Thunderbolt GB 2016

Thanks mark. And nicestart on yours, and good to seeing you get a grip of the PE. The IP has come out well, those can be a bit tricky. I take it it has the clear backing with the dials. I find it easier to attach the metal part on it while the clear part is on the sheet and once dry cut them out.

Here's the first of my WIP pictures of my Thunderbolt, the Tamiya 1/48 Bubbletop.

Had some exciting/frustrating moments as I started in on the cockpit, mainly with the PE parts.  ARGH!  Anyway, so far I've only completely lost two parts to the carpet.  Not bad considering the large number of parts.  Strangely, I had the most trouble with the cockpit panel, which is one of the nice big parts.  Anyway... here are a couple pics of the progress on the cockpit, and a shot of some of the prep sprays on the interior parts of the fuselage. 

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Still have a lot of PE to throw in there tomorrow.  Hopefully get that done so I can start weathering and assembly.

Cheers, Mark

Looking good Brandon.  It can be a drag when life gets in the way of spending time on a build..  but even slow progress is still progress. 

Cheers, Mark

Bish, that is one beautiful build.  Love it!

Cheers, Mark

Thanks BK, thats much appreciated.

I have to wipe away the drool from my chin when I look at that sweet Razorback. SOOO nice. Excellent work, Sir.

BK

Looks nice Brandon, can't wait to see some paint on there.

Time for me to wrap this up. Took me a couple of days to get back into it after the weekend away, but once i did i just got stuck in, but there wasn't ,much progress to show anyway.

After the decals, it was just a case of some flory washes. I also added some oil staining useing AK interactive engine oil behind the oil dump and very light exhaust staining inderneath at the rear. Trying to do the engine useing lawdogs tut in this scale was almost impossable. Some of the pieces just need to be so smal you just can't get hold of them. And once its fitted, you can't see anything anyway.

I used some Aluminium tubing for the gun tubes. They are not to bad, but a litle rough. Next time i'll stick to masters metal barrels.

So heres some pics.

And then to add it to the base for a simple little dio.

Thanks for running this Andy, just the excuse i needed to do one of these.

Looking forward to seeing what the rest of you guys put together.

Well progess on the TB has continued at a snails pace. With being so busy I just haven't got much motivation to work on my kits at the moment. Thus far I have completed the majority of the assembly and I hope to start the painting today. The fit issues everyone complains about on this kit are really quite without merrit. The kit has some places where fit isn't perfect, but nothing to worry about as any modeler with just tad experience can easily correct the issue with great results.

I painted the engine but I am not happy with it so I will be redoing that today as well. I'll post up some more pics as I paint it up.

BK

MrStecks

Thanks guys, I'm sure I will have questions about the PE stuff.  After looking at how small a lot of the pieces are, I'm pretty sure at least half of them will fall into the black hole that lives in the carpet under my workbench.   hahahaha

 

Smaller PE parts do have a habit of flinging themselves off the end of your tweezers with a twang and ending up some where in an alternative universe.

Theres a model builder in there with one hell of a strange contraption made completly of aircraft control levers and vehicle tool clamps.

Ha!  Now there's an idea!  

MrStecks

After looking at how small a lot of the pieces are, I'm pretty sure at least half of them will fall into the black hole that lives in the carpet under my workbench. 

Yeah, I'm pretty much thinking of building on the floor from now on as many parts as I loose.

Thanks guys, I'm sure I will have questions about the PE stuff.  After looking at how small a lot of the pieces are, I'm pretty sure at least half of them will fall into the black hole that lives in the carpet under my workbench.   hahahaha

Nice collection of goodies you have there Mark. Good choice for a first PE set, those zoom sets don't have to much in the way of stuff you don't really need.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

Looking forward to seeing you get started Mark! I loved this kit and will pick another up if I see one at a good price. Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions or need tips on working with the PE. 

Here is the start of my WIP for this Group Build.

Here's the kit:

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And some AM goodies:

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I'll be doing this scheme...  Passionate Patsy.

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I'll be getting started on this tomorrow night.  This kit will have a number of "firsts" for me.  I've never worked with photo etch parts before, so that will be a challenge.  And this will be my first natural metal finish.  I've picked up some AK Xtreme metal paints for this.  We'll see how that goes. 

Looking forward to this.

Cheers, Mark

BrandonK

That's really cool to see the inside of the intake and exhaust on the Jug. Now, who is gonna be the first one to do a cutaway and display all that? Anyone?

BK

 

Now that would be nice. The best i will do is an open engine.

BrandonK

That's really cool to see the inside of the intake and exhaust on the Jug. Now, who is gonna be the first one to do a cutaway and display all that? Anyone?

BK

 

That's really cool to see the inside of the intake and exhaust on the Jug. Now, who is gonna be the first one to do a cutaway and display all that? Anyone?

BK

Its been on mine for a very long time. I have been to Italy once before, but never got to Rome. Can't wait now.

Bish

Thanks Andy. Hoping to get as much done as i can this week. I am off to Rome on Fri for 3 nights, so will probably have to do the finishing touches next week.

 

That's right, I remembering you mentioning that trip. That's awesome, I hope you have a great time! Rome is on my list of places to visit.

Thanks Andy. Hoping to get as much done as i can this week. I am off to Rome on Fri for 3 nights, so will probably have to do the finishing touches next week.

Bish

 

 

modelcrazy

There may be some staining from the turbo. I thought the color at the exhaust was metal but could be wrong.

 

 

 

 

Blimey, no wonder the Jug was so chunky.

I actually found an old thread on FSM through a gogle search. I had actually posted on it but completly forgot. Has pretty much cleared up the staining question.

 

I'll 2nd that! Very cool pic Steve, thanks for posting it. Always nice to see the inner workings of these birds.

You've been busy Bish. Really nice work there, great paint job!

modelcrazy

There may be some staining from the turbo. I thought the color at the exhaust was metal but could be wrong.

 

Blimey, no wonder the Jug was so chunky.

I actually found an old thread on FSM through a gogle search. I had actually posted on it but completly forgot. Has pretty much cleared up the staining question.

MrStecks

Hey Rooster, count me in on this GB.  "Somebody" in another thread pointed me in this direction. 

I'll be building the Tamiya 1/48 P-47 Thunderbolt Bubbletop.  Frankly, I'm a little worried after looking at all the beautiful work I've seen in this thread, but willing to give it a go.  Still waiting for a couple of AM things to arrive in the mail.  Will probably post first WIP pics later this week.

Cheers, Mark

 

wonder who that could have been?? Glad to have you on board Mark! I'll get you added to the roster shortly.

There may be some staining from the turbo. I thought the color at the exhaust was metal but could be wrong.

Right guys, another question. Well, actually two. The portrusion on the underside of the fuselage just ahead of the tail wheel. I understand thats an exhaust for the turbine. Would there be any exhaust staining around it. I can't make anything out on period pics.

Also, according to my decals instructions it was a differant colour to the grey underside. They don't indicate a colour but it is the same shade on the instructions as the OD top. Any idea what colour it should be.

Thanks guys.

Thanks Steve.  know what you mean, 4 guns worth of those large .50Cal shells must take up a lot of space.

That's awsome Bish. Huge gun bay.