falcon_ib
Well-Known Member
I was inspired by some of you guys on the forum to make my own stenciled shirts based on WW2 originals:
"Long Rangers" 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force, Southwest Pacific
This was my first attempt, I went a little heavy on the paint but I'm happy with the result. I used the Marsh font for this one.
In the original photo above, the two in front center are clearly wearing stenciled 13th AF t-shirts. I can't make out what's stenciled above the symbol, so I made a best guess. This photo was probably taken on Los Negros Island, Wakde, Morotai, or Clark Field on Luzon.
This one is based on the 73rd Fighter Squadron's Armament Section Softball Team. Not sure when or where this picture was taken but I'm thinking either Bellows Field, Hawaii, Saipan, or Ie Shima. They were part of the 7th Air Force's VII Fighter Command, the "Sun Setters VII"
XXI Bomber Command, 20th Air Force, Guam 1945 (bad lighting but t-shirt is white)
It is based on two originals I found photos of.
I printed out each design on cardstock, then cut it out with an exacto knife. The t-shirts are just the cheapos found in art supply stores, so I sized way down for a WW2 fit. I then prewashed each one, applied paint, let it sit for 3 days, ironed the reverse, let it sit for another few days, then hand washed it and let it sit. Now they can go through the washer and dryer with no paint bleeding or chipping.
Personally I like the imperfect nature of my shirts. I'm sure that the original artists, in 100-degree heat with 100% humidity and no shade on a remote Pacific island, made mistakes too.
Thanks for looking!
Evan
"Long Rangers" 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force, Southwest Pacific
This was my first attempt, I went a little heavy on the paint but I'm happy with the result. I used the Marsh font for this one.
In the original photo above, the two in front center are clearly wearing stenciled 13th AF t-shirts. I can't make out what's stenciled above the symbol, so I made a best guess. This photo was probably taken on Los Negros Island, Wakde, Morotai, or Clark Field on Luzon.
This one is based on the 73rd Fighter Squadron's Armament Section Softball Team. Not sure when or where this picture was taken but I'm thinking either Bellows Field, Hawaii, Saipan, or Ie Shima. They were part of the 7th Air Force's VII Fighter Command, the "Sun Setters VII"
XXI Bomber Command, 20th Air Force, Guam 1945 (bad lighting but t-shirt is white)
It is based on two originals I found photos of.
I printed out each design on cardstock, then cut it out with an exacto knife. The t-shirts are just the cheapos found in art supply stores, so I sized way down for a WW2 fit. I then prewashed each one, applied paint, let it sit for 3 days, ironed the reverse, let it sit for another few days, then hand washed it and let it sit. Now they can go through the washer and dryer with no paint bleeding or chipping.
Personally I like the imperfect nature of my shirts. I'm sure that the original artists, in 100-degree heat with 100% humidity and no shade on a remote Pacific island, made mistakes too.
Thanks for looking!
Evan
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