P-47 Thunderbolt GB

grandadjohn wrote:

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile, but I've had some health problems and haven't modeled much. Hope to soon though.

John hope you are doing ok... let yourself get better!!!  You can still come talk with us until you're well enough to model!

Interesting, I contacted customer service at Greatmodels.  A special order item, such as the Waldron punch set I ordered, will take them 1 to 6 months for me to receive.  Items listed as available, such as some decal sheets I ordered recently can take several weeks.  Only items listed in stock will show up in 1 to 2 weeks.  I think I'm going to cancel the Waldron order, we're going on two months now. 

I'd like to move forward on the P-47, so I think I'll finish up the instrument panel with the complete sheet, instead of the individual instruments.

I too have been waiting , for cockpit kit for three weeks now, as I screwed up my otb one. I called them and they said 4/6 weeks. For sure to long to wait.

 On another subject, I have also been waiting  for quite awhile from Two Bobs Decals. And this is the second time, for a long wait!

Well a ittle late, but better than never..  I've finally got something done to this kit.

Here is the cockpit in progress, some obvious things like painting the part of the seat support below the seat have yet to be done.  (I used the Ultracast resin seat with molded in belts, and the lower parts of the supports broke when I tried to free them from the mold so I cut the legs from the kit seat support and glued them to the seat.  I have yet to paint them.

Nothing is glued together yet, it is just placed together for pictures.

The seat:

Right side:

Left Side

Instrument panel, I used the kit decal for the IP, I am ordering a punch and die set so I am anxious to see what I can do for the IP's with that.

So hopefully by Wed I will be able to seal the body together.. this is a fun kit and I am looking forward to putting the Alclad on.  I wasn't sure whether to use the complete set of AM decals which are for a post war Mexican Air Force bird with all Mexican markings or one actually used in the Phillipines in WWII, which have all US markings except for the right wingtip which is the FAM triangle.  I found a good ref shot which shouldn't be too hard to mask so I will probably go with the kit decals and some of the Aztec Models decals for that "In Theater" look...

-=edit=-

after looking at the pics, there is one on the left cockpit side which obvously looks like an unpainted lever of sorts.. but even with the magnifiers I still can't see an unpainted lever... must be a trick of perspective.. but I know I won't sleep if I don't figure out the angle to verify it...

Great looking progress, can't wait to see more. I don't see how you could improve the IP. It looks great.

Jerry

I have to agree - that ip looks great Tom. Well, actually, the whole cockpit looks great. I really like the belts on that seat. Those ultracast products are amazing and only made better by your careful painting! Really nice job.

Leon

tho9900 - Glad to hear you're still in the GB!, and you've got a sweet looking office.

grandadjohn - sorry to hear you've been having health problems. You should model more, it'll make you feel better.

From my side, the bubbletop is all masked off and ready for red trim, but I've had too much schoolwork to be able to do any airbrushing. Supersonic Flow test is tomorrow...maybe I'll get to spray some paint on Wednesday. Hopefully.

Joshua

thanks fellows!  I appreciate the kind words.  There are a few touch ups I want to do (after looking through the pics) before I glue it all together tonight, but I am glad I got my modeling karma back together.  I do have to say, for an OOB cockpit Tamiya out did themselves on this one!

On the ultracast seats - I agree, I really like their products, the Wildcat and SBD seats are some of their best I think, and some of the exhausts are out of this world, the holes look like they go all they way down in the exhaust!  I got the Ultracast diamond tread tires for this one as well, and I am wondering if I have time to get in an order for their P-47 paddle blade prop.  The detail on the metal parts would look awesome in Alcad I would think.

Anyway I am off to get a quick 45 min on the bench in, but will be back!

Hard to model when you head hurts so much you think it will explode.

But fianlly got some work done on Sunday, most of the assembly work is done. Few monor odds and ends and I'll be ready to paint. Got to decide if I want an OD/gray or natural metal look. Want to try Alclad, never used it before.

grandadjohn wrote:

But fianlly got some work done on Sunday, most of the assembly work is done. Few monor odds and ends and I'll be ready to paint. Got to decide if I want an OD/gray or natural metal look. Want to try Alclad, never used it before.

John - it's some really good stuff!  The only thing I sway from Swanny's guide on is the primer.  I use Future as my primer (no black underneath) put several coats till you develop a mirror sheen and you're there!  Let it cure and then shoot the Aclad in the aforementioned various light coats..  (don't worry about coverage until like the third coat, there will be uneven spots till then.) 

I know some who go the decanted Krylon route with good results and love it, but I have tried a few different methods before settling on Future, I got the idea from the Alclad website, other than the polished looking metallics they recommend either future or primer wet sanded with 2000+ grit paper to a shine for the primer.

It cleans up real easy too... a couple of shots with lacquer thinner through your airbrush and you are done!  No extended spray and wipe and repeat type thing...

Jeff Gunn wrote:

Can I be a late entry with the Revell P47 D "Balls Out" version in 1:72. I must try a NMF sometime.

Welcome to the build Jeff! I'm doing the same aircraft. It was my first try at NMF, and I was suprised at how nice it turned out. Some of the other guys are trying NMF as well. Be sure to keep us posted on your progress!

Joshua

I too, will be doing my first NMF using Alclad II. Any sugestions as to which one to use? I was thinking either aluminum or maybe polished alum.

As for the a/c, I'm trying to decide between Bill Dunham's "Bonnie" (460th FS),  "Fighting Gator" (507th FS), and Edward Powell's "Georgia Peach" (510th FS). Oh, by the way, I'll be offering a 1/48 Tamiya P-47B Razorback.

ok here is some progress pics of my Revell P47-D 1:72 early days yet, just got the cockpit and engine sorted; undercarrage bays done too but I sealed them of for paining before i thought to take pictures.

this is an OOB build as the Revell kit is outstanding in detail and fit ...one of the best 1:72 scale aircraft kits I have come across. More progress to follow.

Jeff - Jean,

Both of your builds are looking great!  I've got some catching up to do now!  I'm stuck at the sanding and filling stage on mine and it's my least favorite part so I end up dragging on it...

Hi all, am I to late to get in on the action here?  I have just started a 1/48 Tamiya P-47D-25-RE "Bubbletop" as flown by Capt. Fred Christensen 62nd FS for the Allied Aces GB.  I don't know if you allow builds from other GBs but if so I'm in.

Tom, that’s one awesome looking cockpit as usual, nice work

Jeff nice looking build so far and that looks like a nice cockpit from where I'm sitting.

Jean, that Tamiya Silver looks great, I can't wait to see the top side of the aircraft.

Cheers

Darren - thanks!  good to see you stepping in! 

I just finished most of my filling and sanding and started work on the engine.  I'll future coat tomorrow.  I got the cowl painted a nice smooth white tonight and will future that with the body.

I'm debating on putting the wires on the eingine.. you can't really see much but it would be a first for me.. (non-PE wires)  We'll see how I feel tomorrow... I have to get this done by Mid May the latest so I might hold off and do it on the next radial engine I do...

tho9900 wrote:

Darren - thanks!  good to see you stepping in!  I just finished most of my filling and sanding and started work on the engine.  I'll future coat tomorrow.  I got the cowl painted a nice smooth white tonight and will future that with the body. I'm debating on putting the wires on the eingine.. you can't really see much but it would be a first for me.. (non-PE wires)  We'll see how I feel tomorrow... I have to get this done by Mid May the latest so I might hold off and do it on the next radial engine I do...

Thanks Tom.

I know what you mean about the wires on the engine and to be frank on the P-47 there is not a heck of a lot you can see once that enormous prop is placed on the kit.  Here is a shot on a P-47 D-20 I did a while back and aside from the ignition harness ring and the carbs you don't get to see much of your handiwork at all.

Cheers

darson wrote:

Hi all, am I to late to get in on the action here?  I have just started a 1/48 Tamiya P-47D-25-RE "Bubbletop" as flown by Capt. Fred Christensen 62nd FS for the Allied Aces GB.  I don't know if you allow builds from other GBs but if so I'm in.

Welcome to the build Darson! The rules of the GB are rather lax, they can be seen in the first post. Most importantly, try to be done but the end of July.

I hope everyone is having a good Easter!

Joshua

  Well shoot!  I can't believe I missed this one until now...that'll teach me to not scroll down from the ship arena !

   This is the ROG 72nd D-30, as stated above, it is a truly nice kit, and superbly engineered...the first one I'm building is an Ecuadorian COIN operating out of Manta in the 50's, with low-vis roundels and a subdued jungle camo: