Post by connieguy on Jan 23, 2021 9:40:24 GMT -5
It is always a pleasure to see you on this forum, Manfred. Thank you for your very interesting comment on this issue, and of course for the aircraft. It is unfortunate that it is not possible to post here the photographs we are talking about. The one of CN 4175 USAF serial number 54-156 in Marson's book, however, is very clear and my repaint records the salient features fairly accurately. This screenshot of the paint is taken from approximately the same angle as the photograph. Thus, there was a white band on the rudders, the word MATS above the USAF serial number 40156 and a white band on the rear fuselage with the MATS insignia over it. A white band beneath the wing tip is also clearly visible. The white marking near the nose is also clear and between it and the radome is either bare metal or an area painted light grey. It seems to me impossible to say which. The aircraft was accepted by the USAF on 21st Sept 1955 and delivered to the 41st Air Transport Squadron at Charleston on 1st November.It was transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard in October 1962 when the 41st acquired C-130s.
There are three photographs relevant to this discussion on the Air Britain page linked above, all taken at Prestwick. Definite dates are assigned to them, but under 'More Details' it is acknowledged that these are guesses. The supposition that the one of CN 4175 post dates the Marson photograph seems most probable, but is supposition. At any rate, the white bands on the rudders are still there, but the USAF serial number has been abbreviated to 4156 and the wording above it changed from MATS to ATLANTIC. There is no white paint on the rear fuselage or visible under the wingtip but there is a white band on the nose, albeit not in the same position as in the Marson photograph. Between that and the black of the radome there is a grey looking area which might be dayglo or grey paint partly covering the rear of the radome, as Tom has suggested. Here is the latest version of this paint.
Another photograph shows CN 4173, USAF serial 54-154, which was delivered to the 41st on 24th September 1955. Here the rudders are painted full white, with the word MATS above them and the serial number 40154 below it. The unit insignia appears just aft of the red band, as in the second photograph of CN 4175, and probably again aft of the MATS badge on the rear fuselage. There is no white band on the nose but the black of the radome is no more extensive than on the second photograph of CN 4175 and to the rear of it is an extensive area which stops short of the cockpit and is painted either a single colour or just possibly two colours; i.e. part of this area could again be the rear of the radome. Part of this area has the second part of the legend 'City of Winnipeg' above it. Marson records this as the name of the aircraft.
Finally we have CN 4194, USAF 54-175, delivered to the 76th Air Transport Squadron at Charleston on 24th February 1956. This has rudders painted fully white, and the word ATLANTIC above the serial number 4175. Once again the unit insignia appears to the rear of the MATS logo on the fuselage and also just aft of the red band further forward. The nose and radome look identical to those of CN 4173 just mentioned except that there is no aircraft name. I shall probably now upload both these paints as a single package when the first has undergone one or two minor revisions.
There are three photographs relevant to this discussion on the Air Britain page linked above, all taken at Prestwick. Definite dates are assigned to them, but under 'More Details' it is acknowledged that these are guesses. The supposition that the one of CN 4175 post dates the Marson photograph seems most probable, but is supposition. At any rate, the white bands on the rudders are still there, but the USAF serial number has been abbreviated to 4156 and the wording above it changed from MATS to ATLANTIC. There is no white paint on the rear fuselage or visible under the wingtip but there is a white band on the nose, albeit not in the same position as in the Marson photograph. Between that and the black of the radome there is a grey looking area which might be dayglo or grey paint partly covering the rear of the radome, as Tom has suggested. Here is the latest version of this paint.
Another photograph shows CN 4173, USAF serial 54-154, which was delivered to the 41st on 24th September 1955. Here the rudders are painted full white, with the word MATS above them and the serial number 40154 below it. The unit insignia appears just aft of the red band, as in the second photograph of CN 4175, and probably again aft of the MATS badge on the rear fuselage. There is no white band on the nose but the black of the radome is no more extensive than on the second photograph of CN 4175 and to the rear of it is an extensive area which stops short of the cockpit and is painted either a single colour or just possibly two colours; i.e. part of this area could again be the rear of the radome. Part of this area has the second part of the legend 'City of Winnipeg' above it. Marson records this as the name of the aircraft.
Finally we have CN 4194, USAF 54-175, delivered to the 76th Air Transport Squadron at Charleston on 24th February 1956. This has rudders painted fully white, and the word ATLANTIC above the serial number 4175. Once again the unit insignia appears to the rear of the MATS logo on the fuselage and also just aft of the red band further forward. The nose and radome look identical to those of CN 4173 just mentioned except that there is no aircraft name. I shall probably now upload both these paints as a single package when the first has undergone one or two minor revisions.