Academy 1/48 P-47D Thunderbolt

 41st, Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Group

Porac Airfield, Pampanga

Luzon, Philippines

The kit was built straight out-of-the-box. The US roundels were from the kit decals.  The tail serial numbers were custom printed. No. "74" were spare yellow decal numbers over a painted medium blue half stripe. The tail stripes were masked and painted.  The cockpit was painted with an interior green mix while the wheel wells with a zinc chromate yellow mix.

 

The entire model was primed with Mr. Color #92 semi gloss black.  Once dried, the black Philippine Invasion bands were masked.  The natural metal finish was painted using Gunze Mr. Color # 8 and different shades of metalizers from Testors. Other shades were simulated using different Tamiya clear colors.  Mr. Color #304 Olive Drab was used for the anti glare and the yellow cowling is a mix to Tamiya yellow plus a tad of red to give it a little depth.

The model depicts a P-47D-28 of the 41st Fighter Squadron when it was based in Porac Airfield.  The scheme was based on a photo taken on the same airfield together with a mix of P-47Ds in service with the 201st Mexican Squadron. 

 

(click on the thumbnail to enlarge)

 

It is not known if this P-47D was loaned or was transitioned to the 201st MEAF.  Note that the aircraft had its left aileron replaced due to the absence of the black invasion stripes.

 

Tony Feredo