Fifth Air Force A-20A

[mclaring]

Comrades,

this is my A-20A template. veeeery happy with the exhaust - its the real thing! I photographed it on the RAAF A-20A at Point Cook some months ago, and have jest stuck it on. Cheating doesn't get better'n this !

Mclaring

[JMSmith]

you really don't want me to go through all the things wrong with this, do you?

[Ironpriest]

you really don't want me to go through all the things wrong with this, do you?

Well that didn't sound to positive? :P

Only thing i would look at is the hole above "fire extingusher" I don't know what it is, but it stands out from everything else. Need some more subtle effects/textures on that.

Otherwise Great profile! Try some more paint schemes, or add nose art ect to make it come alive

[Aircraftprofiles]

off to a good start i think ! but it takes some more work to get it just right.
I hoep you don't mind giving you my 2 cents...if not, keep reading

1. What i mainly would recommed is that you should try and make the aircraft look more round...at the moment it's abit flat. Try to work on both highlights and shades...make the highlight more bright toward the center of the highlight, and add more shade to the bottom of the aircraft (not a stronger shade but make i broader so the gradient starts at the center centerline of the aircraft. What i usually do is add a bit of shade to the top of the aircraft...it gives a nice effect i think.

2. The shades cast by the wing and horisontal stabalizer should go on all the way untill the bottom of the aircraft...It adds to the impression of a flat aircraft. Try and make them fade as they get closer to the bottom of teh fuselage...gives a great effect !

3.The windows also need tweeking IMO. Try and have a look at the window guide in "profile painting tech..." here on this site...It really gave my drawings a boost.
Also try and add cockpit interior..taht adds to the realism too.

4. The highlight on the engine (after the wing) should gradually get smaller and smaller...remember the light comes from above/ahead of the aircraft which would cause the rear part of the engine to be shaded.

I hope you can use what i have been writing...please ask if you have any questions !
I just stoped by yoru website...great stuff ! Kepp up teh good work !

[JMSmith]

come on ironpriest,

i thought you knew me better than that by now

the profiling is ok, but it sure aint no boston built by douglas

i enclose a piece of my early work, please feel free to rip it to pieces, because it sure needs it, but, and this is the major but, the basic shape and lines are as near as damn it, took me weeks of drawing and redrawing until it looked right, then i went and ruined it by painting it

also the slots on the cowlings are vertical, and the cowling has the incisdence (can't spell) needed for this aircraft

[mclaring]

guys,

sweet comments! will apply some of your ideas soon. watch this space,

Mclaring

[gamary]

I photographed it on the RAAF A-20A at Point Cook some months ago

Cheater! Cheater! Cheater! Now you all owe us a beer. lol

I'll wait for the update before commenting.

[JMSmith]

hey GM,

your only sorry that you did not think of it first i think it is a very novel and good idea, especially when some clever sod like me say's ( that's the wrong shape) then get smacked in the face with the facts
more power to your elbow mclaring, and don't hesitate in shout for drawing before you start, i am sure that between us we must have ever aircraft ever built

[mclaring]

TA DA ! many subtle changes, mostly from you guys. one which is not - its just been thru the 4th Air Depot in Townsville and had nose guns added for ground attack. nose plexiglass was replaced with aluminium panels. I'll put wheels on it next,

Mclaring

[mclaring]

Wheels on, and I cheated again. The forward U/C oleo is from a real A-20A. Spook was flown by CO of the 89th BS at Kila Drome in 1942, Ed Larner. The aircraft was named after his wife, Eileen (her nickname). Serial nos for this early batch of A-20As appeared higher on fin than the later G models. Final touch is to put on the pitot tube at top of fin.

Mclaring