Military AI Works

John Young wrote: ↑13 Feb 2020, 06:51 Yep, I can make a 4-bladed C-2A.

John

Thanks John!!

That will allow coverage from the very late ‘60s onward. Much appreciated.

Could I check with anyone in the know, what paint is used on the present day E-2 Hawkeye paint schemes please?

I haven't found a huge amount of reference information on the net and what I have found tends to show light gull grey (FS16440) on the upper surfaces with insignia white (FS17875) on the lower surfaces extending half way up the fuselage. However, photographs of current aircraft seem to suggest gull grey overall wrap around. I'm not 100 per cent sure though because of reflective surfaces.

Could anyone confirm the overall gull grey please as current?

John

Working on the FS code, but overall light gull grey seems correct and all the E-2's I was around were a gloss compared to the rest of the aircraft in the air wing tactical paint schemes. As you can see in most pics, generally clean aircraft with most of the exhaust soot collected on the vertical stabs.

Thanks Chris, overall light gull grey it is then.

John

FS16440 overall, French are the same,Japanese FS16440 and insignia white on lower surfaces, Egypt fs36320 and fs36375, same as Singapore. Mexico FS36463 and FS36231.

Oh well done miljan. Most useful, thank you.

I've done most of the texture mapping now with the base FS16440 paint, Once that's completed I'll start to paint the detail. The "D" model is also flying, initially, in FS9, but it still needs a bit of work on the FDE.

John

Welcome John,
Usually name of aircraft + air force + decals gives pretty good results.

I've settled down with the new PC and have managed to press on with the E-2 Hawkeye. It's quite a big job and I went around a few circles trying to figure out the current paint schemes for the first two squadrons VAW-115 (E-2C) and VAW-121 (E-2D) that I tackled. Like the US Marine Corps, aircraft seem to change units quite regularly and repaints are quite frequent, particularly on the CAG Birds.

Here's a taster:

VAW-115 E-2C flight line:



Both the "C" and the "D" models have alternative animated wing fold options:



This is the current VAW-115 CAG Bird I believe. It seems to have been painted over several months and photos show different stages of completeness. I finally found what I believe to be the current scheme from a commemorative print made for the squadron:



I didn't get it right first time though. For a while I thought this was the current scheme from when the squadron was based at Atsugi, Japan. I''ll include it also, although it's now retro of course:



The hook is animated on all the models at the moment in readiness for an alternative "wet" FDE hopefully. I'll fix the hook up for runway use.



This is the VAW-121 E-2D flight line:



The "D" is a little different to the "C" externally. It has a different shaped rotordome stack, there is no cable duct along the right side of the lower fuselage, it has a second small duct on top of the air cooler on top of the fuselage and the pitot tubes are either side of the node rather than on top of it. The "D" also has a few extra "bumps" under the tail.

There are 4 "D" variations - fixed wing, animated wing fold and the same again with refuelling probes. I'm not sure if the operational squadrons have the probes yet, there are very few photos around, but the option will no doubt be useful for the future.













I still have 12 or so units to research and paint,including some export examples, but I'll have a break from that while I make the retro E-2C with 4 bladed props for current users. I'm not sure that I can find the serial numbers and paint schemes for the aircraft as they were, perhaps 20 years ago, because the current NP2000 prop versions are hard enough to bolt down. Apart from that, it's a great deal of added work, so I think I will provide the retro models and let others paint them as they wish.

John

One more time, a great job realised by Master John.

Thanks a lot for these models John. Big Thanks.

I'm speechless...

That is another awesome lineup, John! How cool...

It get's better and better each project - even if I have to say I am positive about it can't be possible each time....Also the intervals of the projects get shorter and shorter...Fantastic!

Fantastic work John

A very nice taster

I’m still hungry !!

Another Brave Zulu JY, they look the part and I only need to hear that "hum" to take me back to my days on the boat and the E-2s on deck!

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

For those into French naval aviation, I'd like to confirm my research on the paint schemes for the 3 E-2C's of Flottille 4F, if anyone can help please. The latest photographs I have show the following:

Aircraft 1 (165455) - Flottille 4F anniversary scheme (April 2018 photo).

Aircraft 2 (165456) - tiger stripes to the outer tail fins (June 2017 photo).

Aircraft 3 (166417) - tiger scheme to nose/cockpit, engines and tail (May 2019 photo).

Are these 3 schemes still current please?

John

Hope to see a retro Israeli one from our painters.

Agreed. Singapore ones would be nice as well. I think that Mexico still has some as well. There are small enough numbers that every nation that operates/operated them could be done. Just hope that somebody has the inclination.

Again another classic, beautifully crafted.Keep it up John

John Young wrote: ↑01 Mar 2020, 21:39
Hi John

Are these 3 schemes still current please?

Aircraft 1 (165455) - Flottille 4F anniversary scheme (April 2018 photo). (Jan 2020 no Special Scheme)

Aircraft 2 (165456) - tiger stripes to the outer tail fins (June 2017 photo). (May 2018 no Special Scheme)

Aircraft 3 (166417) - tiger scheme to nose/cockpit, engines and tail (May 2019 photo). Ive seen 2 pictures from Feb 2017 with no scheme on which is odd as i thought they would leave it on longer. and you have seen an image with it on in 2019

Much thanks

Mark