Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
The differences are between sources.Are the differences in sizes between views within the same source, or between sources? Flaps and ailerons will frequently appear different in top view and bottom view, because they will often be "tucked under" the upper surface, for balance or other reasons. The flaps on P-47s were of a Fowler design, and would show quite a bit larger than the aileron, especially in bottom views, even in the experimental stages. I would therefore be more trusting of the first drawing, over the second. Panel lines are anyone's guess, without photo evidence. Since that was the laminar flow "X" bird, it may have been puttied and sanded smooth, with few or no visible panel lines, just the flaps and ailerons.
Here is a nice shot of the XP-47F I found on the Republic XP-47F Thunderbolt
The enlarged part of the wing trailing edge clearly shows that the flap and aileron were attached to the wing auxiliary iron. The straight line between the wing main body and flap+aileron section indicates the trapeze shape of the wing. What is more the flap had someting like a pipe attached to the trailing edge. And the aileron didn't reach the wing tip as it is drown in the first drowings by Klein above. Because of the flap and aileron top shape, it doesn't seem the bottom line for them is correct. For the reason I would say the accuracy of the drawings is questionable. IMHO the second diagram with the top+bottom wing surfaces seems to be more accurate.
Shouldn't the second set of drawings be the right one then? Judging by the photos in Wurger's post #6, the ailerons seem to have a squared tip, and your picture shows that the wingtip aifoil's trailing edge is cut which would indicate that another part, namely the aileron, closes it.FWIW, even this is an older thread, I've been doing further research and came across this picture. The ailerons clearly end at the wing tip caps, so I would cast my vote in favor of the FIRST set of drawings, above. Also, no guns were carried on the "F" variant, but wooden dowels were used, instead, which can be seen in the earlier posted front view photo.
Ed
View attachment 703756