David, I think the issue of colour schemes is dependent on so many variables - all you can do is check the available references and go with something that looks about right - or if there are no decent references - often the case - make the best guess you can! Good Luck.
Love the bleached out look some of those forts have , especially 'nine o nine' - great panel line shading too!

Wonderful update David . I especially like the original era photos you posted of War time B-17's.

You're pretty much right on the money with your "50 shades of green" statement. Here's a few pictures I took from inside the Collings Foundation B-17 painted as "Nine -0- Nine" which is one of the few air worthy 17's still flying.

Here even with today's modern technology, and how far paint companies have improved their formulas, you can still see a difference between the greens on the cowling and wings. Also note the stainless steel "dog dish" located just behind the cowling louvers.

During some of my research online, I stumbled across these color photos that were taken during the War for "LIFE" magazine. The OD Green on the P-40 looks as if it's starting to get just a little "Chalky" looking. When this happens, even something such as a person simply touching the surface will alter the appearance. The act of touching the chalky painted surface would remove the oxidized upper layer and reveal fresher paint below which has yet to be exposed to the elements. Some of this is slightly visible with the engine cowling on this particular P-40.

You can see what I mean if you zoom in on the area just behind the exhaust, and the head of the man standing on the far right wearing the tan coveralls. See the darker green ? It smears over to the next panel...

Check out how bad these P-38's look ! I'm fairly certain they were based in Alaska which also has a harsh environment.

From my own personal experiences, (and I'm sure other Army vets can agree), even today there are various shades of OD Green in use. When we were doing routine maintenance on our tools that were supplied as part of the maintenance kit (called OVM) for our tanks, periodically we would paint some of these tools to protect them from rusting, in a black or an OD Green color, using a spray can instead of a brush.

The Army had OD Green with the exact same NSN (National Stock Number) part number on the can's outer label. However when you sprayed the paint on the tools, sometimes you would get a more brownish shade, while other times it would be more of a green hue.

The color would vary a little from can to can ! We called it "close enough" for Government Work...

So what you are doing with your B-17 is spot on the money. Add in factors such as freshly painted touch up areas, older paint in service in different areas, and things such as spilled oil or AV Gas would definitely cause a change in colors. Even something such as exposure to UV lighting at higher altitudes would change the colors of the OD Green to various shades.

I'm liking what I see here, and it's great to see you back at the bench doing what you love.

The other thing abouy change in surface colour is sheen, especially on fabric. This occurs from oil leaks that get cleaned off by the groundcrew.

David, are you going to go over the model with a fine dry brush to add small and slight lighter shades of irregularities? As can be seen by the photos Louis provided the scratches, dents, etc. I find that it is those subtle imperfections which often, even from a distance, make for a more realistic appearance.

Awesome, looking forward to seeing the progress. With your abition and great talent, it ought to look real special.
Good to read that you are getting into the creative flow again.
I am anticipating, anticipating, . . . I better make some more popcorn.

I'm kind of short on words, David. But wow! lookin good!

Thanks, Robert. The size of the B-17 and the damage to it really does make an impact. I think I’m going to have to paint the insignias and markings rather than use decals (or at least use a mixture) due to damage, which may help the whole thing ‘pop’ a little more.

Now, how you getting on with that ugly dame (BP)?

I think that’s probably the role the BPD (Borderline Personality Dirorder?) was made for, or possibly ground attack. I think was was essentially a little late to the party. I hate saying any plane is ugly - they are amazing feats of engineering, all of them, but the Defiant needs some momma’s love.

Man oh Man !

This is looking great David... I especially like the outdoors photo. It shows off the variations is the different shades of Green very well.

You nailed the OD color scheme buddy. Too bad about the wash spill. A good way to look at it, is that your were very fortunate that it didn't affect the B-17. It could have been much worse... Thank God it wasn't.

I'm glad you were very receptive to the idea with the P-47's. It's one of my favorite planes, and I plan on building up a few in the vey near future.

I have a very personal connection with the plane. It's one of my very earliest memories where my Dad would let me actually sit in the cockpit of a bubble top one that was a static display outside the "Museum of Speed" in Daytona Beach. Here's a few pictures of the actual plane.

Here it is being delivered at the Daytona Beach Airport.

The welcoming committee from the Museum of Speed.

and how it was displayed outside the museum for quite some time afterwards. I believe it was there for at least 10-12 years.

I remember moving the joystick around a little. My Dad would show me how the ailerons moved when the stick was moved in the right direction.
Sadly the plane and the museum are no longer there... This is how it looks now where the museum building stood and plane once was...

Many years later I became friends with an elderly gentleman name Ed Malo. Here he is sitting in the cockpit of his plane that he shared with another pilot.

He actually flew razor back P-47's from Martlesham Heath during the War.
Here he is sitting on the wing of his P-47 along with the other pilot and the ground crew and the armorer. Ed is closest to the fuselage, while the other pilot named Airus Bergstrom is on the far right.

Ed was a pilot with the 359th Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group and flew from there between 22 May 1944 and 07 October 1944.

He flew several missions on D-Day and many during the Falaise Gap shortly afterwards. One side of the plane was named "Carmen" while the other was "Phyllis". Ed married Phyllis and they remained together until Ed passed away in 2012.

In this photo below, Bergstrom is standing next to the plane on the "Carmen" side... "Phyllis" was on the other side of the nose...

I plan on building a model of his plane marked OC * P (bar). It had the last letter underlined with a bar to denote the second aircraft in the Squadron that was wearing the letter "P". I'm thinking about using the old Revell 1/32 model for this build.

Here's another P-47 that I want to build as part of the "Nose Art" GB currently underway. I have everything lined up on this one ready to go and will be using the Tamiya 1/48 kit. But first I must finish up some Spitfires and Hurricanes for the 100 Years of the RAF ...

I'm very happy to see that the P-47 seed that I planted will sprout and eventually grow into an fantastic addition to this wonderful diorama you have going here...

Those walkway stripes you painted on, (and other markings) look much better than any decal ever could. It's neat little things like this, that sets your build apart from the others.