1944 Group Build

Most C's that were around long enough had the bulge on the belly but still no tank. Read that somewhere

Bish: Yes, the cowl flaps are different indeed (the lower 2 flaps on each side are missing). The -C model also lacked the bomb/drop tank mount on the fuselage, so the belly was less bulged.

Welcome aboard John. I will be keen to see how you do this, I have a D that I want to backdate to a C. I believe the cowl flaps are different, but not sure if there's anything else, so will be looking for tips.

Welcome to the party, John! I'll put you on the list. It's great to see another Thunderbolt build in here (and the name of your bird is just so damn hilarious!)

I'm late getting in on this. But I'd like to join with 72nd scale Hasegawa P-47D Razorback backdated to a C with True Details interior and Squadron canopy. Aero master decals for BEVOAPABML (Bird's Eye View of a Pigs Ass By Moonlight) flown by Lt. Peter Lehman 336th FS January 1944. John

I like the tint I get from it and it looks good under chipping. I also use some Poly Scale primer on occasion but I just seem to go back to Army Painter in a rattle can. It lays on real nice and I can paint and have it dry in a few minutes.  

Looking really nice there, Jibber! Just out of curiosity: Is there a particular reason why you prime your models in black?

Jibber... I cant wait to see your finished build, That is going to be one BA looking model!

Bish... I read something on Otaki awhile back, The originator of the Otaki Plastics co set out in the late 80s(his goals) to build some of the best detailed and engineered kits available. But due to poor distribution and name recognition by the mid 90s I believe they were all but done for. There was also a close connection somehow with Arii models and ultimately I believe I read somewhere that Fujimi aquired them both. All in all not bad kit for the bucks, with a pretty nice over all fit, but so sadly lacking in any real detail.

Take care

Doug

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I finally got some time on the UHU. I had to repair a top that was slightly short on the body, so I used slivers of styrene, tamiya putty and finally Mr Surfacer 500 to get it nice and even. I installed some body parts and the infrared light on the hood along with an electrical wire. Just about ready for paint. I'm painting the body and the searchlight separate, install it then down to the good stuff. 

Finally getting going on this.  Here are my sprue pics.

This will be across-over build with the Longest Day GB.  It's going to be OOB with the decals for "Old Crow" flown by Bud Anderson.  I've been dragging my feet starting this because it'll be the first model I've built in over 20 years.  But, I gotta start sometime...here goes!

Nice start Doug. Don' think I have ever seen an otaki kit before.

bob, nice to see yours under way to.

Finally got some time to work on my LCVP...and man is there a lot of flash to clean up!  Was able to get the ramp, the bulkheads, and the interior framing assembled.

Thanks guys...your comments and pointers are always appreciated and welcome!

Joe...

  Well, The Otaki kits are pretty nicely detailed and close to accurate as Ive seen from a relatively inexpensive kit, and serves as a good basis for a more detailed build. Not that a little PE or AM kit or two would be unwelcomed. The one thing Ive noticed and need to work on is the lightly engraved control surface and body panel lines. Raised surface lines and mating areas are far too light to show when detailed. Nothing a body panel engraving tool and some good ole #11 blade work wont cure.

No , no special decals were going to be required, Marine markings and such were very basic on this type of aircraft, and generally available either through extras left over from previous builds or genaric from mail order shops (I get alot from  scalehobbyist.com  or others) I also find alot of useful dry transfers in about any scale or font in my LHS train section.

  I just looked up in google search which Marine units were serving in the PI during 1944 and found a few good choices and began researching. This unit along with VMF 212, (my next build for this GB) were asked for spacifically by Gen MacArthur due to there past achievments and reputation for their close support during the Island hoping campaigns. The General was a bit miffed though when after his "return" he visited the base of VMF 212 on Cebu and VMF 218 on Samar and found a sign reading..." With the help of the US Marines, MacArthur returned to the Philippines." (lol) He ordered the sign to be removed... It never was.

Looking forward to your Eduard F6F... Another amazing aircraft of that period.

Take care...

Doug

Hey There Doug Buddy, That is some outstanding stuff you have going on there. Love the subject matter and the historical ties. Where did you get the markings for "The Hellions"? Did they come with the kit? I have often eyeballed the Otaki kit and wondered about it's accuracy and molding. I'm aware that they were rather decent kits in their day. It is going to be quite a thrill to watch you bring that Corsair together.

I am currently cutting sprue and test fitting my little Eduard Hellcat. The Eduard line of Hellcats are known for their excellent accuracy and engineering and I am here to tell you that so far it is living up to it's reputation. Just a beauty of a kit so far. I'll get some pics to you all right quick.

Lots of detail, should look great...

Fantastic work, buddy!

Morning all...

To start, What a great mix of builds going on, and the skill and talent level is obvious by the results being posted! To start myself off, I'm going to deviate from the ETO for this one and do some PTO building.Being my wife is Filipina, and her Dad served with the American Army for 24 years starting in 1940, and having fought the Japanese throughout the entire occupation of the Philippines, she wanted me to do something from that time.Being an old Marine I also wanted to add to with our participation with that effort.

So after doing some research I decided on the following, This will be a F4U-1A Corsair of VMF-218 "The Hellions" a Fast attack/Fighter squadron Flying from the Island of Zamboanga, in the Southern region of the Philippine Island chain. Their main mission was to attack and disrupt Japanese shipping traffic in the Philippine sea and to provide close support for the Army ground troops as they rooted out and destroyed the Japanese.

This will be an Otaki 1/48th kit and other then a True Detail resin Cockpit set will be pretty much OOB.

Thats about all for now... Sorry about the duplicate pictures to start, Photo-Blunder being its usual So-So service.

Doug 

Smyth: Great work on painting that radio compartment! She's going to be quite huge, isn't she?

Jibber: You're doing one hell of a job on the 251! That short top piece sure is annoying, but I'm sure you can fix it. The lense looks awesome btw!

Joe: If Eduards 1/72 Hellcats are as good as their 1/48 ones you're going to have lotsa fun building that little bugger!

Your painting looks good to me Jsmyth.  I almost always hand paint interiors, I like having the extra control that I can't get with my airbrush.

I just finished my last project so now I'm finally ready to get started on my LCVP.  I'll get some pics posted after I get some clean-up of the pieces done and start making progress.

Jsmyth: Very nice work. Your brush painting looks great to me. I personally enjoy brush painting. Although I'm not particularly good at I find it to be rather relaxing and fun.

waynec

Jsmyth

Thanks Bish. Hand painting is a lot of work and I still had some mistakes.

JSMYTH looking good. remember the camera will show flaws the naked eye cannot pick out and other people will not see many of the mistakes you see because they aren't as close to it.

Wayne, I thought the camera would hide your screw ups.

Lookin good everyone.

Ken

JSMYTH, 1/48, gonna be a big bird, eh? Lookin' good thus far.

Awesome job there!

That's great detail.

Jsmyth

Thanks Bish. Hand painting is a lot of work and I still had some mistakes.

JSMYTH looking good. remember the camera will show flaws the naked eye cannot pick out and other people will not see many of the mistakes you see because they aren't as close to it.

Lots of nice detail Joe, should be a fun build.

Ye, but I think its a bit like scratch building, something I have recently gotten into. It might not be 100% perfect, but there's a lot of satisfaction knowing your doing it yourself.

Now that's some nice work there.

Thank you all for the comments. Here is an update of my progress.

Nice looking kit there Joe, like you I haven't yet built and Eduard kit, so wil be interested to see how it goes together.