Painting "Nose Art" on back of A-2

[Jeephoto]

My son, a WWII history buff, wants to have a "Nose Art" image painted on the back of his A-2. Just like the original WWII fliers painted the back of their jackets.

Does anyone know a source to do this? Does anyone know how to find an artist to do this?

We thought of airbrush, like they do hip-hop T-shirts at the mall, but that style of artwork is too "soft" edged.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[cheaterome]

Well Larry, welcome to this place and hope that the cats here on the "Lounge" can come up with a myriad of answers for you but here is what I can help you with.
I would say that the freeform airbrush styles found on those garments are soft edged and do lack a typical field painted style ...but an airbrush is a tool just like a computer and can be used for good and that style can be avoided. Hand painted can be done as well..and is usually the preferred way to do it .

Airbrush for me is just a tool to lay down base colors and then I go in by hand and do all the detail.

It's just a tool and I know that every jacket I have seen from WW2...none of them looked like "Taz" at the shopping mall.

Hope this helps.

This is some of the stuff I do. And if anybody says they didn't use an airbrush in WW2 show them this and ask them how the plane was painted..

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Yes

Yours truly, me. I do nose art, among other art works.
One of my own jackets,...

One I sold,...

PM me for details if you wish. There are a few others here at the lounge that do nose art also.

 

[Fletch]

:eusa_clap Now THAT is some stunning work, fellas!

Only one thing...the lettering is if anything TOO perfect. Maybe we need to broadcast bomb and machine gun noises outside the window while you paint...

 

[Dudleydoright]

Jacket Art

I have to say that I have seen Jerome's artwork and it is the best I've EVER seen. :eusa_clap They are real works of art. I reckon the sooner he dies, the sooner they'll increase in value. Like all great artists LOL Just kidding. BUT Jerome is the best.

However you might want to remember that not all WW2 jackets 'artists' were particularly good. Though most weren't half bad. If you want something that looks like it was painted by a lesser mortal (that might be the effect you are looking for) then the list opens up a lot. Review them all and chose the artist with the effect you like best.

I don't mean to upset or put anybody else down but just as we review clothing, i am reviewing something i have seen with my own eyes and my opinion is based on that. I've seen a lot of jacket art

Dave

 

[PADDY]

LOOK at the Reference Library at the TOP of the WW2 Room

I've listed a heap of contacts gents in the Nose/Jacket Art Section. Have a lookie as that's what it's all there for Happy Hunting :eusa_clap

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4395

*NEWS EXTRA*** Just brought to my attention that Rosemary has changed her weblink. Now updated on the Reference Library-thanks guys!

 

[cheaterome]

:eusa_clap Now THAT is some stunning work, fellas!

Only one thing...the lettering is if anything TOO perfect. Maybe we need to broadcast bomb and machine gun noises outside the window while you paint...

Huh... That is weird. NOT like kissing your sister weird but....Thanks for the compliments I really enjoy what I do.

The majority of really nice original A-2's I have seen with back paint have beautifully executed lettering but the surrounding area could be called somewhat crude or simplistic or simply not executed as well as the lettering .
The conclusion I have drawn of why this is.

Most of the good artists doing this were excellent draftsmen and sign painters first and the rest just came as needed.

Typography back then was well understood and drawing it was a common occurrence...because that is the way it was done.

All of the beautiful fonts that really echo the styles of what was being produced on the jackets or flown in the air.It all was from the period and helped bring even the most mediocre work into a well executed design.

All Jacket samples from the Sanders collection

I love the last one........ Makes my teeth hurt it's sooo RAD!

I think you could get away with sideburns wearing that one or two tone wingtips with your dress uniform!!!!


Cheaterome

 

[Mr. 'H']

Is it always better to do the art a new un-broken in jacket?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Is it always better to do the art a new un-broken in jacket?

In my experience it seems better to paint a jacket made from one of the smoother leathers like horse hide, that is already broken in. As the millions of tiny cracks, the so-called grain of the leather emerges over time, it tends to crack the paint also.
When painting a goat skin jacket however, this does not seem to matter. The leather already has about as much grain as it will ever have, and the minute cracks don't develop.

 

[Fletch]

"Mary E...HUMP TRIPS"
I LOOOOOVE it! lol lol lol

 

[CharlieH.]

Folks, that is utterly amazing!
Say, what kind of paint do you use for leather?

 

[cheaterome]

Back then it was enamels, oils and lacquers and on a super rare occasion inks or watercolors on the naked leathers.
some hold up.... some not so much.

99.99% of the time I use acrylics specifically developed for textile use by the Createx company.
They have special binders in them that adhere to the fabric or whatever surface you are painting.
They are flexible and are designed to be used in airbrushes but I usually paint with them by hand as well.
There are opaque colors as well as transparent and blend quite well , typically just treat them like really thinned down acrylics you can even apply washes just like watercolors.

Other times I use one shot sign painting enamels but with a flexitive added . Nice opacity and flow but I dunno about longevity.

Cheaterome

 

[BellyTank]

Enamels- tricky...

Jerome is the definitive expert on jacket painting, in the English speaking World.

But I have some experience and opinion.

As I think we have discussed, Jerome...
I've used sign-painting enamels, like One-Shot and Solver on leather but not brushed-on.
These specialist enamels have(unlike hobby/paint store paints today) a high pigment content and excellent coverage but the trick with leather, as you well know, is to NOT get a high build of paint(it will crack and lift).
I had some great success many years ago, when I was working in the World of Paint but never really finished a project. Brush-painting larger areas(small one-stroke script being about the only exception for me) with enamels is going to be a problem, so spraying, stippling and other no-brush techniques are the go. Masking and stenciling...
So- you need to use thin layers, if brushing and fill with one of the other techniques. Paint flow and even cover can be a problem and I have used silicon additives(sign painting products), which allow the paint to stick where it might not usually want to go- slippery finishes and waxy polish residue, allows it to flow out, retards drying and it also avoids "fish-eyes".

(The silicon is what sign-painters used to use when signwriting thngs like reefer trucks, fresh from the coach builder, with a nice shiny coat of paint and silicon polish on top. You just cannot get rid of all the slippery stuff, so you need the additive, otherwise the paint will just sit around, in blobs and not flow- or creat the famous "fish-eyes" effect- holes in the paint.)

So- to get that WW2 brushed-on effect- as Jerome says- avoid the brush, for large amounts of paint/background areas/filling.

Oh- indelible/waterproof Indian Ink on cloth jackets works fantastically.
When you wash it carefully, the effect is really cool. Indian ink and white paint.
Think M-41 jacket decorating.
KooL.

I'm in a rush right now but I will endeavour to clarify this gibberish.

I'm just trying to relate the viability of "enamels", when everyone uses acrylics. Nothing against them, just Devil's Advocate, as usual.

B
T

 

[cheaterome]

Martin... I could paint your Studebaker in enamels if you would like when you move to Milwaukee.

I have seen enamels used a lot on jackets .They look good and the colors really pop and the opacity can't be beat.

The chief designer at Harley Davidson is a sign painter/ pinstriper/Artist at the highest level that is just ridiculous..I mean the guy is unconscious of his talent and ability.
He painted some jackets with striping designs and images for a charity event that all the automotive and pinstriping design guys do here in Milwaukee at the "World of Wheels" and they still look good after a year or so.

I have no doubts of the applications and how laying them on thin enough gives every desired effect .. it's just that they are enamels.

Eventually over time they will harden and crack even with flexitives or silicones. It's the nature of the paint.
Yes..... yes I know that looks authentic and been there and all that .. that is another discussion.

It is hard as hell to get off once you do have it on though. Acetone is about the only thing that works.

If you thin the enamels enough you take away it's ability to adhere because you are introducing to many additives which in turn decrease drying time but break down the paint in it's natural form too much. Adding water to a water and plastic based paint is natural. And it doesn't stink to high hell Or heaven and with two little ones running around I have to take that into account.

Another reason why I like acrylics is it's turn around time... it's dry in three minutes..to the touch and adhering like crabs on a sailor, even when thinned with water, it just works really well for the application..designed for it and its plastic based so it is flexible from the get go and always will be.

I have done a number of patches in enamels and my own AVG Gordon and Furgeson M-422a with enamels ...they work. I just use acrylics ..because they work really nice and blend really nice as well for my style of painting.


That's what I got for now.

jerome

 

[BellyTank]

All true but keep the enamel paint ultra thin(with the one-shot and stippling)
and you don't even get a build. Just like you get with the acrylics.

I'll show you one day... in Milwaukee...

B
T

 

[cheaterome]

Cool.... I'll indoctrinate you into The Cheaters.

Jerome

 

[BellyTank]

And it doesn't stink to high hell Or heaven and with two little ones running around I have to take that into account.

That's what I got for now.

jerome

Always with the Dwarves, Jerome...

M
B
T

 

[cheaterome]

Yeah.... there is two now!!!One 3 year old... you know Olivia and my seven week old Gabrielle.

I'm done. Won the sweepstakes twice on the get a wife pregnant ticket.


Cheaterome

 

[BellyTank]

I have no doubts of the applications and how laying them on thin enough gives every desired effect .. it's just that they are enamels.

Eventually over time they will harden and crack even with flexitives or silicones. It's the nature of the paint.
Yes..... yes I know that looks authentic and been there and all that .. that is another discussion.

jerome

OK- imagine you put/spill some white enamel paint on your A-2.
Then wipe it off. What you're left with won't crack or harden because there is no build, the "stain" of the paint is sitting in the surface of the leather- the microscopic fractures and follicles hold it.
This is the effect I'm trying to get across.

I'm not talking of a shiny build up. If it's shiny, it'll come off.
Shiny doesn't look right to my eye anyhoo.

Get me.

T
B
M

 

[cheaterome]

I'm picking up what you are putting down..... Hearin Ya!

Jerome