Fire the band, I have not actually finished a profile (not even nearly)

[wildr]

Looks to me that you would have little trouble rendering NMF on the B-18. these and your 47's are beautiful

[GiantFlyingRobots]

As a little diversion from other work. I'm doing a my version(s) of Major Wallace E. Hopkins, 'Ferocious Frankie' and was hoping somebody might have some information on the crew names below that of Major Hopkins,
that appear on a black background just forward of the canopy.

Any help gets many of these.

[Skyraider3D]

Try Fold3 - Historical military records maybe? They have several high quality photos of Ferocious Frankie and if you're lucky one might be clear enough to reveal all names. Absolutely worth checking out for general reference anyway.

Or check out this... it's the same aircraft, still preserved but repainted obviously so the accuracy cannot be guaranteed:
All sizes | Museum of Aviation, USAAF P-51D SN 44-13704 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
The fonts may be wrong, but the names are probably correct.

[GiantFlyingRobots]

Thanks Ronnie, I already use fold3, and have what they have, the second image is what I was after even it it appears to be missing the fourth line of information. Funny how I didn't find it myself, but most searches for FF invariably come up with the well known period images or those of the OFMC's example.

Whilst I'm asking are there any known images of the B/C model FF?

Oh...yeah!

[Skyraider3D]

A messy one...
361st FG - Enlargement Page


PS. Seen this one of the D-model?
http://www.361fg.com/Main/Enlarge/JamesD/5.htm
It was new to me.

[GiantFlyingRobots]

A messy one...
361st FG - Enlargement Page

Thanks

PS. Seen this one of the D-model?
361st FG - Enlargement Page
It was new to me.

Got that one, its the basis of the profile that I am currently working on. Its interesting that it no longer has O/D paint on its back.

While I'm off on a FF tangent, I might as well do this variation as well.

Its different enough, (with the added bonus of being nice and dirty/worn) from the proceeding two profiles, to make it worthwhile.There might have to be a bit more guess work in this one tho.

[gamary]

The greyed-out star and bar is interesting on that last picture. It's the first time I've seen it so dark. It's a bit surprising to think they bother that much on an NMF aircraft. (This one clearly isn't glossy or very shiny though).

[Skyraider3D]

I've always wondered about that too... why bother? Especially with that big yellow nose!

[Maciej N]

They look worn and abused, lovely.

100% right!!!

[wildr]

I wonder if it is dirty, the ground crew cleans the planes up as well as service them, the insignia would be a rather flat paint and would hold the dirt if the rest of the surface was rubbed out..... the fields were grass and mud, late 44 and early 45 was very wet. I do not think they would gray the markings out on a NMF and Yellow craft.....there has to be another answer. If you look at these examples you will see the insignia is discolored unevenly. ( photos from Jeff ethell catalog and ebay)