P-47 Thunderbolt cockpit modding references and discussion

Reading this thread throughout its evolution has been like reading a logbook. To watch the seeds of creativity sprout into an increasingly bountiful project worthy of the most discriminating artist is something to behold. Sheer determination and teamwork has overcome one obstacle after another. I salute all who've contributed to what is as fine a looking cockpit as found in any simulation, bar none.

Earlier, there was a brief discussion on whether to include a gunsight with a slip/skid ball such as in the P-51D (non-K14 model). As I recall, the idea was rejected, but then later there were cockpit photos that showed such a sight in some model of Jug. Is there any chance a variant might be considered that would allow it? I find it very helpful in maintaining coordinated flight in a dogfight when flying close to the edge of stall, trying to extract every ounce of performance while staying out of the "dark corners" of the flight envelope.
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poncho Wrote:PS Whatever happened to Shadowgravy? That hit and run poster. He started this thread and got me hooked on this modding business. It has been a sponge on my free time ever since. :lol:

Poncho,
I just went back to the beginning of this thread and read the various passages posted by "Shadowgravy".

Shadowgravy was a prophet.
Diablo and I should sing "For he's a jolly good fellow" in his honor :wink:
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i must say the floor panel looks amazing! keep it up.
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I'm not gone. I check in on this thread from time to time. Smile

Very nice stuff here, I'm impressed.
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Very glad to hear from you ShadowGravy,

Nice to know you're still there lurking around. After all you did get the ball rolling for this project with your excellent effort on collecting a large portion of needed references. 8)

Good point about the slip ball on the gunsight I_B_Spectre. After the Razorback pit is completed, I hope Poncho is up to revisit the gunsights to include the ball for a Bubbletop pit. :?: :?: :?:

I've posted this before but I think that is what you are getting at I_B_Spectre?




Cheers!

P.S. Also again many thanks to all the posters for their comments and support. If it is constructive it can only be better for the jug.
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I too am glad you are still around Shadow. It would be great if all modding suggestions were so well documented. Plus I missed your avatar.


I_B_Spectre Wrote:Earlier, there was a brief discussion on whether to include a gunsight with a slip/skid ball such as in the P-51D (non-K14 model). As I recall, the idea was rejected, but then later there were cockpit photos that showed such a sight in some model of Jug. Is there any chance a variant might be considered that would allow it? .

After I finish with the cockpit repositioning I may well revisit this. I was never against having a slip indicator on the sight, per se, it just seemed like it wasn't on the N3 or N3-like sights that I could choose from. The N9 on the early Mustang was a possibility, at the time I ruled it out due to its folded sight column. I think there were N3 sights on the B25 and the A20 in the gunner position that I discovered after the fact, but I forget if they had slip indicators. In any case I have more tricks up my sleeve now than I did then and could probably do it somehow.

Another question that arose when I was aligning the landing gear lights was which side should the Green (down) light be on? On the IL2 version the green light is the right one, but on the MSFS version the green is on the left. Which is correct?
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taurus Wrote:Good point about the slip ball on the gunsight I_B_Spectre. After the Razorback pit is completed, I hope Poncho is up to revisit the gunsights to include the ball for a Bubbletop pit. :?: :?: :?:

I've posted this before but I think that is what you are getting at I_B_Spectre?

Absolutely! I hope you guys can work it in sometime in the future. Again, kudos on the outstanding work.
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Wow look how high that sight is mounted!! A good 3 inches up to the bottom of glass on the sight.
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Yes.
The gunsight is SIGNIFICANTLY higher in real life than the in-game piece.
Pity we shan't have that. Cry
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geez...whaty more can I say other than utterly fabulous. I'm like Chris...I cannot wait to put my fat a** in that new pit. I may never leave it.
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Poncho, in post #72 (12th post down) on page 5 of this thread , Taurus posted a photo of the instrument panel that shows the landing gear warning lights pretty clearly. Looks to me like Oleg got it right. Keep up the good work, we're salivating heavily.
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The slip indicator looks like a field mod to me. Just curious, have you seen any other AC in the same configuration?

The cockpit is really shaping up nicely!
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Regarding the red/green lights:

After consulting Operating Instructions AN 01-65BC-1A (P-47D-25 through -35 models) from January 1945, it seems that the red and green lamps were a new feature starting with the P-47D-30 model. I don't know what kind of indicators were used for mid-production 'D' model aircraft. The panel diagram for D-25 through D-28 models makes no reference to landing gear lights.

Of course the B, C and early D models had a glass-faced gage that graphically show the position of the landing gear, tailwheel and flaps. I can't pinpoint when this style of indicator was phased out, but evidence supports that it wasn't because the red/green lights were immediately adopted instead. It just seems that the later razorbacks and many of the bubbletops didn't have a gear indicator or warning light of any kind--at least not on the instrument panel.

The color photos from the restored P-47M in my opening post show it as green on the left, red on the right. The P-47D-30RA color photos only show one bulb and and empty hole to the right of that where a second bulb probably should be. I can't be sure what color the sole bulb is.

I think it is time to pull out the movie "Thunderbolt!" Wink
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Thanks for the heads up ShadowGravy,

I will wait for a verdict before I correct the underlying lights re-renedered on the panel, Green left, Red right? They were on the agenda for being remodelled. (Your reference being a restoration, it will just be my luck that it really should be Red/Green... :? )

Cheers.
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Nothing constructive to add but I'm really looking forward to this cockpit mod. Thanks for your work patience and tenacity :!: :!: :!:
Insert: 10 x thumb up Big Grin
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