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"Tiger's Revenge" & the pilot's story behind air combat art

Hi all! Here is my latest artwork: “Tiger’s Revenge”

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/TigersRevenge/TigersRevenge_800_web.jpg

Earlier this year I was commissioned to make an artwork for veteran P-51 Mustang pilot Lt. William S. “Tiger” Lyons, who flew with the 357th FS/355th FG during World War 2. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Lyons over the telephone and pick his brain on his experiences over Germany during 1944/45. He told me about several air battles in which he took part, and I decided to portray the one in which he scored his second victory, on 9 February 1945. Rather than telling you what happened, I have added a cropped sound recording from this interview, in which Mr Lyons vividly describes his air battle with a German Messerschmitt 109! On this day he was flying wingman for Lt. Edward J. Moroney. Click the image below to download or listen to the sound recording.

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/TigersRevenge/TigersRevenge_audio.jpg

The “Tiger’s Revenge” artwork was presented to Mr Lyons during the 355th Fighter Group reunion by Peter Randall of the Little Friends website, last October in Philadelphia. Here is a photo of Mr Lyons signing the prints. Below a photo of Mr Lyons holding one of the prints:

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/TigersRevenge/TigersRevenge_Lyons.jpg

Mr Lyons signed twenty large canvas prints for me, which are available here:
http://www.digitalaviationart.com/tigersrevenge_le.html
The prints are museum-quality giclee canvas prints at approximately A2 size.
If interested, don’t wait too long – there are only seven pilot-signed prints left!
For those interested in a more affordable print, normal prints are available here as well:
http://www.digitalaviationart.com/tigersrevenge.html

For those interested in seeing how “Tiger’s Revenge” was made, I have created a video which shows the buildup of the layers, which resulted in the final artwork. A high and low quality Quicktime has been uploaded. Hopefully it will be of interest:

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/TigersRevenge/TigersRevenge_QT_high.jpg http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/TigersRevenge/TigersRevenge_QT_low.jpg

Last but definitely not least, “Tiger’s Revenge” is currently exhibited in the Military Aviation Museum in Soesterberg, The Netherlands, amongst more aviation art by Wiek Luijken, John Wallin and myself. For the three of us this is our first exhibition, and needless to say we’re very proud of this milestone in our aviation art careers! Many thanks to Wiek and the museum for making this possible.

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/MLM_expo01.jpg

http://skyraider3d.military-meshes.com/gallery/MLM_expo02.jpg

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By: Skyraider3D - 9th December 2006 at 10:21

Thanks! Be sure to listen to the comments of Bill Lyons while watching it, it really helps picturing the whole event 🙂

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By: Phantom Phixer - 8th December 2006 at 08:12

Not often that I see a picture that I sit looking at for ages. But ths is one of them. Amazing stuff.

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By: Skyraider3D - 7th December 2006 at 23:08

BlueNoser352, thanks! You’ll be pleased to know that my next Mustang subject will be Maj. Preddy’s final Cripes A’Mighty! 🙂

But first I gotto do some Corsairs…

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By: BlueNoser352 - 6th December 2006 at 21:15

Ron ..outstanding art work & story !

Just a real master painting and very well done Sir, enjoyed your audio visual touch to the history of the print and the voice of Bill Lyons to go with it. Ever do any 352nd Blue Nose Fighter Group Mustangs in your collection ? Very nice !

Keep up the good work !

BlueNoser352!

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By: Skyraider3D - 6th December 2006 at 19:35

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, guys. Very much appreciated.

Matty, the background is a combination of photos and Photoshop drawing (see the making-of animation). The photos I’ve made myself. Everytime I go on holiday I take my camera with me in the plane and take hundreds of pictures 🙂

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By: Matty - 6th December 2006 at 03:01

Great work as always.

Not wanting to detract from the planes themselves, but where do you source those great background photos from? Do you think up the composition first and then find a fitting background or vice-versa?

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By: ollieholmes - 6th December 2006 at 00:31

Superb work of art Ronnie. Nice touch adding a video showing how you made it to.

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