In April 2024, I decided to build a birthday present, for somebody whose B-day had already come-n-gone! It was finally finished by mid-November 2024!
Shenanigans part-1:
Shenanigans part-2:
Shenanigans part-3:
Can I use original made in U.S.A. parts to fix the made in China parts, how about some pancakes?:
Why do I have so many P-47 kits?:
The brother of my Great Uncle, Lloyd Hutchins, is the birthday girl-Jenny’s Great Grand Father O.G. Hutchins. I found color film of Lloyd Hutchins’ U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) unit, the 365th Fighter Group (FG, of the 9th USAAF)/386th Fighter Squadron (FS) Hell Hawks:
Great Uncle gets into trouble:
Whoa, whose side are they on?:
It’s working:
More warpage:
More bits:
While my motivation for a full-size file-cabinet stuffed full of P-47s is related to my relative, the markings for the birthday build are based on the gift receiver’s name: Jenny. The decals came from Eagle Strike’s (Cartograf) Early Birds of the 353FG Thunderbolts, #48171, welcome to decal hell:
P-47D 42-76280 ‘Jenny’ was flown by Lieutenant Chauncy Rowan of the 353rd FG/350th FS (of the 8th USAAF), from 1943-44. In May 1944 Rowan became a prisoner of war (PoW), and accused by the Germans of shooting at civilians. More decal hell:
As good as it’s going to get, whose got the best prop? Part-1:
Best props, Part-2:
Anorexic pilots and the magic of clear flat spray paint:
Finally! Be careful with that clear spray paint:
Another gift build: 
Airfix Birthday Bomber
1949-50 Mercury: 
Joker’s wild neon Gotham City cop car!