Official FMS 1500mm P-47D Razorback Thread

[davegee]

Davegee,

I just have an old flashlight w/ 1" lens, so I am collecting parts. My beautiful wife may not see much of me after Christmas day. Guess she can always come to the shop and ogle my creative project. She would have to be quiet while 12 O'Clock High plays on the tv LOL
Did you make your mirror or use one you purchased? Just planning ahead.

Best Regards, Rex

Make sure your wife presents proper authorizations and papers to confirm she can visit your "manufacturing plant" as you work on this new masterpiece! (LOL)

For "mirror" I'm guessing you mean the silvered cone-shaped reflector that goes behind the clear plastic lens on the flashlight? If so, yes, I did. You might have to grind it down a bit at the bottom so that it fits inside the hole you made to accomodate the light parts. If you don't have one, being that there are many types of flashlights, some better than others for this project, you can use a piece of chrome silver plastic or something that will offer some reflective qualities inside the lens should someone want to inspect it further. Since it is on the bottom of the wing, few people will notice it unless you point it out, or have the plane upside down on the bench or cradle at the field.

Regarding the light bulb itself, many flashlight makers don't use actual little bulbs but a LED type light unit that doesn't look like a bulb. What I have been doing is finding a clear LED that is about the same size and shape that I want, and put it in there in place of that squarish looking light emmiter, just for scale sake.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Elbee,

Almost to the finish line. Hope this model proves as good as I have read. Ding-a-ling, a ling


Davegee,

The mirror on top of the canopy. Think they used a Spitfire mirror

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Oh, That mirror! Yes, the addition of rearview mirrors was mostly at the discretion of the pilot. Some had a Spitfire-type mirror installed directly over the top of the windscreen. Some put these and the fairings on the sides of the fuselage for additional awareness and visibility. Still, some others were rectangular and had an aerodynamic fairing in front of the mirror. Pretty much an airplane-specific deal.

I’ve used the Flightline Spitfire mirrors on my P-47 Razorbacks and EFlite P-51D bubble tops. They varied widely per their pilots’ preferences. These mirrors work great for all these purposes, even though I have to also buy the Spitfire clear canopy that I don’t need. Regardless, they’re inexpensive and worth the cost to get the mirrors.

davegee

[davegee]

Hi Rex: Here is some interesting information that I just found on Aeroscale which goes back many years but has good historical information on it. I've heard and read many things about Robert Johnson and the planes he flew in WWII. Some say 4, 5, or 6 planes (Thunderbolts) in combat. This screenshot I'll post here is from Bob Johnson's logbook, in his own hand and I think sets things straight on this issue.

You'll see that he got his first kill in Halfpint, the famous airplane where he was blasted by a German fighter pilot and miraculously was able to get back safely somehow. After that, he flew Lucky, the one you have chosen to replicate with the FMS model. He got 21 kills in that airplane. Third was All Hell, which he flew for a short time and got 3 kills . The last one, the fourth, was Penrod and Sam, which he got his last 2 kills before being sent home(total 27 kills) . I believe this is the accurate account of his missions and planes flown in combat in WWII.

See what you think.

Cheers

Dave

[jetfool]

Thanks Davegee. I found those 4 planes you mention also. While waiting on the big day I am making the brake housing that will go on the backside of the Robart hub. Wanting to paint this hub and it looks like in pictures it was silver or same color as the landing strut. Dave, can you enlighten me on this. I thought the pad may have been a different color (asbestos?) Working on things I have to get pre-built so assembly will go quicker.
Rex

[davegee]

Thanks Davegee. I found those 4 planes you mention also. While waiting on the big day I am making the brake housing that will go on the backside of the Robart hub. Wanting to paint this hub and it looks like in pictures it was silver or same color as the landing strut. Dave, can you enlighten me on this. I thought the pad may have been a different color (asbestos?) Working on things I have to get pre-built so assembly will go quicker.
Rex

Do you have a pic of what you are working on so I could give the best answer for you? I'm leaning towards silver, but it would be better if I could see a pic of what you are looking to detail and paint.

Also, I think you mentioned in a previous post that you were thinking of using magnets to be able to remove/install the wing pylons that had drop tanks or bombs attached. If you are still thinking of doing that, and it is totally your call how accurate you want this model to be, but I believe that the -5 RE Lucky that you are modeliing was never equipped with wing pylons. They did have provisions for a drop tank or small centerline bomb, but wing pylons didn't arrive until introduction of the -15 RE models like All Hell and later. Just a thought.

On my early models like the -5 RE Hairless Joe that did not have wing pylons installed, I used a small piece of basswood to cover the derpessions where FMS expected you to glue them on.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Roger that Elbee, You're coming in loud and clear

[jetfool]

Great picture too. Will help get the colors just so on my pilots. Snow on the ground this morning, now its feeling like X-MAS.

[Elbee]

https://usawarriorstories.org/watch/francis-gabreski

jetfool

The picture is of then Lt Col Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski, see bio above.

Awesome pilot and warrior.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Guys while assembling the VS3 prop to the crankcase I found as I tighten, the crankcase doesn't want to fit correctly. It leaves a gap (less than 1/16". I don't want to break it. Has anyone else found this or am I doing something wrong?

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Guys while assembling the VS3 prop to the crankcase I found as I tighten, the crankcase doesn't want to fit correctly. It leaves a gap (less than 1/16". I don't want to break it. Has anyone else found this or am I doing something wrong?

Best Regards, Rex

Rex: that is a problem with the prop blade molding and this prop hub. Very vexing. I don't know why they didn't mold the props to fit inside the hubs like they're supposed to. In any event, what I have done is grind down the raised rings at the base of the prop until you get a tight fit when you fasten down the hub halves. It's ok if it isn't a tight fit of the prop base inside the hub. The two screws will cinch it down so it is fine.

I have had to do this on every V3 prop and hub, which is a bunch, now. The plane will fly just fine making these minor mods. I just used a sander and sometimes a dremel tool to file down those raised rings on the prop base, causing you the gap and problem.

That was my solution, anyway!

Cheers

davegee

[davegee]

https://usawarriorstories.org/watch/francis-gabreski

jetfool

The picture is of then Lt Col Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski, see bio above.

Awesome pilot and warrior.

Best, LB

cool

[jetfool]

Thanks Davegee. I thought that was the solution. I see in your pictures the brake hub looks good. Will the Robart wheels fit the OEM hub or did you use all Robart?
Elbee,
Article is great. Yes, Only 3 more days. Momma caught the dog trying to un-wrap his present, glad she didn't see me loosening the tape on mine or we would both be in the dog house.
Hope you are getting a big box under your tree too.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Thanks Davegee. I thought that was the solution. I see in your pictures the brake hub looks good. Will the Robart wheels fit the OEM hub or did you use all Robart?
Elbee,
Article is great. Yes, Only 3 more days. Momma caught the dog trying to un-wrap his present, glad she didn't see me loosening the tape on mine or we would both be in the dog house.
Hope you are getting a big box under your tree too.

Best Regards, Rex

Hi Rex: Maybe talk to your dog to do a fast one on your wife, maybe tell him to bark at something in the house while you can play with your big box, at least shake it a bit to be sure nothing is broken!

I had Robarts wheels that were fine, but recently in the last year or so converted my three P-47s to using the OEM E Flite P-51D plastic hubs (made in two parts that attach on either side of the wheel) and the Robart 3.5 inch diamond pattern tires. Very easy to take on and off, although I have a continuing problem with the E Flite hubs on my P-51 is the outer half of the wheel has a very thin plastic rim on it. Whenever my planes do a ground loop near the end of the landing roll, there is a lot of stress on them and one is usually broken and has to be replaced. This is NOT an issue with the P-47s.

I think the solution is to have the outer wheel half printed up with a little more beefed up rim that is always breaking. Perhaps then it wouldn't break like it does now.
Do you think your friend who is savvy with the printing might be up to make an STL file that I could print this part in the future? I would be happy to pay him for his time if he's up to the challenge. If not, that's fine. I can always buy more at Horizon Hobby.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,

I'll ask him if his class would like to re-design the hub. If he agrees I might need you to send a hub for them to measure, returned to you after. It will be after New Years before I see him.
. Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Davegee,

I'll ask him if his class would like to re-design the hub. If he agrees I might need you to send a hub for them to measure, returned to you after. It will be after New Years before I see him.
. Best Regards, Rex

Sounds great! No sweat, though. If he doesn't have the time or interest, that's fine. I have an extra wheel I can send you so he could see what the issues and solutions are. Sometime in the new year if he's up for it, that would be great. I really don't need him to print any parts for me, maybe a test wheel that I can try out to see how it goes. Probably bigger for me would be an STL file of the improved wheel and then I can print out as many as I want/need. You can let me know if this is doable for him.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,

Will Do!
I have my OD paint matched to my M&M color chips. Will be going to HD to get paint for the grey color. My M&M chip calls it neutral grey FS#36173. Looks pretty dark to me, is this the correct color. These chips are in the section for US army/air force WW2.

[davegee]

Davegee,

Will Do!
I have my OD paint matched to my M&M color chips. Will be going to HD to get paint for the grey color. My M&M chip calls it neutral grey FS#36173. Looks pretty dark to me, is this the correct color. These chips are in the section for US army/air force WW2.

Hi Rex: Yes, the color swatches you get from M&M should be correct. I know the Neutral Grey color might seem too dark, but if you look at some period color photos of a standard issue US aircraft out of the factory, it looks like that is what they actually were. A lot of changes happened out in the field for customization and repairs, but the initial M&M colors I think is what you want for Lucky which was an unaltered standard paint scheme out of the Republic factory on Long Island.

Even looking at period photos from 80 years ago can be misleading because the colors used in the printing of the photos can be off some. I feel the M&M gives you the most accurate matches for that period of the war with the earlier planes. I used them for reference for the judges at events like Top Gun and Scale Masters.

I'll attach a photo of my Ole Cock P-47D that was in the same squadrron about the same time period as Lucky, Spring of '44.. Mine is taken in the sunlight and might appear slightly different colors, but these are pretty accurate Tamiya sprays Olive Drab and Neutral Gray, very close to the M&M chips..

Cheers

Davegee.

[jetfool]

Davegee,

Using your picture to guide me in some of the wear and tear on these planes. With LUCKY downing 21 planes I'm sure there was a lot of abuse on the airframe, chipping, fading paint, oil residue, etc. Going to be fun to see what happens.
I have all my paint, wheels, vs3 prop and cleaning up the workbench so I can start on this after the kids and grandkids open presents and have X-MAS dinner. Forewarned the Chief of staff I might be pulling an all niter.

Elbee, About those JUGS, don't have to dream about them in this house LOL

Dog and I have silently removed almost all the tape on our boxes. Won't take long to open.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Sounds like you’re all ready to jump in on this next project, Rex! Actually, I think it was a good idea for your chief of staff to lay down the law and order you to wait until XMAS to dig in on the jug project. It’s given you time to prioritize how you will make this airplane special. It’s good to mentally rehearse how you will put it together, paint, accessorize, weather, and bring it to life, You’re almost there now, just a couple more days!

cheers

davegee