A-10C Paint Detail Question

[Curt B]

My question may not have an answer here, but I'd like to see if anyone knows.  I am planning to paint my A-10C in the below livery (copied from the 2Bob's Heritage Hawgs instruction sheet, as posted in The Modelling News).

 

i plan to finish my A-10C with the flaps fully extended.  Does anyone know whether the flaps, on the  real airplane, would have been extended during painting of the Invasion Stripes (and thus the stripes would extend the full front to back on the flaps), or, would the Stripe paint only been applied to the part of the flaps that can be seen when the flaps are fully retracted (thus, leaving the 'forward portions' of the flaps be the grey color when deployed?

 

I realize this is a terribly detail oriented question, and perhaps can only be answered by either the pilots and/or the ground crew  who took care of this specific plane during the time that this paint scheme was present on it.  Or maybe there is a standard Air Force method used when 'special liveries' are painted on aircraft.  If I don't get an answer here, I'll probably paint just the portions of the flaps that are seen when the flaps are fully retracted (which is probably 99% of the time, anyway).

 

Thanks for any help!!

 

Edited January 28, 2024 by Curt B

[A-10 LOADER]

I'd bet the flaps were up for painting.

Steve

[Curt B]

Thanks, guys.  I'm inclined to agree with  you, and unless I get any other info supporting the alternative painting, I'll just paint the exposed part of the flaps.  Again, many thanks!

[Guard Hog]

Good question and this doesn't answer it... but the Idaho Hog's flaps were extended for painting. Granted, it was a full repaint and they needed to match the rest of the airframe's new color....

 

 

 

[southwestforests]

Hmm, interesting question. I have thoughts about if it were me doing the painting but the question is what did they do.

Edited January 29, 2024 by southwestforests

[Curt B]

@Illu and Guard Hog:  Thanks a ton!!  While none of the photos covered the specific aircraft I’m modeling, your images are enough to tell me that I should paint the stripes all the way around the outboard flaps, even on the forward part of the flaps that are hidden with flaps up. It looks like that is a probable paint job on my jet, and unless someone finds specific photos of ‘my’ jet with the flaps deployed, no one can dispute what I’m going to do. I’m sorry to have bothered you guys with probably THE most trivial painting question ever asked here, but I so appreciate your input!!

[A-10 LOADER]

9 hours ago, Curt B said:

@Illu and Guard Hog:  Thanks a ton!!  While none of the photos covered the specific aircraft I’m modeling, your images are enough to tell me that I should paint the stripes all the way around the outboard flaps, even on the forward part of the flaps that are hidden with flaps up. It looks like that is a probable paint job on my jet, and unless someone finds specific photos of ‘my’ jet with the flaps deployed, no one can dispute what I’m going to do. I’m sorry to have bothered you guys with probably THE most trivial painting question ever asked here, but I so appreciate your input!!

Not a trivial question at all, you wanna get it right. Sounds like something I'd ask honestly.

Steve

Edited January 29, 2024 by A-10 LOADER

[AV O]

15 hours ago, Guard Hog said:

Good question and this doesn't answer it... but the Idaho Hog's flaps were extended for painting. Granted, it was a full repaint and they needed to match the rest of the airframe's new color....

 

 

 

 

This aircraft had no stripes painted on top of the wings...

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10445964

Edited January 29, 2024 by AV O

[habu2]

19 minutes ago, AV O said:

This aircraft had no stripes painted on top of the wings...

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10445964

 

aaaaand here's the bottom of the wings...

 

https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10532675

[Guard Hog]

Glad to be of some help, Curt.  I think it's great you're thoughtful regarding those details.

[Curt B]

@AV O and habu2, yes, I know that the 8N plane did not have the invasion stripes painted on top of it, which is why I decided to take that plane out of consideration for my project.  While the overall grey of the plane I chose to model is pretty bland, I knew the stripes on the wings and horizontal stabilizers were on top of those surfaces as well as thhe bottom, hence, my choice!   😊

 

@Guard Hog, you absolutely were of help, THANK YOU!!  This is why I love this site...getting help from people who know so much!  To the extent that details can actually be seen (as opposed to adding detail where the only reason is to make myself happy, knowing that those details are there), I (usually) try to make stuff look as close to the real thing as possible.  i know this isn't everyone's 'thing', but it is mine.  My progress on this plane is slow (understatement!!), but I'll do my best to post some pictures when it's complete. 

[757flyer]

Looks like the Michigan ANG one that got the stripes had them painted on the full flap uppers.  It was a full airframe repaint, but it would not be unreasonable to paint your flaps with full stripes too...