P-47D Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine” – John Lolos

There are model projects that begin with a photograph. Others begin with a story. This one started with a book.

When the book Greeks in Foreign Cockpits by my friend Dimitris Vassilopoulos came into my hands, I discovered for the first time the aircraft of Lieutenant (I) John Lolos. Among the many remarkable stories of Greek aviators serving abroad, one aircraft immediately stood out: the Republic P-47D-3-RA Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine”, serial 42-22607, assigned to the 341st Fighter Squadron of the 348th Fighter Group in the Pacific Theater.

From that moment, the idea became a mission. For several months I collected every available reference, wartime photograph, and detail necessary to recreate the aircraft as accurately as possible in scale.

The project was based on the excellent Tamiya 1/48 Republic P-47D Thunderbolt kit, which remains one of the most balanced and enjoyable Thunderbolt kits in this scale. My intention from the beginning was not to overload the build with excessive modifications but instead to focus on historical fidelity and preserve the character visible in the original archive photographs.

Research revealed several unique features of this specific aircraft. The first was the identification itself: P-47D-3-RA Thunderbolt “Naughty Nadine”, aircraft number 36. Another fascinating detail visible near the cockpit was the victory marking indicating five enemy fighters destroyed in aerial combat. The victory symbols included Japanese flags painted beneath the cockpit area, with variations in their design that became an important visual reference during construction.

One of the most distinctive modifications was found underneath the fuselage. P-47 Thunderbolts operating in the Pacific often carried special long-range fuel tanks developed in Australia to extend operational range over vast ocean distances. These 200-gallon drop tanks became an identifying feature of several aircraft from the 348th Fighter Group.

To reproduce this characteristic appearance, I converted the standard 100-gallon drop tank included in the kit to match the larger Pacific configuration. Today, dedicated 3D-printed versions are available, but for this project the conversion process became part of the enjoyment.

Additional detailing was intentionally restrained. Copper wiring was added to enhance the engine area while maintaining a realistic appearance consistent with the reference material. The goal was never to create a heavily modified showpiece but rather to capture the exact atmosphere and proportions seen in period photographs.

Painting followed carefully selected shades to reproduce the weathered operational look of a combat aircraft serving in tropical conditions.

Main camouflage colors:

• Olive Drab — MRP-139

• Olive Drab Variation — MRP-138

• Light Gray — MRP-134

• Insignia White — MRP-135

• Insignia Red — MRP-002

Cockpit colors:

• Medium Green — MRP-140

• Interior Green — MRP-131

Wheel bays:

• Zinc Chromate Primer — MRP-129

Weathering products:

• AK2071 Paneliner for Brown and Green Camouflage

• AK2072 Paneliner for Gray and Blue Camouflage

Oil paints:

• Ivory Black

• Raw Umber

Figures used in the scene:

• Verlinden 1/48 USAAF Fighter Aircraft Pilots II WWII

• ICM 48083 USAAF Pilots and Ground Crew WWII

For the diorama groundwork:

• AK8021 Light Soil

• AK8020 Desert Sand

This project became more than a model. It became a tribute to Lieutenant John Lolos and to a lesser-known chapter of Greek aviation history. Recreating “Naughty Nadine” offered an opportunity to combine historical research, scale modeling, and respect for the men who flew these aircraft in combat over the Pacific.

Some models stay on the shelf. Others preserve stories. This Thunderbolt belongs to the second category.