B-52D underside color question

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I recently won an old but high dollor retail, Big Bad & Beautiful 52 series. I’ve done a B-52 before, but was done around my early modeling skills. My question is what black color is used for the under side of the B-52D model, the model says to use Satin black. Then I’ve heard flat or gloss black, so I’m confused. And anyone help me out.

Thanks.

2

Daniel, I’ve come across 2 sources that say gloss black . 1 is ipmsstockholm.org the other is Fine Scale Modeler How To Paint & Weather Scale Models. The number is FS17038. ART

3

Two years of personal experience working with Dog model BUFFS at Andersen AFB, Guam, tells me the black color was gloss. During the ARC LIGHT days of Viet Nam, the BUFFS weathered rather severely at times causing the black paint to take on various shades of satin and even flat. This was uneven and splotchy at best. Check some photos to get an idea of how this looked.

80 of the best Dog models were refurbished after Viet Nam and the paint was kept in good condition until they were finally retired in the 1980s.

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

4

Depending on the weathering level you’re going to use on your model you can mix flat and gloss black together. More gloss…newer less worn aircraft. More flat…worn and weathered. A 50/50 will give you a middle of the road ‘satin’.

**TLAR=**That Looks About Right.

5

My yrs on BUFFS , I remember gloss black as stated. But the weathering point is spot on…

6

I recently built this model for for a customer who usd to fly in the old B-52. For the black underside I used Kryon semi-gloss black out of the spray can. (Available at nearly any auto parts store), The customer said the appearance was exactly right.[:)]

7

Thanks guys for your help, think I’ll go with semi-gloss black. From the pictures I’ve seen thats the closet black that comes to it.

Thanks again.

8

I spent a lot of time around “D” models, not as a mechanic though. Here’s a “D” on display at Orlando IAP. She’s inneed of a good paint job and a look over by corrision control.

Here’s a few at war:

9

Thanks ikar01 for the phtotos.