:51:25 GMT 12
fantastic job so far, boy meeting you was well worth while.
I think the paint choice could prove to be one of if not the hardest part of the exercise. So I should say what I think and then hopefully others can chime in with their opinions. You must bear in mind that I don't pretend to know for sure but I would like to think we've got what information there is available so please everyone voice your opinions one way or the other.
First of all... Allan ( my dad ) remembers the planes as been darkish blue. When he saw the photos of the model that you posted Wally he said " doesn't look to bad just the way ( color ) it is already." Of coarse this doesn't prove anything either because it was a long time ago now. When I brought a RC Kittyhawk I planned on painting it in a livery to at least represent one that he had flown (FOTU 2 ). Just like in this case. I asked him what they looked like and he said they were painted in a greenish brown camouflage scheme. I looked on the net for an example and opened up a whole new fascinating world right here on WoNZ. I found out the model I had was an 'n' type and no they were most definitely not all painted in camouflage. I was excited to discover that the very last P40 he had flown was not only an 'n' but that it was NZ3202....Gloria Lyons !! I said are you aware that you flew Gloria Lyons ?
" No" he said.
"But you must be " I said "it would have had Japanese flags painted all over it."
His reply ? " Oh I didn't worry about what it looked like. Just get in and fly ! "
So this brings us back to photos.
I think the planes would have been repainted by the ground crew when they could if they needed tidying up. That photo you have just posted shows planes flown by 26 Sqn. ALL four planes shown are in Allan's log book. They were delivered to the same place from the same place as NZ5286 only one month latter. That's pretty much how 26 Sqn would have looked IMO. April 1945.
There's another photo worth it's weight in gold as well. I saw it here on Wallys RNZAF F4U-1(A) Corsair - NZ5315 thread.
Ossie Hawkins was a member of 26 Sqn and so was NZ5315 although Allan never flew it.
At first I thought the photo showed a well worn Corsair. But is it ? I think maybe it's just that the photo is well worn or faded. Not the same thing. Anyhow...this is the best photo I know of for 26 Sqn and if NZ3286 is made to look something like NZ5315 ( a plane only one month younger) then that would be near enough IMO. Going by this photo the underside is a light color but I can't see any clear evidence that it still has the full 4 tone scheme. my guess is it's more the traditional RAF, Commonwealth like scheme. Dark on top and light below. Something more like this but outer wings dark underneath.
So once again.....this is only my guess. I don't know. Please tell me and Wally your opinions so he can give it his best shot. Have fun. Thanks.
Brenton.
