Witchcraft Skin So Far (In Progress)

11/29/2008

Hello, all.

Below are some pictures of the Witchcraft skin (for Aces High) as it appears so far. It is not done yet -- it still needs

• More wear and tear.
• Better 3-D effects for things like engine cowlings and cowl flaps (which currently look much too smooth).

However, this shows some of the colors and shapes.

Do the colors look correct so far? For example:

• Is the yellow on the nose art and tail numbers OK, or does it need to be more yellow and less orange-like?
• Is the olive drab correct in color and shade?
• Is the gray underside correct in color (or does it need to be darker gray)?
• Is the shape of the gray/green boundary on sides of the engine cowlings correct (or does it need more curvature)?
• Is the color of the red fire-extinguisher panel (above the "Witchcraft" left nose art) correct?

There are some things that are incorrect that we can't fix (because of the way Aces High renders the artwork):

• In "AUDRE," the letters between A and E are not intelligible (a result of how Aces High renders the nose).
• We can't do white stripes on the bottoms of the bomb bay doors (a result of how Aces High renders the belly).
• The darker anti-glare patch on the nose in front of the cockpit can't be removed (Aces High puts that in).
• This B-24J model in Aces High has some windows in slightly different locations comapared to the real Witchcraft.
• Can't do a "3" and a "9" on the engine cowlings at 3 and 9 o'clock (as they get mirrored onto more sides of the engines).

Contributors to this project

Much information on actual look of the real Witchcraft: Fred Hodrege (CO of the 790th BS) and Ray Betcher (mechanic for Witchcraft).
Help with getting in touch with Ray Betcher: Andy Wilkinson and Janice Bates (Ray's daughter).
Pictures and information: Perry Watts (author of The 467th Bombardment Group (H) in World War II).
Most of the artwork in the Gimp file: Serenity
Nose art: Lord Redhawk
Other art help: Greebo
Some tweaks and project management: Brooke

Fred Holdrege (CO of the 790th BS, on the right) shaking hands with Joe Ramirez (crew chief of Witchcraft, on the left) after the aircraft landed from its 100th mission.

Raymond Betcher (mechanic, left) receiving an award from General Kepner upon Witchcraft's 100th mission.

Best regards,

-- Brooke (brooke@electraforge.com)