The new Jolly Rogers look--High-Vis Bug

[David Hingtgen]

A lot of squadron markings ARE decals. (Us modelers would call them stickers, being self-adhesive, but "professional/industrial" stickers are usually referred to as decals) It is certainly possible the skull etc are painted on with a stencil, but it's just as likely that they peeled it off a sheet and stuck it on the tail. Many airliners are like 90% decaled, not painted--even 200ft-long stripes.

IMHO, the coolest thing about the F-8 scheme was that ALL the tips were painted. H.stabs, wingtips, and v.stab tip. Looked neat from every angle. Plus the ventral fins. (I like ventral fins--look cool, and make for great painting opportunities). Also, they had a BIG yellow chevron on the side, in addition to the standard row of little ones inside the stripes.

[ewilen]

A lot of squadron markings ARE decals.

Ah, sorry. I partially retract my funny then.

IMHO, the coolest thing about the F-8 scheme was that ALL the tips were painted.  H.stabs, wingtips, and v.stab tip.  Looked neat from every angle.  Plus the ventral fins.  (I like ventral fins--look cool, and make for great painting opportunities).  Also, they had a BIG yellow chevron on the side, in addition to the standard row of little ones inside the stripes.

Going back to the Vagabonds Crusader pics in the article I linked, I think the fin accents look fine. What I object to about their treatment in the Super Hornet pictures linked at the beginning of thread is that to me they're a major component of the "Hornet cosplaying as a Tomcat" effect.