1/48th Tamiya P-47D, Ole Cock III
This is my P-47 that was built out of the box except for the decals which are from the Wolf Pack series by Aeromaster. I have always loved the P-47 and when I was a kid I built at least a half dozen of the Monogram kits and painted them up from my favorite P-47 group, the 56th Fighter Group. I had a plan back then to build as many of the groups planes as possible. Well after many years I got my hands on a Tamiya P-47 kit and decided that I just had to build Donavon Smith's Ole Cock III.
As a rule I like to build a relatively accurate model of an aircraft if I can find information about it. When I started researching this particular plane I found lots of contradictory information. I found information that pointed to four different paint schemes. When it was all said and done, I looked at them and created a fifth scheme, using a different combination of colors that the other four sources called out. In the end I was pretty pleased with the results, and I dare anyone to prove I am wrong. That is of course based completely on the fact that I as well as the other four sources cannot prove that they are right. I have included one picture of the actual aircraft to give you an idea of what the real bird looked like.
It was pretty cool when my good friend had built the same bird, he picked two different colors also from any of the other four sources and his looked great also. What was pretty cool about it is that I thought is really symbolized a lot of what modeling is all about. You build for fun, creating art that historically represents and is your personal interpretation of what you think is looked like. Two different builders, two different interpretations, and two great looking kits, that's what it is all about.
As for the kit itself I really can't add to what has already been said. It is a wonderful, extremely well engineered and fun kit to build. I have another one and five sheets of 56th Fighter Group decals. Which one to build, that's a tough but fun question.
Nice finish on the Jug, Walt...just the right touch.
...and I think it's okay to type the word "cock" (a male rooster) - after all, it's plain as day on the airplane, right?
Well...apparently not. My reply was edited as well.
Of course it should be. Fixed!
Great work! I'm building the same aircraft, though it will be in a winter scheme I found photos of. Like you, I found so much contradictory info I decided to just go with what I liked the best.
Thanks Jon, I saw the pictures you are refering to with the white wash over the upper surfaces of the fuselage. That should make for an interesting looking scheme. I found all kinds of different paint suggestions when I was building, including an old profile from IPMS Space Park in California. It suggested or states depending on you look at it, that the cowl was painted black before being painted red and that there is a fine black line between the red and the camouflage. This also states that because of the underlying base color of black the red turned more scarlet in hue. I don't know, I have looked at a lot of pictures of varying resolutions and don't see a black stripe on this particular plane. So I left if off. It is so much fun doing the interpretation and guessing I have a lot of fun with it. It really lends itself to "artistic license".
I like it! Colours on WWII UK based camoflaged aircraft are known to be contradictory as the USAAF often used RAF stock paint so its no wonder you had trouble confirming what was what colour wise The book The Mighty 8th in Colour is a gtreat reference if you can get it. Regardless i think your P-47 looks amazing.
As you said, everyone has an opinion on the correct color is on anything you build. To me, your paintwork has made this craft truly stand out.
Very nice build Walt! I've just got to get one of these Tamiya Jugs.
Gary
Probably (and I emphasize that word "probably") the airplane was painted in a manner similar to other 61st Squadron aircraft (such as Gavbreski's) with an overall coat of RAF Ocean Grey, then "blotched" with RAF Dark Green. All of them came out differently, and getting a scheme like this one is entirely consistent with that process. A long way of saying you have made a good "educated guess."
Excellent model. (Pretty hard to do otherwise with the Tamiya kit)
Beautiful, subtle paint work. I'll let the experts decide the rest.
Walt this is amazing great build and paint job you can clearly see an eye for detail you've got and weathered just right to scale very cool