**** DONE: GB-56 1/48 P-47D-25RE - Thunderbolts and Lightning

[Donivanp]

Time to define the where and when (well actually that should have been before I shot the top and bottom of the wing invasion strips!) The aircraft is depicted with two different sets of markings with about a month difference between then. June 1944 and July 20 1944 when the aircraft was lost. I searched the intertwined webb of deceit and found the following.....

June 1944 the invasion strips are upper and lower the wing, and the fuselage bands are also upper and lower, July

the upper fuselage and wing bands are gone.

 

[Wurger]

Here shots with the full D-Day marking seen ... please note the scored victory number was 27 while the 28 was applied when she was lost.

the sourtce: the net.

 

[Donivanp]

Here shots with the full D-Day marking seen ... please note the scored victory number was 27 while the 28 was applied when she was lost.

View attachment 701640

View attachment 701641

View attachment 701642
the sourtce: the net.

Thank you, Yes that would be correct as to the score board. Think I'm going with the early markings, call it a "happier time" if anytime in war is happier!

 

[Wurger]

Here one more with the tail section seen and the source film ...

View: https://youtu.be/msRVkwGTg1w

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Looking at your pics Don, the signed photo is reversed and looking at the one above could the 28 kill marker be in place just above Gabby's head. In both cases, invasion stripes look to be only on the underside.

 

[Donivanp]

The June (D-day) has invasion stripes top and bottom. By July (plane lost on 20 July mission) the upper wing and fuselage stripes are missing. And yes that does appear to be reversed and later with the removed strips.

 

[Wurger]

Actually that's the same pic attached as the last one in the same post above. The apparent lack of the top portion D-Day markings has been caused by the quality of scanning and the light conditions during the process. But a close up look reveals that both the white and black strips are going from the bottom of the wing to its top through the leading edge.

 

[Donivanp]

Aw now his signature is all backwards, dang it

 

[Wurger]

OK...

 

[le_steph40]

And here in better resolution with ETO markings (black stripe) under the tailplane clearly visible

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[Donivanp]

Update, spitting paint. laid down the dark sea gry and then the dark green and touched up as needed..

 

[le_steph40]

nice

 

[Wurger]

Hummm ... the camo looks a little bit strange. IMHO the order of applying of the top colours should be inverted. The first , background colour should be the Green then the Grey. It can be noticed in the pictures posted above. Anyway nicely done.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Looking at the pics, Wojtek could have a point Don but either way its a hard call and looks good anyway.

 

[Donivanp]

Hummm ... the camo looks a little bit strange. IMHO the order of applying of the top colours should be inverted. The first , background colour should be the Green then the Grey. It can be noticed in the pictures posted above. Anyway nicely done.

I believe I agree as when I look at the close ups, the grey seems to be almost molted on. I was trying to follow the decal destructions but you know how that can be.....

 

[Wurger]

I believe I agree as when I look at the close ups, the grey seems to be almost molted on. I was trying to follow the decal destructions but you know how that can be.....

Yep... you are right saying the grey is almost molted on. The fading was caused by a quite hasty applying of a too thinned paint, IMHO. Here a couple of scans of the same pic. The kind of smudges can be noticed ..

the source: the net.

 

[fubar57]

Looking very nice

 

[Donivanp]

Back spraying, not really trying to wipe out the grey,

 

[Vic Balshaw]

I think the colour change round is going to give you and amazing finish, very much like the real thing.