Hello, I’m about to throw down the yellow tail on Oscar Perdomo’s P-47 N "Lil’ Meatie’s Meat Chopper. So far I’ve had conflicting research on how the yellow was painted. Some drawings show the entire tail, including the fuselage, painted yellow (first picture) while others show only the stabilizers and rudder painted yellow (second picture). Does anyone know which of these are correct?
Any help would be appreciated…
Joe
Notice how it’s not only the yellow tail on the profiles that are different. The size of the “146” differs between the two profiles. Even the nose art is different between the two. That being said, never trust those profiles. I’m probably stating the obvious when I say try to find photos on the web rather than relying on the profiles.
On the other end of that spectrum, it’s quite possible that both are correct depending on the time frame. It wasn’t uncommon for squadrons to change their paint schemes. At one point, the -47 could have looked like the top profile while, at a later date, it could have changed to the bottom profile (or vice versa). To reiterate, look for photos of the plane if at all possible. To cite an example, I have some after-market Pacific P-51 decals that have striped tails. I also know that the same squadron carried solid colors on their tails. It all depends on the time frame you wish to depict.
Good luck with the build! I have this same kit in my stash and I can’t wait to get started on it.
Eric
Thanks Eric, I don’t normally trust profiles either but unfortunately after two hours of searching online, these were the best I could find. Furthermore, I was only using these to show what I was talking about. The Super Scale decal sheet shows only the stabs and rudder yellow, but every other model I’ve seen of Meatie has the whole tail yellow. Interestingly, the SS sheet shows the OD glare panel extending all the way to the fillet, but I did find a real photo of Meatie that showed it stopped at the windscreen. Unfortunately the photo did not show the tail. I suppose it goes to show you that decals profiles can be wrong too.
That being said, I’m not one of those guys who sweats these type of things, but I do like “reasonable accuracy” when possible. I was just hoping that someone had firsthand knowledge on how Meatie’s tail was painted, since its a fairly popular subject. I’ll probably take the easy way out and paint the whole tail yellow like everone else.
Yes, Its a good kiit so far but I’m still biased on Tamiya Jugs…lol
Joe
Here’s a couple of websites that shows most of his a/c, minus the tail area.
http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/oscarp.htm
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=81297
warbirdinformationexchange.org/…/viewtopic.php
this link is good–it shows a restored P-47 painted in these markings and flown to the squadron reunion. incidentally, if you look closely in the second b&w pic in that link, you will notice there is paint just visible below and to the rear of the canopy–this would confirm the OD anti glare panel did extend behind the cockpit.
also notice the “s” on “meatie’s” is only on the plane in the third pic–but in that one there is no OD glare shield painted on the bird.
ok, think I solved it for you…the answer at least for the tail is “both ways”…
right about at 7:30 or so is what you want–it is some good footage of plane #147 from the same 464th FS as yours. It shows both answers for you–the glare shield did run behind the cockpit and the yellow was the same as the second profile you posted–not covering the whole tail below the stabs.
However–
skip to 3:15 and it shows the standard markings for the units. 464th is shown with the whole tail yellow. also note that the yellow stripes on the wings had a thin blue border on them too…most of the models I see in these markings have a plain yellow stripe with no border. these videos were shot in 1945 by the guys in those units, so they would be your best bet.
Thanks…I appreciate the info. Mississippivol, the link to that first picture with Perdomo kneeling on the wing is the same picture I found that indicates the OD panel stops at the windscreen. I just can’t see any green behind the headrest/canopy. Of course I could just be poor at deciphering war time photos.
Thanks F-8, this is helpful. I’m going to paint those thin blue stripes to be different from everyone else. I’m still gonna stop the OD panel at the windscreen since most of the research so far indicates that is the case with Meatie and I’ll probably paint the whole tail yellow I think too.
Joe