Louis, your additions to this thread are stealing the show. Love those photos, more so due to the personal connection and the bitter sting of ‘progress’ robbing us of a great museum. We’ve lost so much of that generation and it’s criminal to see the ‘now’ picture. A loss in so many levels.

Yes, I’ll definitely be building a couple of T-Bolts in the near future. Been online already on a scouting mission. ‘Little Friends’ it is, and I like the idea of having two contrasting ‘47’s.

I’m hoping to det on with more of this build in the next two days. However, the canopy issue has derailed me in terms of making a run for the finishing line. Which is maybe just as well as I’d possibly be tempted to hurry it otherwise. Holiday weekend here in England so I get an extra day’s grace at the bench.

I hope you enjoy your weekend... and find the canopy to the B-17.

I had another idea... 🙂

How about a Natural Metal finish razor back as one plane, and the other in OD Green ?

Here's a photo of a natural metal one with the same squadron codes as found in the illustration...

and this picture proves that they were actually operated by the units at the same time. Ironically, here the newer model bubble top is camouflaged in OD green...while the older razor back version is natural metal. Even though this photo is from another P-47 unit from the one in the artists illustration, the idea could be considered valid.

This picture is very neat because it shows bubble tops and razor backs in both schemes. Check out the two planes in the background... just the opposite !

Hope this helps to stimulate the neurons... and water the P-47 seed just a tad.

Thanks again for the updates. It's really looking fabulous.

As far as being robbed of the greatest generation, sadly you are correct. I believe, but not for 100 % certain, the P-47 I sat in as a little boy is now in a museum in Colorado. At least it was preserved... hopefully... I think.

The Museum of Speed is gone for good, and the now vacant land where it once stood will probably end up as a parking lot, mini shopping mall, or a condominium.

Father time is taking care of the rest... There's not too many of these veterans left now. Most have joined their fellow squadron mates.

That is why they call it Infant-ry

Hi David, I’ve enjoyed this journey from the beginning, your travails are worthy of a Homeric saga. ;-). In regards to adding the Thunderbolts, in December 1943, it’s 99.99% certain that any P-47’s being used on ops were Razorbacks and were factory painted OD over Neutral Grey just as the drawing shows. Natural Metal Razorbacks didn’t show up until late spring of 1944 and Bubbletop D’s arrived just before D-Day.
Stunning work David, absolutely gorgeous.

Rick (@fuzzmann), you are way too kind, thanks. I noticed that you’ve previously done two things that are uncommon in the modeling world these days that share characteristics with this build. One is ‘wheels up’ and the other is the ‘spinning prop’. So your compliments are doubly welcome.

David you really aced painting the Prop Blur pieces, the brass looks transparent. Yours are the best I’ve ever seen. I wasn’t able to achieve that look and ended up using them as painting patterns for the clear disk I used on the Spitfire.

Rick is absolutely correct about the time frame and the colors used on P-47's. I would consider keeping both of the "Little Friends" in OD green for this reason if you want to be historically accurate.

I especially like how the greens have turned out on Ye Olde Pub... very nice.

They say that all good things must come to an end. Too bad your bench time has too for this weekend... But hopefully you can get back at it again soon.

I'll be looking forward to the next update, (or having it show up in the headlines section...).

Well done my friend. 🙂