P-47 Thunderbolt GB

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!

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.

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!

Fashionably late, I know, but I just today got a 1/48 Tamiya P-47D Razorback. It's next in line behind a Spit that I'm working, but I think I'll try to get it in before July. This will be my first GB so we'll see how it goes. Otherwise, count me in if it's not too late.

...probably do this OOB, but there are so many nice decal sheets available...we'll see.

Thanks for stopping by Joshua.. glad you liked it. Did you sign my guestbook?

Ok Jabbe - I was one of the first to respond to this GB and NOW... months and months later I am up to starting the P-47 I said I would do... it is a P-47D of 'escuadron 201, Fuerza Aerea Expedicionaria Mexicana'.  (201st squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force) The only unit from Mexico to serve with the allies in WWII.  They flew from the Phillipines to places like Luzon, and Formosa.

So far I am JUST finishing the Ultracast seat painting part, and letting it dry overnight... tomorrow future and the next day a wash.  I got one sidewall of the cockpit started in painting and decided to stop to look through some more refs.  One thing ironic I noted is there are so many variations of the paints used in the cockpit.  there's the Republic colors, the Curtiss colors, the Curtiss colors used in Republic built AC etc... etc... (yellow chromate, green chromate, yellow green chromate oh my!)  These old eyes are going all googlie digesting everything I have been looking through the last few days.

I am going to go real slow on this, eventually it will be donated to a special class at one of the local middle schools that takes in new arrivals from Latin America and (mostly) Mexico.  I am friends with the teacher and one day when visiting found out that not only she, but most of her students had never heard of this unit.  I hope to make it an exceptional build...

Here's a little history on them for those who didn't see this when I posted it at the first of the build...

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWK/is_n4_v18/ai_19838758

I should have pics of the interior progress in a day or so...

-=edit=- it is the Tamiya 1/48 P-47D Bubbletop....  Ultracast seats and tires and a *little* scratchbuilding on the interior... (mainly just a few wires and such...) And of course Aztec Models decals....

Scott, great looking pit, worth the wait for the pics

Thanks Josua.

grhornet wrote:

Hi, Jabbe, I would like to join this group, if it isn't to late. Richard

Welcome to the build Richard! What will you be building?

Wow, I haven't posted since page 16. I'm really slacking behind. I'm glad to see lots of discussion and progress pics. If I need to make any updates on the first post (new members, finished builds), please let me know. This build seems to be more popular than I predicted.

espins1: your cockpit is looking good. I sure the rest of the a/c turnes out as nice.

ModelNerd: those are nice looking legs you got there! I might have to run some wire on my next build. Your engine looks really sharp, too.

TANGO1: That is a really sweet looking razorback you have there, I'd say 'Boog' turned out excellent. The D-day stripes along the spine look nice and straight, and I really like the wash. All the little details really add to the model.

MikeV and desfoy: glad to have you guys in this build! It lools like you're comming along quite well there Jean.

wing_nut: I'd say your 'Tar Heel Hal' looks very sharp! It's nice and clean, and you did an amazing job with those decals.

gwaihir: your engine looks very realistic, I'm impressed.  

From my front, I finally completed the razorback. I've been busy with school (and 2 other builds), and this T-bolt almost didn't make it to the finish line. In retrospect, I think I should have airbrushed the red trim rather than hand paint it. I'll not make that mistake with the bubbletop that is aobut half way through the works. I applied a black wash to the panel lines, but it's really hard to see from more than about one foot away b/c the OD color is a little too dark (should have mixed in some white), but it's there. I sprayed a flat overcoat but the model still seems a little shiny, so I might spray it again. Also, the canopy still retains the old color and happens to be a little fogged up. next time I make a Squadron order, I'll get a new canopy for it. I'm stoked though, since now I finally get to wear my own badge! Enough talk, here's the pics:

Before:

Now:

I'm really looking forward to finishing my other T-bolt, a nice NMF bubbletop. Also, I happened to pick up an XP-47H at an estate sale, and it might be finished before the GB is finished too! (see last pic)

Joshua

Finally, I can post some photos.  Here are 3 progress pics on my 1/48 Tamiya P-47D Bubbletop.  The images are of the cockpit without the instrument panel.  No word yet from Great Models on my Wauldron punch set, so if they haven't found one for me by the end of next week, I'm going to cancel my order and go with another solution that was posted earlier in this build.  I've done the wash on the cockpit, but haven't done any dry brushing yet.  Feedback is welcome.   

gwaihir wrote:

Looks good ModelNerd. I usually have some trouble getting all points to stay connected, but your's looks great. What did you use for the wire? Leon

I used copper wire, it is around .010 thick. I didn't have any single strand wire laying around, but I had some stranded primary wire, of which I extracted the individual strands. It's secured to the strut with CA glue. First I established a secure anchor point at the base of the strut by drilling a small hole with the pin vise, then gluing the wire strand into the hole. Then, following reference photos,  I used tweezers to bend the wire up the strut, gluing anchor points along the way.

Good day, gentlemen. Thought I'd try to run some brake lines with copper wire. It was easier than I thought.

I saw your model  over on the aircraft page and I'll say it again. Outstanding work Darren!! Another fine addition to the GB. I didn't notice till I got a second look, but the plumbing on the landing gear is very well done. That's not smutz on the mirror, that's Lt. Santasiero's used bubble gum stuck there. Also, I really like what appears to be some outdoor pics. It really gives the model a sense of realism. Again, a big high five to you!

Jerry