1/48 Tamiya P-47D Thunderbolt. Lt. Col. Francis Gabreski (Complete)

lawdog114

 

 

Hoss WA

 

 

lawdog114

Beautiful! I hope mine turns out half as good. I have the same decals so I'm glad to hear they worked well. Techmod aren't exactly the greates. I do intend to paint on the main stars though. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Lawdog! I'm sure yours will be awesome. I thought the decals were fine but I don't think Techmod did a good job on the color profile. It differs quite significantly from the actual photos, particularly the ocean gray camo pattern and the invasion stripes. I suspect you'll paint the stripes instead of using the decals. I need to try masking the main stars at some point. The bars over the ports on the sides of the fuselage were a little tricky with the decals. Lots of touch up work there. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I think the underside should be RAF light grey as opposed to NMF too, but who knows. The guy I'm building it for doesn't know if he wants full stripes or not.  Yes, I intend to paint all main markings, possibly even the HV-A too.  Again, outstanding job. 

 

Thanks Lawdog! I'm hoping for the stripes on yours. 

Hoss WA

 

 

lawdog114

Beautiful! I hope mine turns out half as good. I have the same decals so I'm glad to hear they worked well. Techmod aren't exactly the greates. I do intend to paint on the main stars though. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Lawdog! I'm sure yours will be awesome. I thought the decals were fine but I don't think Techmod did a good job on the color profile. It differs quite significantly from the actual photos, particularly the ocean gray camo pattern and the invasion stripes. I suspect you'll paint the stripes instead of using the decals. I need to try masking the main stars at some point. The bars over the ports on the sides of the fuselage were a little tricky with the decals. Lots of touch up work there. 

 

Yeah, I think the underside should be RAF light grey as opposed to NMF too, but who knows. The guy I'm building it for doesn't know if he wants full stripes or not.  Yes, I intend to paint all main markings, possibly even the HV-A too.  Again, outstanding job. 

JohnnyK

Nice camo paint job! There is no way that I could do that.

 

Thanks Johnny!

Nice camo paint job! There is no way that I could do that.

tempestjohnny

What a beauty. Another winner

 

Thanks Tempest! 

cbaltrin

A very fine job you did there. Great work! 

 

Thanks much! Glad you like it. 

damouav

Great work, came up a treat!

Must give Joe's gloss coat a go on my next build.

Look forward to your next build.

 

Thanks! Joe's gloss coat is actually amazing. Smooth as glass. 

lawdog114

Beautiful! I hope mine turns out half as good. I have the same decals so I'm glad to hear they worked well. Techmod aren't exactly the greates. I do intend to paint on the main stars though. 

 

Thanks Lawdog! I'm sure yours will be awesome. I thought the decals were fine but I don't think Techmod did a good job on the color profile. It differs quite significantly from the actual photos, particularly the ocean gray camo pattern and the invasion stripes. I suspect you'll paint the stripes instead of using the decals. I need to try masking the main stars at some point. The bars over the ports on the sides of the fuselage were a little tricky with the decals. Lots of touch up work there. 

jeaton01

Really nice!

 

Thanks John! Much appreciated.

Mopar Madness

Oh wow, excellent paint job!

 

Thanks Madness!

RadMax8

 

 

Hoss WA

 Thanks Radmax! For the interior I used AK Real Colors Dull Dark Green (RC 230). I'm by no means a Thunderbolt expert but my understanding is that Dull Dark Green and Bronze Green are both considered for the cockpit interior.

Here's a reference I found online: https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/interior-colours-of-us-aircraft-1941-45-part-ii/

Yes. the Tamiya seatbelt decal doesn't cut it. No more decal seatbelts for me. 

 

 

 

Hoss, the color looks great to me, I was wondering the brand. I've got some AK for just such a build, and mine looks pale in the bottle. Maybe I haven't shaken it enough.

Your completed build looks amazing. The first photo looks like it could be real. Well done, sir!

 Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks again, Radmax. 

A very fine job you did there. Great work! 

Great work, came up a treat!

Must give Joe's gloss coat a go on my next build.

Look forward to your next build.

Beautiful! I hope mine turns out half as good. I have the same decals so I'm glad to hear they worked well. Techmod aren't exactly the greates. I do intend to paint on the main stars though. 

Really nice!

Oh wow, excellent paint job!

Hoss WA

 Thanks Radmax! For the interior I used AK Real Colors Dull Dark Green (RC 230). I'm by no means a Thunderbolt expert but my understanding is that Dull Dark Green and Bronze Green are both considered for the cockpit interior.

Here's a reference I found online: https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/interior-colours-of-us-aircraft-1941-45-part-ii/

Yes. the Tamiya seatbelt decal doesn't cut it. No more decal seatbelts for me. 

Hoss, the color looks great to me, I was wondering the brand. I've got some AK for just such a build, and mine looks pale in the bottle. Maybe I haven't shaken it enough.

Your completed build looks amazing. The first photo looks like it could be real. Well done, sir!

 Thanks for sharing!

sickdude

Seeing it first completed on scalemates, and again here, I say again, mighty fine work sir, mighty fine! It looks like a Tamiya 1/48 and 1/72 Jug are on my list of builds ;).

 

Thanks sickdude. I haven't tried the 1/72 kit, but the Tamiya 1/48 jug is wonderful. Thanks.

RacerToo

  I rarely give compliments because its tough to impress me. But your P-47 looks amazing. You've captured the essence of Gabreski's Thunderbolt. Well done.

 

Thanks Racer. Much appreciated. I'm glad you like how it turned out. Thanks.

  I rarely give compliments because its tough to impress me. But your P-47 looks amazing. You've captured the essence of Gabreski's Thunderbolt. Well done.

Gabby's jug is now complete. 

After the gloss coat, the Techmod decals went on mostly without a hitch. I ended up tearing one of the stars and bars on the wing when I applied it but recovery was fine. I applied another gloss coat over the decals and then applied a dark dirt Flory wash. After some black/brown mix sprayed on selected panel lines, I added some random streaks. Two coats of Model Master Flat Clear Lacquer gave me the matte/satin finish I was looking for. After adding the guns, nav lights, and other doodads she was done. 

This Tamiya kit really deserves its reputation. Wow, what a pleasure to build. And I've always been drawn to the 61 FS, 56 FG paint scheme. As a side note, I actually used the Hasegawa 1/32 profile as a guide for painting -- I think it's very close to the actual photos and much better than the Techmod profile. 

This project represented a number of firsts for me: first US plane (this century), first P-47D (ever) and first invasion stripe project. There will be more. Enjoy the photos and thanks for following along.

sickdude

Woo hoo, Glossy baby!! :) Tis great to see you both here and Scalemates, gives me more chances to drool over your work ;). Your turning out an outstanding museum/tribute to Mr. Gabreski, it would be great if you could present it to his family, I bet it would make them very happy :). Anyway, great job and carry on.

 

Thanks sickdude! Much appreciated. 

lawdog114

 

 

Hoss WA

 

 

lawdog114

Outstanding.  That gloss coat technique is fantastic isn't it?  

 

 

 

 

Thanks - I love the X22/MCLT gloss coat - smooth as glass. 

 

 

 

 

Hey, let's patent "X22/MCLT" so we don't have to keep spelling it out! 

 

Agreed!

RadMax8

Looks great! What did you use for the interior color?

Paintwork looks amazing. Like you, I've used the Tamiya decal for the seatbelt on a plane... never again!

 

Thanks Radmax! For the interior I used AK Real Colors Dull Dark Green (RC 230). I'm by no means a Thunderbolt expert but my understanding is that Dull Dark Green and Bronze Green are both considered for the cockpit interior.

Here's a reference I found online: https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/interior-colours-of-us-aircraft-1941-45-part-ii/

Yes. the Tamiya seatbelt decal doesn't cut it. No more decal seatbelts for me. 

ggatt_2

Great looking Thunderbolt and what a shine! 

 

Thanks!

Hoss WA

 

 

lawdog114

Outstanding.  That gloss coat technique is fantastic isn't it?  

 

 

 

 

Thanks - I love the X22/MCLT gloss coat - smooth as glass. 

 

Hey, let's patent "X22/MCLT" so we don't have to keep spelling it out!