A question for you P-47 experts

[Guppy35]

Thanks Dan. I'm guessing the SX-M and the rudder are black because most of the 353rd ponys Iv seen have black or yellow rudders.

The black rudder was a squadron recognition marking.  Each squadron had a different color rudder.  This was standard practice in the 8th AF

350th FS was yellow-LH was squadron code
351st FS had no color on rudders  YJ was squadron code
352nd had black rudders with SX as squadron code

All were part of the 353rd.

[AWwrgwy]

Yes to combat for Lucky Leaky II.  It's the best documented 353rd B model as well as there were so few.

I couldn't figure out which B's had or had not seen combat from the List on Little Friends.  It shows all of them as WW or Hacks.  So, I guess they some, if not all assigned to the 353rd saw combat?

From http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/353rdfg.php?action=list_records&recs=50&sort_order=ASC&order_by=Squ&recs=50&next_page=9#tabletop:

42-103363 P-51C 352 SX-M Davenport Lt. John E Lucky Leaky II Crash-landed 2 May 45 - Lt. Leroy O Pletz. w/w Squadron Hack



wrongway

[Guppy35]

I couldn't figure out which B's had or had not seen combat from the List on Little Friends.  It shows all of them as WW or Hacks.  So, I guess they some, if not all assigned to the 353rd saw combat?

From http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/353rdfg.php?action=list_records&recs=50&sort_order=ASC&order_by=Squ&recs=50&next_page=9#tabletop:

42-103363 P-51C 352 SX-M Davenport Lt. John E Lucky Leaky II Crash-landed 2 May 45 - Lt. Leroy O Pletz. w/w Squadron Hack

Any War weary would have WW in front of the serial number.  Leaky is also seen carrying 108 gallon tanks, which a war weary would not.  As the 353rd transitioned to the Mustang well after the introduction of the D model, it's not a huge surprise there were not many B/C.  If you look at Leaky it has all the latest mods too with the late in the war tail warning radar and the fin fillet addition along with the Malcom hood.  A very pretty bird.



wrongway

[Fencer51]

Thats a war weary P51B so it would have not been flying combat at that time.  I thought Fencer already did a 353rd B pony and it was Lucky Leaky II

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Yep submitted and accepted quite a while ago now.

[edit] May 2007. 

[Guppy35]

Larry, in looking at Randell's site, and at the 353rd History, you are talking 12-13 P51B/C with all but Lucky Leaky and maybe 2 others being War Weary birds used with the group "Clobber College" which was their training unit for the group.

I can't find any other photos of anything but War Weary birds beyond Leaky.

A nice photo of a 353rd War Weary 51C

[Larry]

Any info on this one? It reminds me of my dora skin.   

[lyric1]

Any info on this one? It reminds me of my dora skin.   




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D pony is as close as I can get you. 

[Guppy35]

Any info on this one? It reminds me of my dora skin.   




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We've got a 52nd FG P51B in the rotation too I believe.  The MTO 51 groups had their B/C models longer too before they got D models to go with them.  I'll see if I have anything specific on that bird once I'm home from work.

[hammer]

We've got a 52nd FG P51B in the rotation too I believe. ...

Regards,

Hammer

[Larry]

This is my first prototype "polished aluminum" skin. I wish I knew how fester did his aluminum pony skins, but I'm making do with my limited photoshop experience. Tell me what you guys think and if you know how I can make it better.  (note: its just the left fuselage done)

[Stoney]

Bump up the specularity a bit--its not supposed to look atomic or anything, but you should get a nice sheen on the skin to replicated the "brushed" aluminum look of a BMF aircraft...

[oakranger]

350th P-47 M


350th p-47-28


352nd

[AWwrgwy]

350th P-47 M
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350th p-47-28
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352nd
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As far as I know, no one has figured out how to do the diamonds on the nose without them stretching horribly yet.


wrongway

[Larry]

This was the best I could do when I did their D-25. I spent about five hours going pixel by pixel trying to get them to look as good as I could get them.

[fudgums]

I think that looks great