Hello,
Back after several months, I started a 1/48D P-47D “Bubbletop” and I would like to build it in the M. Gladych’s color scheme.
I read numerous things on the web or in some books about the color of this particular aircraft (SN44-19718):
2 gray colors over clear blue or sky blue
midnight blue with NMF or neutral gray underside. Some sources stated this color scheme because it would seems that B. M. Gladych wanted his mount was painted in a “costume” color… Why not !?
It seems that the last version is an overall green color (OD or RAF DG ?) over NMF. But I’m wondering about this scheme… Why the letter code is in red color ? Usually, red color was applied later on the P-47Ms (painted in the very dark blue color)… M. Gladych was it the first to apply a red code on a P-47?
Other point: the nose art “Pengie IV” is not visible/present on the photos but some sources stated that it was applied later… Is there a photo of P-47D 44-19718 with the nose art applied/painted ?
Hi Brian,
Thank you for the links. I knew the second one (your model, and, an excellent work on it) and the first link you posted it’s me :-). I’m le_steph40/Steph on WW2aircraft forum but I had a terrible a doubt regarding dark green color and red code letter…
Here is P-47D 44-19770 from the same period and the same unit, but letter code in white, so, probably a dark green color 44-19770
I’ve 2 books written by N. Julian, both about 56th FG, but I didn’t succed to find any details regarding the color of “Pengie IV”.
I would like to know regarding nose art applied or not, or later…
Regards
Stéph
When I posted pics of my model on Hyperscale, he replied that my model was pretty close to the colors of the real thing. When it comes to all things 56th fg, I believe he knows what he’s talking about. He knows a lot of the pilots and and their families.
I also believe that he knows what he is talking about, I know his work and his knowledge on the subject. But I wonder why a letter code in red on a dark green aircraft whereas it seems that the red codes only appear from the P-47Ms. But maybe I ask myself too much questions.
I wanted to contact him for these points:
bottom color: logically NMF but MSG is a very likely option in view of the photos.
Hey, it’s the 56th fg. Questioning their color choices will drive you batty. Who else would paint their planes in black ( or plum if you like) or two shades of blue?
If I had it handy, I’d look up the page number of the plane being discussed in this book. Zemke’s Wolfpack: A Photographic Odyssey of the 56th Fighter Group During the Second World War. The caption might help.
