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

[lesofprimus]

Alright, Group Build #5....

User name: lesofprimus
Name: Dan
Category: Judge (non competing)
Kit: Hasegawa 1:32nd scale P-47D-25-RE
Details: Crate of Lt. Col Francis Gabreski as it looked on June 6th, 1944 with 22 kills on her... Loads of scratch building, maybe some PE seatbelts.... Possibility of opening one of the panels over the engine....

On June 6, 1944 - D-Day. Gabreski led his squadron in long fighter sweeps over the beaches of Normandy. Three weeks later, he surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I record and on July 5th scored his 28th victory making him America's leading ace. When Gabreski 's total reached 28 air victories and 193 missions, he earned a leave back to the States. While waiting to board the plane that would fly him to the US, Gabreski discovered that a mission was scheduled for that morning. He took his bags off the transport and wangled permission to "fly just one more." After his plane was armed for battle, he met no opposition over the target. Seeking targets of opportunity, he spotted enemy fighters parked on an airdrome. During his second strafing pass, his plane suddenly began to vibrate violently and crash landed. Uninjured, he jumped to the ground and runs toward a deep woods with German soldiers in pursuit. Eluding them for five days, he began to make his way toward Allied lines. He encountered a Polish-speaking forced laborer whom he persuaded to bring him food and water. But eventually he was captured and interrogated by the famed Hanns Scharff.

The pics below are the profile Im working off of, as well as the only "real" pics of the plane Ive been able to find.... Any other "real life" pics would be a HUGE assist....

There are some questions as to the coloration of the camo.... The colorized pic below definatly shows alot of blue tint.... Comments on that??? Also some guys, as well as the decals provided, have black borders on the white stripes on the fuselage... I cannot confirm this from the 3 pics I have....

[lesofprimus]

The kit looks great, very well detailed... Decals look nice... Hardly any flash and minimal sink spots....

Im excited about this one....

[B-17engineer]

Cool.... Looking forward to it.

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Les, if you need them I've got some shots of Hun Hunter XVI with a few close up detail shots. Will check my photo thread and be back with post #s. Ok, post 67 has a shot of the P-47 overall and post 70 has the detail shots. It you need the full size shots just let me know. I love these plains and would like to have more time to study them. Can't wait for this build to start!

[lesofprimus]

Heres the page that has the post numbers Aaron, covered bridges, no planes...

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/per...s-16469-2.html (Brooks' Photos)

[vikingBerserker]

I am really looking forward to seeing what you do with her, excellent choice.

[Wayne Little]

This is a great choice Dan...so I'll get it over and done with...you "Sir" Pr!ck...see I'm showing respect by putting 'Sir' in front of P......!

Have the same kit for the same purpose!


and the large grainy 3rd shot downin the first main post is the reverse of the smaller clearer one above it.

[lesofprimus]

So u and I are doin the same kit Wayne???

Lol....

Are u doin urs with full stripes like me or the after D-Day look???

[Wayne Little]

The 27 victory look with the stripes....

[lesofprimus]

The same then, except Im cutting my kills down to 22, which was his total on D-Day....

Gonna be real interesting u and I doin the gimmick, I look forward to it once I finish up my Stuka...

So do u think the white stripes had that black border Wayne??? Ive only found 3 pics of his plane, and none are convincing either way..

[Wayne Little]

So do u think the white stripes had that black border Wayne??? Ive only found 3 pics of his plane, and none are convincing either way..

YES there were Black borders to the white fuselage stripes..

[lesofprimus]

Frickin beautiful man, thanks...

Got any more of Gabreski's craate for me???

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Pages 46 and 47. Sorry about that Dan.

[Wayne Little]

Frickin beautiful man, thanks...

Got any more of Gabreski's craate for me???

Maybe....

...be back on later.... is just after 1pm here things to do...back on around 8pm...

[109ROAMING]

Sweet build Dan

I picked up hasegawa's 1/72 version of this kit last year

Wayne's and your build will be a good reference