Tamiya 1/48 P-47M 61st FS
Tamiya Kit with scratch-built lead foil seat belts. Mixed the blue/black color IAW Tamiya's instructions. Must be careful and use the right magnetos, not the ones called out for in the instructions. Aeromaster decals were used. Finished in Tamiya Acrylics and Alclad lacquers for the natural metal areas. Very enjoyable build.
Andy
16 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Ramon R. Lomeli said on June 14, 2018
beautiful work dude!
Craig Abrahamson said on June 14, 2018
Love that scheme...excellent build, sir!
Morne Meyer said on June 14, 2018
Stunning! You did a real good job on this one. Well done!
gary sausmikat said on June 14, 2018
Very, very nice! Love the paint scheme and the job you did with it.
Greg Kittinger said on June 14, 2018
Excellent paint work and a really cool color scheme. Those baby-blue stars & bars really stand out.
Terry Schuler said on June 14, 2018
Andrew, Excellent build, on an excellent kit. I really like the paint work, the finish looks great and the color looks perfect (just a hint of blu'ish through the black) that is exactly what my eyes envision this weird color to be ! Well done !
What did you use to in the panel lines ?
Andrew Frill said on June 14, 2018
Terry,
thanks for the compliment. I used Tamiya gray panel line wash on the black/blue areas and the black/brown on the underside and the red areas.
Andrew Frill said on June 14, 2018
thanks fellas, I have 12 more to build lol
Andy
paul teixeira said on June 14, 2018
well, all around a top of the class build presentation. excellent in all important areas. Love the way u took a dark paint job and made it pop, not look plain/dull like a toy. What did u use as a wash/panel liner with the dark finish, looks great. Your NMF parts are flawless. Love the unique finish/scheme! Hell of a "JUG"!
Andrew Frill said on June 14, 2018
Paul,
I used Tamiya's black, brown and gray panel line washes.
Andy
Jeff Bailey said on June 14, 2018
Andrew, VERY impressive! I love the paint scheme - you did it very well.
Thiago C. M. Pacheco said on June 14, 2018
Absolutely beautiful build! In a weird coincidence, I was about to post this picture I just stumbled upon on facebook:
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Louis Gardner said on June 15, 2018
Now this is a great picture !
Stephen W Towle said on June 14, 2018
Playing tail end Charlie and Sir Echo while Parroting what the rest have written...
the 64.00 dollar question why paint the aircraft in Blue and Black cameo ? Black paint makes a aircraft easier to spot. Therefore , once the allies had gained air superiority and the bomber boys wanted to spot the "Little Friends" easier ...they they painted the a/c in a blue/black paint scheme. Or is there a better rational?
Andrew Frill said on June 14, 2018
There were 3 squadrons in the 58th fighter group in 61st, 62nd and 63rd fighter squadrons. The 61st painted their aircraft is the blue/black camo while the 62nd and 63rd did the two tone blue of the 62nd and the gray and camo of the 63rd. I may have them reversed but that was one way to tell the squadrons apart. the 61st FS was primarily used to counter the ME-262 threat and did not carry external pylons, as they gained an extra 20 MPH. They would just carry the belly tank.
Tom Cleaver said on June 14, 2018
It wasn't only the blue/black paint. According to a model made for Mike Gladych by his crew chief, using the paint that had been mixed for Mike's airplane, there was also a very dark, nearly black "plum" color. There were likely other shades too, since the paint was mixed by "eyeball" and not by any formula.
And yes, as everyone else has said, your model looks wonderful.
1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
Stephen W Towle said on June 14, 2018
"the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings.
"on the trenches were pieces of turf, which served for camouflage"
synonyms: disguise, concealment, cover, screen
"pieces of mossy turf served for camouflage" Taken from Wiki.
Really, the paint didn't act as camouflage it was more for identification to tell the various squadron who's who. Air superiority Black and Blue.
Its the goal of most fighter pilots not to be seen by the enemy...hit them when they least think of being in danger. This application of paint is in your face and it don't matter.
Tom Cleaver said on June 15, 2018
You're right - by the spring of 1945, when these came along, it really didn't matter - though the camouflage of the other two squadrons was more traditional.
Pedro L. Rocha said on June 14, 2018
Beautiful model, top notch paint work, that engine nose red hue is just terrific. Congratulations Andrew
Tom Bebout said on June 15, 2018
Nicely done Andrew, a real pleasure to view, thanks for posting.
Louis Gardner said on June 15, 2018
This is an awesome plane Andrew... well done ! Thanks for sharing it with us... 🙂
Andrew Frill said on June 20, 2018
Thanks everyone for the compliments.
George Henderson said on June 20, 2018
Lovely