P-47 Thunderbolt GB

Darren – Looks real nice. I see the touch up you mention you need.  Some bleed under the tape as panel lines.  A trick I learned when I was doing RC planes, with multiple taped masking sometimes 4 or 5 feet long, was to spray a coat of clear before the color coat.  If something were to run under the tape it would be the cleat and it sealed to “leaky” spot.

Thanks alot guys for the good words.

Leon....the cockpits in all my models are my favorite part of the build. I try to airbrush as much as I can to keep everything smooth, and leave the brush painting to just the details. It's really just basic techniques like washes, drybrushing, and shading that gives me the end result. Most everything I do, I've learned on this web site.

As for the OD topside paint, after the base color was applied,  I lightened it a little and sprayed it lightly in a random fashion, then lightened it somemore, and was a little more selective as to where I would choose to add some fading.  For instance, the top of the cowl, the top spine of the fuselage, and other high spots. Anywhere on the airplane that would get more sun. I then stepped back and looked at the model with a critical eye. I didn't want to over do it, so I took some heavily thinned base color, and did some blending. I'm not sure that was necessary, but I think it's best to keep the over all effect on the subtle side.  I was very happy with the results. Then, I sprayed the clear coats, and it definitly toned it down some more. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to see any fade effect at all. But, if you look close, it's still there. Just look at your paint job as you go along... you'll know if you've gone too far or not.

Darren....the invasion stripes look great. I wussed out and chose a subject that did'nt wear the stripes. Nice job.

Can't wait to see some pics guys,

Jerry

Jerry, OMG! Amazing! I really like your interior. It looks awesome! I don't know if it is the drybrushing or what, but there is something about it that just sucks me in. Can you explain your technique?

Also, I really like the mottled OD; it really gives it a great faded look. In doing it, how much contrast was there before the clearcoats? I am trying to get a sense of how much to contrast it and how much clear coats will tone it down.

Overall and amazing build!

Joshua, I agree with Jerry's idea. I think if you could overspray with a highly thinned regual OD, it would help blend it all together, but still allow some contrast.

Leon

Joshua, I'm not sure what you're after here. Did you brush paint, trying to get a " in-the-field touch-up" kind of look? Even so, you may have gone with a little too much contrast. Maybe lightly shoot a thinned down version of your base color over what you have. That way, you'll still have some contrast yet tone it down a bit. Sort of a blend coat, if you will.

Jerry

Dragonfly: Holy cow man, that's an amazing looking bolt. I hope mine comes out half that good. Again, looks excellent.

I masked off the remaining grey spots on the razorback planning to airbrush it, but ended up brush painting the last few pannels. I'm still not sure if I like it or not. I think I *might* have gone a little too light. I was aiming for a slightly weathered or used look. The worst part is that I mistakenly covered up one of the pannels with masking tape, so I still have to paint another half pannel. What do you guys think? Strip it off and apply a slightly darker color, or does it look ok?

Joshua

Well guys, I made it back from Fla. in one piece, and I must say, I'm not happy about leaving 75 degree temps. to the reality of Ohio winter. As promised, I'm posting some more finished pics. I thought it would be interesting to compare the True Details resin CP set to a Tamiya kit CP that I biult last year.

First, the resin set,

Now, the Tamiya,

Here's the Hase. kit engine with some PE added,

Now a couple of overall finished pics

After building both the Tamiya kits, there's no doubt they're clearly better then the older Hasaegawa offering, but since I aquired this one in an auction for five bucks I had to buy it, and I think it came out allright. Except, being the sucker I am, I spent another thirty-five on AM goodies. OUCH!!

Can't wait to see more from everyone,

Jerry

Woops, missed a couple days here. Darren and Jabbe, your work looks great. I'm curious to see how the next steps (dreaded black invasion stripes and lighter OD respectively) go - I hope great.

purplexs650d, I love the ebay comment - cracked me up!

Hope all is well.
Leon

Hi guys!

I'm happy to see lots of discussion and pictures. I was hoping that I wouldn't be the only one posting in this thread, and I can see that you guys have (thankfully) kept the ball rolling. The progress that I've seen so far looks top notch. Good job guys.

The badge is ready, and it can be used as soon as you finish a P-47. Please be sure to download it or host it on your own webpage, and not just link to mine.

From my front, I've got grey and olive drab on the Academy Razorback. I'm going to spray the grey spots "light" olive drab, to make them look used. Sadly, I broke off the right wing while pulling the masking tape off. Oh well, it's easy to repair. The rudder and cowl are going to get red trim. Primer for Alclad II will be applied to the bubbletop P-47 this weekend. If it wern't for the career fair at school this week (I really need an internship), I'd be able to finish painting both T-bolts, but I don't see that happening.

purpleplex650d: are you going to join the GB? if so, what kit are you going to build?

Darren just finished laying down the primer, Im just waiting for you to come over and mask my stripes . Looks like you are a couple of steps ahead of me, I hope my stripes come out strieght to.

Thad

Darren...I have'nt attempted painting invasion stripes before and can't imagine the patience it would take. How did you accomplish masking the irregular surface under the fuselage? Can't wait to see more.

Jerry

Jerry - Thanks for the compliment.  But I've seen your stuff... you don't need me to do that

Leon - nice ducts… very nice.

Darren - I was wondering what those pieces on the fret were for.  I am going to put them in. I am old hand at unseen detail.  The Jumo engine in my 1/24 Fw has all new pipes and spark plugs wires... the whole nine yards.  Can't see any of it. Well a tiny bit of the back in the wheel well.

TANGO 1 wrote:

Leon, those ducts look good, I too put the cooling ducts inside my airframe (crazy!) and now I cannot see them(blind!) The things we do to get the details right.... Darren.

Sweet. What did you use for the cooling ducts?

dragonfly wrote:

Leon...great scratch work. Looks like you're going to super detail this one. Can't wait to see more. Jerry

Thanks for the comment. Funny that you say this, because my build is actually for two GBs (ok with both leaders) this and the super detail GB.

Leon

Hey Marc...nice gunsight...could you build one for me? LOL

Leon...great scratch work. Looks like you're going to super detail this one. Can't wait to see more.

Looks like I'm going to have to score a Helldiver.

Jerry

TANGO 1 wrote:

I was wondering just how many of us have a Helldiver in the stash? A future GB maybe.....? Darren.

I'd be very interested in a Helldiver group build, maybe we can get one going this summer. 

Anyway, I've washed the parts in my Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Bubbletop and will begin cockpit and engine work tonight.... if only this day would move along a little faster. 

I really like the look of the bare metal and invasion stripes, along with the black and white checkerboard cowling of Lt. Col Benjamin Mayo's aircraft with the 84th FS, 78th FG, Duxford Air Base, 1944.

TANGO 1 wrote:

By the way, your gun sight looks fantastic! I have the same Eduard PE set as you, and I am losing small parts all over the place!

Let's see which one of us goes blind or crazy first.

I am going to contact AM to see if they can send a new one.

hey thanks espins1! I knew the Tbolt had telescoping gear, but I never knew that it didn't have telescoping gear. It's too late anyhow, I already shortened the gear legs on the Academy to the same length as the RM model. Welcome to the GB too!

Joshua

Jabbe wrote:

I put it next to my Academy razorback last night, and noticed a huge height difference between the two kits. Any idea which one is correct? Joshua

I came across a bit of research that may explain the height difference you're seeing.  Here is a link to the entire article http://www.swannysmodels.com/TamiyaP47D.html, but I clipped the paragraph that might be helpful.

"The conventional three-bladed propeller could not efficiently utilize the power of the new engine and a four-bladed propeller was adopted. Incidentally, the P-47 served as the first test stand for this propeller. Although this propeller was an admirable solution to the power gearing of the engine, there remained the problem of providing sufficient ground clearance for its 12-foot diameter. Republic had to design a telescopic landing gear, which was nine inches shorter when retracted than when extended."

So possibly when they designed the kits, one did it with the gear extended, and the other non-extended.