This is work on a commission I received to create a Republic F-105B flown by the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron (The Chiefs). The client requested a specific aircraft serial number and specific markings and emblems be applied to the plane, which he desired in a natural metal finish consistent with most USAF aircraft during that era.
Using my F-105D 3D model as a base, I removed anything (antennas, auxiliary cooling scoops, etc.) which the plane would have received as an upgrade later in its service life. I modified the cooling intake, at the base of the vertical stabilizer, changed the nose, and re-positioned the cannon farther forward in the nose. It was nice to have been able to make those modifications as opposed to having to create an entirely new model.
Just starting the panel lines here after flattening-out everything as a texture coordinate map. The overall gray value on the plane is a place=setter color while I’m working on the panel lines, markings, and insignias. It’ll be finished with a natural metal texture.
The major panel lines are all in place now and work on insignias and stencils has begun.
Further stencils applied to the fuselage in addition to the requested artwork my client wanted incorporated into the texture for this aircraft. Once stencils are complete it’ll be time to create the metal textures for this plane and begin considering a layout for the final artwork.
Work has begun on the bare metal finish of the plane in addition to the markings requested by my client, as you can see here.
Now it’s down to tweaking different values until I’m satisfied with the metal finish.
Here’s the finished result. S/N 57-5832 in its natural metal finish bearing the markings of the 335th Tactical Fighter Wing as it would have appeared in the early 1960s while based at Seymour Johnson AFB.
No descriptive information was requested in the lower margin. The client wanted just a simple profile of the aircraft set against a sky blue background. Several other Thunderchiefs were also requested in addition to this one, all of which will be featured here.
Matthews Aviation Art 