Swing Wing D-Day markings?

Nick · February 21, 2015, 01:54:29 AM

Just a random thought that popped into my mind on the train this morning....

How would you line up the D-Day stripes on the wings of a Tornado or F-111?
Would you have the lines face forward with the wings open or line them up for the wings closed?

Captain Canada · February 21, 2015, 05:10:42 AM

Open. For all the reasons Flyer stated. Even if your aero was wearing them for modern day recognition purposes, I'd say the same thing.

Dizzyfugu · February 21, 2015, 06:04:51 AM

I'd say the opposite - I'd go for swept wings. There have been many German anniversary Tornados with special paint jobs, and IIRC they were all designed for the swept configuration, probably. Anyway, the resulting delta shape could look odd with the ID stripes... should they be taken over the stabilizers, too? And what about the fuselage stripes...? Questions, questions...

NARSES2 · February 21, 2015, 06:09:32 AM

In 1944 ? My two penny worth would be open. After all if you did it when swung any visiting dignitary (from KG VI down) would assume you'd made a screw up otherwise

and you know what senior NCO's can be like over matters like that ?

zenrat · February 22, 2015, 01:46:36 AM

It's a moot point with Zenrat Industries Variable Geometry Paint.
Available in black, white and yellow for D-Day or Suez stripes...

NARSES2 · February 22, 2015, 07:23:08 AM

Quote from: zenrat on February 22, 2015, 01:46:36 AM
It's a moot point with Zenrat Industries Variable Geometry Paint.

No blue for SEAC bands on NM aircraft ?

I bet some physicist/chemist/biologist has locked himself away somewhere and is trying to produce Variable Geometry Paint as we speak.

JayBee · February 22, 2015, 07:37:02 AM

That sounds much like the well known "Chameleon paint" which changes colours and patterns so that it looks exactly like the immediate background.
Of course the existence of this paint can not be proven as no one has been able to see, or photograph, an example of it.
Works, doesn't it!

Nick · February 22, 2015, 11:30:41 AM

Good to hear all your thoughts. I do have a 1/144 Tomcat part built in the stash which may get the 'Final Countdown - Europe' treatment one day!

Another option could be not to have plain stripes but a triangle V-shape pointing to the rear so you have stripes in at least one direction which ever way you have the wings.