P47 Penrod and Sam

[Nomde]

Hi all
Here's the latest skin I've completed which was flown by Capt. Robert Johnson in May of 44'.

This pre-invasion Thunderbolt is a classic NMF Razorback, with a nose-to-windscreen anti-glare strip of OD, a yellow rudder as per 62nd FS standards, and the classic red cowling of the 56thFG. Robert Johnson’s previous Thunderbolts had been named “Lucky” up until he was assigned this D-21 in early ‘44. In appreciation of his ground crew he dropped the old moniker and named this aircraft “Penrod and Sam”. Johnson’s middle name was Samuel, and his crew chief’s name was J.C.Penrod.

“Penrod and Sam” was Johnson’s final combat aircraft and he flew it until his TOD with the 56th ended abruptly when, on May 8th1944, he scored his 26th and 27th victories flying this Jug. It was Johnson’s two final kills that made him the first ETO pilot to better Eddie Rickenbaker’s score of 26 victories from WWI, and got him out of combat and back home to sell war bonds.

Please let me know your thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fencer51]

Nomde,

If this is a new Thunderbolt and was flown only a short time, should the colors be so faded?

Other than that it looks fine.

[YUCCA]

Nomde i want to have your baby.

[MachNix]

Check the vent just forward of the tail wheel doors.  The vent looks white instead of "metal" in the images.

[tigman]

I like it Nomde...lets go kill people in it  

[Stang]

Was it painted grey or is it supposed to be bare metal?

[Nomde]

Fencer[/u],
the plane's which were assigned to Johnson were as follows:
Assigned Combat Aircraft:
P-47C-1-RE, HV*P
"Half Pint"

P-47C-2-RE, HV*P
SN: 41-6235
"All Hell"

P-47D-5-RE, HV*P
SN: 42-8461
"Lucky"

P-47D-15-RE, HV*P
SN: 42-76234
"Double Lucky"

P-47D-21-RA, LM*Q
SN: 42-25512
"Penrod & Sam"

I haven't found the date references to these as yet, but the skin looks a little more "dirty" due to the bare metal skin type I was trying to reproduce. I'm trying my first bare metal skin here, and was trying to work out the opacity of the layer.
Even so, the description say he was assigned this aircraft "early" in '44. As the depiction reference is from May of '44, i'm sure there was a fair amount of wear.... besides, I hate brand new planes anyways, they don't look "real".

yucca[/u],
You're already my biotch, and no I don't want you procreating anything let alone another you.

Machnix[/u],
You're right, I tried to "blend" that area in as best I could. I tried giving it a "metal" look but it always came out looking too dark, so I went with this and tried to "dirty" it up just a bit.

Tigman[/u],
And so we shall my friend

Stang[/u],
It's supposed to be a Natural Metal Finish (NMF). This is my first try at it, so give a little leaway, hehe.

[Krusty]

It's rather hard to read the "Penrod and Sam" text. It's attacking the retinas, with yellow text and black shadow.

Questions:

1) Can you put the same shadow under the "P" on the red cowling ring?

2) Can you change the text color and the shadow color so the yellow is easier to read and the shadow is less distracting? Subtle changes I mean, not enough to make it unhistorical

3) Can you reduce opacity of the shadow?

EDIT: Got the name in the text wrong, corrected it.

[Sancho]

It needs a paddle blade prop and a souped up engine.  But other than that its perfect.  Nice paintjob, Nomde.

[Fencer51]

Originally posted by Nomde
Fencer[/u],
the plane's which were assigned to Johnson were as follows:
Assigned Combat Aircraft:
P-47C-1-RE, HV*P
"Half Pint"

P-47C-2-RE, HV*P
SN: 41-6235
"All Hell"

P-47D-5-RE, HV*P
SN: 42-8461
"Lucky"

P-47D-15-RE, HV*P
SN: 42-76234
"Double Lucky"

P-47D-21-RA, LM*Q
SN: 42-25512
"Penrod & Sam"

I haven't found the date references to these as yet, but the skin looks a little more "dirty" due to the bare metal skin type I was trying to reproduce. I'm trying my first bare metal skin here, and was trying to work out the opacity of the layer.
Even so, the description say he was assigned this aircraft "early" in '44. As the depiction reference is from May of '44, i'm sure there was a fair amount of wear.... besides, I hate brand new planes anyways, they don't look "real".

Nomde, sorry to respond so late but I been busy.

According to Littlefriends.co.uk;

42-8461 P-47D 61 HV-P Johnson Maj. Robert S Lucky Lost 22 March 44 - Lt. Dale E Stream KIA, this date is confirmed in his book "Thunderbolt".

So he got  P-47D-15-RE, HV*P SN: 42-76234 "Double Lucky" sometime after that and flew his last mission on May 8, 1944.  So he had 2 planes in 47 days.

Your call on the wear and tear on Penrod and Sam, I just think the colors look a little washed out.  Particualarly the nose band.  Looks great though looking forward to flying it.

[Nomde]

Hi Fencer
Thanks much for researching that information. Peter Randall has done a wonderful job at Littlefriends, and has put alot of work into his site.... great source for reference materials/pictures.

One of the hardest decisions I have to make when doing these skins is how much to "weather" em. Olive drab can be anywhere from a new coating to a brownish tone. I've read stories of plane skins stretching during one flight, due to G forces, and giving the metal a "wrinkled" look in some areas. Sometimes a base coat was poorly painted and excessive chipping would occure. The list could go on an on.

The red coloring i've been using on the 56th FG planes is as follows:
red:182
green:84
blue:60
It's intentionally pale to give a flat tone and weathering. On one plane I did, the complaint said the coloring on the nose looked too "clean". So I try to balance it out. The general concensus I get when talking to other skinners or flyers is to "dirty" em up.

When in doubt, i'll claim "artistic prerogative"