1:32nd P-47D-25-RE of Lt. Col Francis Gabreski, June 6th, 1944 Group Build

[Airframes]

Nice pic H. It's a 'Kodachrome' colour original, mostly seen as a B&W print.

[B-17engineer]

Thanks T

[lesofprimus]

After some more research, on D-Day, there were regular stripes on his plane, no black tape bordering the white, per his Crew Chief Ralph Stafford....

[Airframes]

That's that one sorted then!

[lesofprimus]

Need to get confirmation prior to hittin the hobby store concerning colors....

Theres 3 colors to the camo and the cockpit.... Ive got some conflicting info concerning all 4 so....

Terry, I think u got the proper info right??

[Airframes]

All the references I have concerning the camouflage paints, including those by Roger Freeman, refer to the paint stocks used being the RAF Dark Green and Ocean Grey (Dark Sea Grey similar). The only question mark was the exact shade of the blue, when used on the undersides, which is definitely RAF, and presumed to be Azure Blue. The cockpit colours should be standard Republic paints.

[lesofprimus]

Got the cockpit color covered then...

As per Gabby himself, in his book, "Light Grey on bottom, dark green on top with medium grey..."

Mike Dobrzelecki interviewed Gabby at his home and came to this conclusion: "Medium Sea Grey on bottom, Dark Green on top with Ocean Grey...

Sounds like we're right on the button, except with the bottom.... Im using Model Masters Enamel Paints.... Trying to figure out the codes....

[lesofprimus]

The color chart looks waaaaaaaaaaaaay outta whack...

[Airframes]

According to that chart Dan, they have a RAF Medium Sea Grey - fifth from the bottom, second column from the left. Colour charts are rarely accurate, unless they use an actual paint chip, but it looks to be in the right area. MSG is roughly the shade of the darker of the two greys on the forum web pages, as a very rough guide. To be honest, I normally just mix my own, until it looks right!!!
Whilst I remember, and it's way in the future yet, don't forget the gun blast tubes. Many models show these as black, or a gun metal colour. They were, in fact, stainless steel mounting/blast tuibes, and notthe actual gun barrels as some think. period colour pics clearly show this, and there are some detail close up shots in the pics I provided from Duxford.

[Wurger]

The problem with teh Gabby's kite is that all known pictures show the machine state at a couple of different periods of time.These earliest shots are from the June/July break.Then shots taken on 5th July and later , shortly before the last flight of the P-47. According to Gabreski and his tech crew member Felix Schacki the plane was painted with RAF Dark Green and Ocean Grey on upper surfaces and sides.And with Medium Sea Greay on undersides. The Dark Green paint was applied firstly then the Ocean Grey spots. However there is a few doubts about the main landing grear doors and undersides of the wing tips.But the main problem is with the painting of undersides of the vertical stabilizres and elevators.In a few shots of these areas it can be seen the balck quick ID strip.It can indicate that these areas weren't painted at all. Or the black strips were left there. In addition, these victory markings were stickers preserved with clear dope. Because the aircraft was re-painted with the camo, most of the exploitation stencils was overpainted.

Concerning the thin black strips around the invasion strips . it was the thin ( 1" ) insulating tape.

[lesofprimus]

Beautiful guys, thanks a million... Was hopin to hear from ol' Wayne-boy and see what his interpetation is, as he's going to be doing the same crate....

[Wayne Little]

Beautiful guys, thanks a million... Was hopin to hear from ol' Wayne-boy and see what his interpetation is, as he's going to be doing the same crate....

Sorry Dan...haven't even been thinking about Gabby's crate yet....the first thing I would like with Bill's permission is a copy of that hi-res pic to really study, so far with what you have posted and linked there is some pretty interesting stuff to re-read and review, in an attempt to catch up don't think I will get fancy at all just a basic build with some trimmings...

[lesofprimus]

Ill email it to u Wayne...

[Wayne Little]

Thanks mate, appreciate it!

[lesofprimus]

Ur welcome man...