Looking for Project Ashtray RF-86A Photos & Info

[Geary]

Does anyone have any good photos of the RF-86A Project Ashtray Sabres?

 

I would like to see the shape and location of the cameras.

 

Also pictures and info of the 15th TRS RF-86A's if possible.

 

I have found a bit of info on Project Ashtray Sabres but few photos and they don't show camera positions.

 

Thanks for any help provided.

 

 

Geary

[+yakarov79]

http://www.spyflight.co.uk/tf86a.htm

 

on joebaugher site there is also few info about them regarding serials.

 

are you thinking about fakepilot mod ?...

Every man a tiger

48-257 was named Kathy and served with 15th TRS.

 

48-187 

 

48-195 

Edited July 18, 2017 by yakarov79

[Geary]

Thanks.  I've seen these sites.  There's some good info but not much detail on photos such as where the cameras are and what is their shape.

 

I was just thinking of painting on the cameras and modifying the lod a bit like hiding unneeded pylons and guns, etc.

 

I'm not sure of unit numbers or decals.  I still haven't gotten the hang of making .tga decals.  But that's on my bucket list of things to do.

 

These planes are more for AI than flying missions in Korea but occasionally I fly an unarmed photo recon just to see if I can make it back alive.

[regula50]

Were six aircrafts, all 1948, five of these went to the 67th TRW, 15th TRS. The seven aircrafts :

 

48-183 (67th TRW, 15th TRS)Crash belly landing out of gas at 1 Mi S Kimpo K-14. Pilot Mirt D. Humphreys, Mar 14, 1952

48-187 (4th FIW)structural failure at Johnson AB, Japan. Pilot Vassilias P.Tsufis.Aircraft repaired, Jun 14, 1951.First RF-86A and converted in Japan, in service Nov 28, 1951(67th TRW, 15th TRS).Landing accident due to mechanical failure at Kimpo K-14. Pilot Sidney W.Jones, Nov 21, 1952. 

48-195 (4th FIW)converted in Japan to RF-86A.

48-196 converted in Japan to RF-86A.

48-217  (67th TRW, 15th TRS)Shot down by AAA near Wonsan.Pilot Maj Jack Williams KIA Jun 27, 1952. 

48-246  (67th TRW, 15th TRS)converted in Japan to RF-86A.Hit by MiG compressor failed, smoke in cockpit, successful bail out 10 mi W of Suwon Sep 5, 1952.

48-257  (67th TRW, 15th TRS)converted in Japan to RF-86A

 

For the decals: 8183, 8187, 8196, 8217, 8246, 8257(FU-183, FU-187, FU-196, FU-217, FU-246 and FU-257)

 

Compartment below the cockpit was enlarged and fitted with constant temperature air conditioning for a forward 

oblique 24-inch K-11 camera and two 20-inch K-24 cameras mounted lengthwise with a mirror arrangement for vertical coverage.

The RF-86A could be distinguished from the fighter version by the presence of a pair of camera bay fairing bulges underneath the forward fuselage just ahead of the wings. 

Some had a K-14 "dicing" camera installed in the upper forward part of the nose in place of the APG-30 radar. 

Some had open apertures for the cameras, but others had sliding doors that opened only when the cameras were in use. 

Most RF-86As were unarmed, although some retained the upper pair of 0.50-in machine guns with limited ammunition capacity.

[Geary]

regula50,

 

   Good info. Thanks.  If I learn to make decals I will use this.

 

 

I managed to stumble across this item which shows a drawing of the RF-86A camera shape and placement.  Apparently they are blister cameras; possibly the K-14's?  As I don't 'mod', only paint a bit, I'll paint these on.

 

[Geary]

I've painted on a couple of camera blisters.  Not near authentic but will do for me for now. 

 

Uninstalled the two lower guns but kept the radar ranging gun site.  Guns and radar ranging gun sites seemed to be personal choices or at least changed through Project Honeybucket and Project Ashtray and then again through Project Haymaker.

 

Now I need the correct decal numbers built and fixed. 

 

 

[+daddyairplanes]

you can do that with a skin but dont have the hang of tga!    looks awesome tho

 

if you dont mind my asking is the tga issue the creation or the placement?

[Geary]

Kevin,

 

   The problem I have with .tga decals is making them.

 

   I've tried an old tutorial from here but they just didn't come out right.

 

   As far as creating the camera blisters goes ... I didn't have to mess with alpha channels to make them.

 

   Guess I should get serious about learning to make decals, huh?

[+Wrench]

 

 

  Guess I should get serious about learning to make decals, huh?

 

Yup, I'd say so!

It ain't that hard! 

 

Placement is nothing -- all the locations have already be plotted out on all the skins I've done for Sabres

[Geary]

Check these beauties out.

 

These cameras created by yakarov79 for this project.  Thanks, Jarek.  MUCH more authentic than my 2D junk.  (I think I can see my reflection in those lenses.)

 

 

 

 

So... if someone will know teach me to create decal .tga's for Project Ashtray RF-86A's we can photo recon Korea 1952-1953.

[+daddyairplanes]

to be honest it shouldnt be that hard for you to pick up given your skill on skinning. you can work in layers just like a skin (its a BIG part of how i get the airliners done), just remember to leave some space at the edges and the background needs to be zonked to clear.  there are some other techniques to tweak to your liking later on but the basics arent really to different than skinning imho. lemme know if you need fonts for USAF and USAAF stenciling
 

and jarek, those look awesome

Edited July 19, 2017 by daddyairplanes

[+Wrench]

oh, for god's sake..

 

give me the full list and I can knock them out in 10 minutes; serials AND Buzz Numbers...

[+daddyairplanes]

this is known oh ancient one.  but an old story about giving fish and teaching fishing comes to mind.....

still you'd get it done fastest

[Geary]

oh, for god's sake..

 

give me the full list and I can knock them out in 10 minutes; serials AND Buzz Numbers...

 

 

I think they are in regula50's post higher up this post.  Thanks.

 

 

 

this is known oh ancient one.  but an old story about giving fish and teaching fishing comes to mind.....

still you'd get it done fastest

 

 

The parable of teaching a man to fish is known to me.  But I believe they left out the part about feeding him while he's learning.  Otherwise he starves and wastes everyone's time.

 

There's also another parable that lazy people quote.  "All things come to those who wait."

 

 

BUT, I honestly would like to learn.  Everyone is supporting me to learn.  So ... where do I do that?

[+daddyairplanes]

this one from column5 talks you through it, though the images are not showing for me

http://combatace.com/topic/30702-decals-101/

this older gem has pics to illustrate

http://combatace.com/topic/23485-decal-tutorial-long-with-biggish-images/

and this one is by spinners, in the Gen2 knowledge base (best bet shoulda gone with it first but hey now you got options)

http://combatace.com/topic/76701-making-decals-using-gimp/

[+Wrench]

 

 

The parable of teaching a man to fish is known to me.  But I believe they left out the part about feeding him while he's learning.  Otherwise he starves

 

Best answer yet!!! 

[+Wrench]

give these a try.

 

RF-86A.7z

[Geary]

Wrench,

 

   Thanks for the decals.  They work great.  Plane is up for release.

 

    I plan to begin decal training ASAP.

[+Wrench]

 

I was about to ask if they worked, but saw the aircraft ready to be apporved in the downloads.

 

it's now ready for download!!