P-47D 78th FG "Okie" - Aircraft of World War II

typhoonken · 03-04-2007, 08:15 PM

When I started using aftermarket decals in the 70's one of the first planes I built with the then-Microscale sheet was Major Quince L. Brown's P-47D, personalized as 'Okie.'
In 2003, SuperScale released sheet # 48-879, which included a later version of 'Okie.' I decided to re-do the plane and try to incorporate some weathering techniques.

This was an attempt to fade/ weather the paint and dirty up the panel lines. I was a bit ham-fisted with the chipping and learned my lesson.

This aircraft is Brown's personal mount, assigned to him upon his arrival to the 78th FG in April 1943. He used this plane for 8 1/3 of his final 12 1/3 aerial victories. It is a P-47D-6-RE, although T-bolt purists will notice the final cowl flap is notched, not straight as the -6 planes had.
The checkerboard nose was not adopted until April 1944 and Brown flew his plane until the completion of his first combat tour in July 1944. Upon his return to combat he received a new P-47D-21. The original 'Okie' was re-designated WZ-V and re-assigned to another pilot.

Wildcat · 03-04-2007, 08:59 PM

Very nice!

Heinz · 03-04-2007, 09:05 PM

Looks tops, one of my favourites!

Erich · 03-04-2007, 11:05 PM

great looking razorback !! ............

just a little later bubble top of the 78th, from friend and vet Huie lamb who shot a Me 262 down in this rig

Wurger · 03-05-2007, 03:41 AM

Very,very nice model

Wildcat · 03-05-2007, 08:31 AM

Very cool Erich!

evangilder · 03-05-2007, 09:13 AM

Nicely done.

R-2800 · 03-05-2007, 11:10 AM

cool!! nice job

typhoonken · 03-05-2007, 11:35 AM

Thanks all.

This kit is a 1/48th Hasegawa, and besides a new resin cockpit, (I threw out the original pit accidentally; it was assembled and painted and still stuck to the masking tape on my tabletop newspaper cover), I added new brass tubing barrels, a PE ring and bead sight, and a rearview mirror from an Academy kit.

I guess Hasegawa is my favorite manufacturer. If you want a certain plane they probably have it.

Ken

Matt308 · 03-06-2007, 02:10 PM

Ken, is the top centerline of your checkerboard cowl work historically accurate? I've always wanted to do checkerboard, but wondered how to make the transition on compound curves. Looks awesome to me.

typhoonken · 03-06-2007, 05:52 PM

Aaarrghh, Matt, you got me .

For as nicely as the rest of the checkerboard went on, (including the bottom), it was all I could do to get something resembling symmetry on the top. I hate to be inaccurate, but this was a case of creative repair or strip off the whole checkerboard.

Ken

HealzDevo · 03-11-2007, 11:00 PM

Would have been good to have a weathered version and a factory fresh version. I would have just started a new model but that is just me.

03-04-2007, 08:15 PM	#1
typhoonken Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 21	P-47D 78th FG "Okie" When I started using aftermarket decals in the 70's one of the first planes I built with the then-Microscale sheet was Major Quince L. Brown's P-47D, personalized as 'Okie.' In 2003, SuperScale released sheet # 48-879, which included a later version of 'Okie.' I decided to re-do the plane and try to incorporate some weathering techniques. This was an attempt to fade/ weather the paint and dirty up the panel lines. I was a bit ham-fisted with the chipping and learned my lesson. This aircraft is Brown's personal mount, assigned to him upon his arrival to the 78th FG in April 1943. He used this plane for 8 1/3 of his final 12 1/3 aerial victories. It is a P-47D-6-RE, although T-bolt purists will notice the final cowl flap is notched, not straight as the -6 planes had. The checkerboard nose was not adopted until April 1944 and Brown flew his plane until the completion of his first combat tour in July 1944. Upon his return to combat he received a new P-47D-21. The original 'Okie' was re-designated WZ-V and re-assigned to another pilot.

03-04-2007, 08:59 PM	#2
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	Very nice! __________________

03-04-2007, 11:05 PM	#4
Erich the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere Posts: 10,775	great looking razorback !! ............ just a little later bubble top of the 78th, from friend and vet Huie lamb who shot a Me 262 down in this rig __________________ Rip it up !

03-05-2007, 03:41 AM	#5
Wurger Siggy Master Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Poland Posts: 13,972	Very,very nice model __________________

03-05-2007, 08:31 AM	#6
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,543	Very cool Erich! __________________

03-04-2007, 09:05 PM	#3
Heinz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 6,742	Looks tops, one of my favourites!

03-05-2007, 09:13 AM	#7
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,809	Nicely done. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

03-05-2007, 11:10 AM	#8
R-2800 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 541	cool!! nice job __________________ www.airvictorymuseum.org "All right, they're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us... they can't get away this time." V-DUB!!!!!!! My 71 Beetle is now.....in two pieces....

03-05-2007, 11:35 AM	#9
typhoonken Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 21	Thanks all. This kit is a 1/48th Hasegawa, and besides a new resin cockpit, (I threw out the original pit accidentally; it was assembled and painted and still stuck to the masking tape on my tabletop newspaper cover), I added new brass tubing barrels, a PE ring and bead sight, and a rearview mirror from an Academy kit. I guess Hasegawa is my favorite manufacturer. If you want a certain plane they probably have it. Ken

03-06-2007, 02:10 PM	#10
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Ken, is the top centerline of your checkerboard cowl work historically accurate? I've always wanted to do checkerboard, but wondered how to make the transition on compound curves. Looks awesome to me. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

03-06-2007, 05:52 PM	#11
typhoonken Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 21	Aaarrghh, Matt, you got me . For as nicely as the rest of the checkerboard went on, (including the bottom), it was all I could do to get something resembling symmetry on the top. I hate to be inaccurate, but this was a case of creative repair or strip off the whole checkerboard. Ken

03-11-2007, 11:00 PM	#12
HealzDevo Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Queensland Posts: 1,249	Would have been good to have a weathered version and a factory fresh version. I would have just started a new model but that is just me.

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