Paint problem ruins work on my P-47!

Okay, I need some help here guys. I've just encountered a slight problem, I painted my 1/72 scale P-47 Thunderbolt from Revell with Testors Enamels. So far, I've gotten an undercoat of aluminum. Now, I planned on using it as a base coat for weathering effects. but after some looking into it, I like the polished metal look! I went to paint the first of two or three coats of testors sky/light blue and discovered the paint was way to thick! (Yes, I am crazy, I'm hand brushing a model in almost all enamels!) I tried to thin it out but it had little effect, and the damage was done. I stripped the paint w/ thinner and a tissue and now I have to lay down a new layer of aluminum because it was destroyed by the stripping!AAAAHHHHH how can I keep this from happening. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, does anyone know of any cool paint schemes for P-47's. I loved the portfolio section on Brian James in the Jan. 04 FSM issue and was drawn to his unique 1/48 P-47 bubbletop. That's the look I want, except more original! So, any ideas?????