P-47 Thunderbolt GB

I like the pic in the 2nd one but the nice jugs may not be appropriate... but there are "3" in the pics so.. maybe...

And while I have not started it yet... everything is in the box... kit, PE details, AM decals... all ready to go.  Getting close on the my 1/24 190D-9 for the BOG GB... close as in there is an end in sight.

KINGTHAD: There's plenty of room and time. Welcome to the build. What kit will you be building?

grandadjohn: Your office is comming along well. I'm with you though, I don't invest much time into my cockpits. In 1/72 scale, if you can even see what color the cockpit is through the clear plastic, then you're doing good.

dragonfly and gwaihir: You guys win the award for jumping in and getting started. No, there is no prize, but at least you get to post pics of your finished builds before everyone else.

I know I said that the badge would be ready before school started, and boy did I lie. I haven't had much time to put torwards the build, but I did make 2 badges. Anyone else can submit a badge, I won't be offended. Let's have a vote, and we'll use the most popular badge. The only stipulation behind the badge is you must finish a P-47 (and post pics if you have the capability).

The second one dosn't say P-47, but I can slip that in if everyone likes it. Furthermore, I can omit the "Nice Jugs!" if it's not acceptable in the forum. Tell me what you think guys.

Joshua

John, I feel your pain with the photo etch, that stuff drives me nuts. I'm actually on the final approach with my build. Unfortunately, I can't post any pics till I get back home.

Cheers,

Jerry

Just to show you what i have gotten done so far, didn't detail to much since most will be hidden when I'm done. Plus I have gotten the fuselage halves and the wings glued together. Been busy at work and haven't gotten much else done.

After much researching, staring at 1 photo and 1 line drawing, more researching, more staring and lastly beating around the bush I have set aside my Hase P-47 "Bonnie" and decided to due something different all together.  Sorry Jabbe i know this is my 3rd change.  My project has now become a kit bash my first of the P-47 Doublebolt.  I am using 2 Revellgram P-47s.  This was a labor intensive descision in itself.  I opted for these kits though I would have rather used 2 tamigawas but was afraid of ruining them since this is my first attempt at this sort of thing.  I almost scrapped the idea if for no other reason the the lack of any sort of photos either color or black and white.  But I do have 1 of a 56 fg 63 fs bird "Category E" its a B&W photo of low quality only the UN is visable tail # ww275276.  If anyone has any suggestions for doing more research on this plane Im all ears.  But if not I will keep it a 56 fg bird and just make it a non descript unit hack/trainer with random tail #s. 

Ok enough chatter this is what Ive manged to do so far.  I just went ahead and jumped in with both feet armed with my razor saw. I carefully measured and scribed a light line on both fuselage halves and taped them together.  I cut with the saw just inside of the line and used a sanding stick to remove the rest.  I was still uncertain if this was correct distance so my next step was to trimm the canopies down and it indeed was the correct length.  Woot minor success! The office in this kit is terrible.  The seat and side panels are all molded together and detail is weak, but I will use them anyway.  Armed with my saw I cut off some of the front portion of the rear seat and then trimmed the back part off the front seat  I was debating on thinning the kit armor plate for the front but decided it would be easier to trace out a new panel from thinner stock.  I also sanded the molded in ribs on the fusalage and will replace them so atleast it will be uniform.  I finished up the day by glueing the wing halves together.  Whew it seems so far luck was on my side.

I gave the model a bath this morning, and am ready to paint. I'm going to try to use all Tamiya paints for this one, which is a first for me.  I usually use MM enamels, but since I'm on the road, I want something that will dry quickly. The Tamiya OD green looks a little dark, but fading with lighter shades should hopefully work out. Also, I'm going to do a Checker tail, and since the entire tail is covered, I hope I can just put the decals down on bare plastic. I hope I don't have problems with these checkers. Will check in later.

Jerry

Hi everyone forgot this build aready started but if there is room I would like to join. This will help me clear out one of the ten kits I have for this bird.

Thad

Hi guys, been away from these forums since september. New job, moving in to a bigger apartment, the internet woudn´t work, new computer, it has just been too much thiss fall/winter. Now I have finally managed to update the acount to this new fomat. forgive me, I´m just thinking out loud.

Anyway, I'm ready to start. I'll take some pictures of what I have to work with and thn get right to it.

Regards /Johan

Wow!!   Great photos! Thanks Wingnut. Now I can do some plumbing.

Jerry

wing_nut, --- Great pictures. Thanks. I am going to try to detail my build and those will help a lot!

Darren, --- I did try the mottling (to a degree) on my warm up build. The osprey book mentions overdoing it because the final gloss and then flat blend it all a little. Well, I did what felt right and had it looking how I liked before the future coat. Then the future more or less blended it and I'm sure the flat will blend it even more. In short, I'm trying to suggest overdoing it. I think I will (if I can build up the nerve) in my actual 1/48 build.

Jabbe, --- Everyone seems to swear by the alclad. I have some to try, but as of yet haven't. To throw another option at you (just to confuse it more ) there is also snj. I know some people don't like this, but I have used it and do really like it. Basically, they have a metal paint, but also have some polishing powder that you can rub after painting for an extra shine. I actually use the powder when I am building all of my models - I rub a little on seam lines to see how well I got rid of them. Anyway, I would probably suggest the alclad, but here is the snj site if you want to check it out. They are going out of business, so it is while supplies last. http://www.snjmodelproducts.com/ BTW, thanks for the comment on the warm-up build. The preshading was accomplished by airbrushing black on the panel lines before the main colors. I think I might try some subtle post-shading too, as the clear coats seem to be hiding the differences a little.

Hope all is well.
Leon

Got these pics last summer, hope they help.  I have to wonder though if they made changes when the plane was re-conditioned.

Ok.. I am back, I had almost forgot about my build I was thinking about for this one...

First things first... I have used buffing metalizers (the MM variety) and while nice they are also fragile... and they have to be sealed, (with the MM buffing metalizer sealer) and even then it might rub off in spots.  Alclad II on the other hand is the schnizzit!  There are various primers you can use for them but I found plain old future (recommended on their website among others) to work best for the non 'polished' versions (all of the aluminum except for polished alum....)  ... I thin my future with Tamiya thinner then spray it on in coats until it is extremely glossy, let it cure a day or two then shoot the Alclad over it.  it actually took less Alclad to cover (IMHO) when using future than black MM enamel.  Don't buy the Alclad airbrush cleaner/thinner... it is basically lacquer thinner and costs WAY more than a can of lacquer thinner from Lowes or somewhere... 6.95 US for 75ml (alclad thinner) or so, vs. $4.95 for 48 ounces of lacquer thinner is a big difference!!!!  The plus side is if you spray the Alclad in thin coats and let them dry in between there is no masking tape pull up when masking... I really do recommend reverse masking though... i.e. if there is a yellow tail stripe spray the yellow first then mask it off and spray the Alclad.. it seems to work better that way and you don't risk tape pull up if you did get it a little thick...

check out www.alclad2.com for some pics and also under the application link the recommended primers and how to put it on....

I will commit or not in a few days to this GB... I really need to build this P-47 for that class but the GB's I am in have kept me busy... I will let yall know in a few days....  (read this as the PE and such for the Tiger II in the Battle for Germany GB I am building is kicking my butt!!!)

Gwaihir: that looks really good! How did you get such a nice pre-shade? Looks like you're comming along quick.

It seems like everyone else is getting started and jimping in (and doing a great job too!). I'm out for Xmas break, and so my T-bolts are still in the box. I've got a few other builds that are almost done, so I'll start soon. I'm curious if anyone has experience with both buffering metalizer and alclad II? I'm looking to do a NMF T-bolt, but I've never tried either. Should I get the Metalizer from the LHS, or is it worth the time and shipping expenses to get some Alclad II sent from Squadron?

Joshua

P.S. Don't worry guys, I haven't forgotten about the GB badge. I'll post 2 or 3 badges and we'll decide on the best one. If anyone else wants to donate a badge, feel free.

Well, hopefully, I will get to put a wash on my 'warm-up' 1/72 build tonight. Here are some pictures I took pre-decals. My goal is to get this finished by the end of this weekend, so I'll be able to start on the real thing.

Hope all is well with everyone.
Leon

Looks good Darren. Isn't that osprey book great?! I keep going over and over the builds.

Looking forward to more.
Leon

Good looking work Darren!

Guess I need to work on mine today, should have the fuselage joined today. If I am lucky I will be done with the kit next week.

Great start Darren...the IP is awesome. Can't wait to see more. I've finished my CP but can't post pics cause I'm on the road using a buddy's lap top that doesn't have the right soft ware.

Jerry