The Shadow Screen production company called for some authentic nose art, needed for a music video to be shot in an derelict bomber 'boneyard'. Great project! Small catch. They start shooting in just 12 hours....

We exchange emails with an AWESOME got-it-together producer, Stephanie Scire, and get a mockup ready for the site.

Early next morning- we drive to the boneyard with our supplies and get our first glimpse of our 'bomber'- a well-shaped Beech 18.

The mockup is laid up, and she looks great already! Stephanie decides to put the artwork on another, larger aircraft, used in the main portion of the shoot.

(artwork chosen for the shoot is a Victory-Girl design, 'Baby Doll' - see nose art page)

We (assistants Eric and Dillan were pressed into service) pile supplies into the truck and drive to the larger aircraft, a metal-skinned Lockheed Lodestar, sans engines, that still held its beautiful executive leather and wood-paneled interior. As we only have a few hours left before shooting is scheduled- we get right to work on skin tones and lettering.

Director Frank Borin needs the aircraft moved - a HUGE crane is brought in to lift the aircraft carcass forward and to the left. We're painting right up until the crane operator yells 'CLEAR'!!

We're done, with an hour to spare to 'distress' the image before shooting begins! We move out our stuff and the cameras roll in......

British singer Ross Cooperman, sings into the sunset......

C-53 SkyTrooper - 'D Day Doll'

This restored C-53 Skytrooper of the Inland Empire Wing of the Commemorative Air Force arrives at Cable Airport for its artwork in early May.

The artwork for 'D-Day Doll' has already been designed by Victory-Girl and approved by the Wing earlier this year.

Go to www.inlandempirewingcaf.org for more history on the long restoration process of this wonderful airplane.

We tape a full size mockup of the artwork onto the aircraft for placement approvals. The title 'D-Day Doll', at her ankles, is looking too small, so we discuss making it larger.

In addition, the surface paint of this C-53D has some flaking, although the zinc chromate primer is in good condition. We plan on creating a buffer zone between the art and original paint to minimize future damage as a result of the original paint peeling.

Following some stiff paint removal and primer, we paint the co-pilot side first in heavy duty enamels. We had to move her over from the original placement as the reinforced rivet lines below the cockpit window would run right through her face.

Doug Dotter, one of the pilots of D-Day Doll, gives us the thumbs-up for the larger text. We finish up her uniform and place in a mockup of the larger text. She's looking good!

Time to finish up both sides with the larger text. She's ready for delivery!

One week later, the Inland Empire Wing flys in to Cable in a classic Cessna 170, ready to fly our girl home. Pilot Doug Dotter dons a vintage Army Air Force Officers crush cap and gives his 'girl' a good luck pat before engine startup.