LoRes Weathered (Generic) P-51b Mustang "354th.FG, 355th.FS." for Emil's ETO 9th.USAAF.& 2nd.TAF Campaign

This Weathered P-51b (circa: October 1944) skin is based on an aircraft of the 355th.Fighter Squadron, 354th.Fighter Group of the 9th.USAAF stationed at Orconte, France engaged in pushing the Luftwaffe back to Germany. This Fighter Group called the "Pioneer Mustang Group"  were the first to recieve the P-51 Mustang in November '43 and became the most successful Fighter Groups in the ETO with a total confirmed aerial victories of 701 German fighters to it's credit.

This skinning project depicts a P-51b Mustang as it would have looked after D-Day  when the Fighter Group were stationed on the forward airbase at Orconte, France. At this time the "Invasion Strips" had been over painted on all upper wing and fuselage surfaces and so has the rudder strip. However the underside "Striping" still remains. The distingtive "Blue" propeller Boss, checkered "Blue & White" 12" band around the engine cowel and the Squadron code "CQ-O" identifies this P-51b as a member of the 355th. Fighter Squadron.         

I used a variety of rendering technics to give this aircraft it's operational weathering look.
This skin is offered without any particular 355th.FS. pilot's nickname so that the in-game squadron will have a more harmonious appearance. Any user can add a pilot's nickname to their download if they wish.....

The aircraft's colour scheme and Squadron markings where derived from a coloured aircraft profile plate found in the 1996 Osprey Aircraft of The Aces #7 Publication "Mustang Aces of the Ninth & Fifteenth Air Force" series by Jerry Scutts. The colours are as accurate as possible with the use of standard EAW Palette. Further reference material came from a 1982 Squadron/Signals Publication "Fighting Colours P-51 Mustang in Colour" by Larry Davis & "Air Force Clours Volumn2 ETO & MTO 1942-1945 by Dana Bell.... 

The original 'P51b Base Skin' was the creation of Fabio Melee. Included with this skin is Migge's excellent "P51B Virtual Cockpit", Chompy's "HiResP51B Wingview" and "ETO Shadow", JWC's "Malcolm Hood Cockpit View"  and the "USAAF Mark14 Gunsight" by PapaRomeo for period authenticity.... which are all first rate addons 

Special thanks to Shawn Griffin for his excellent LoRes Batch File Converter Utility...    

The download includes all *.tpc, *.3dz and *.pcx files. The latter begin included so you can review how the graphic weathering techniques were done....
To install simple copy all the *.tpc and *.3dz files into your EAW main directory or as required by 'Stab' or 'Skins & More'....  

Enjoy and watch your six .... Skylark 