Official FMS 1500mm P-47D Razorback Thread

[jetfool]

No pictures, just sanding, filling, primer and more sanding. It is leveling and getting smooth so I should have a good surface for paint.

Rex

[jetfool]

Final wet sanding before last light primer coat then paint. Model is leveled, slick and smooth.

A photo showing Lucky with the Curtiss propellor and prop spinner. Will make alum. spinner nut for my vs3 prop.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Great! I strongly suspected the CE prop dome and cuffs, just wanted a photo from back then to confirm it.

Good luck with the CE prop dome. If it works, I'll pay you for another one!

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

jetfool

Rex, gotta feel great getting to this point,

Adding your colors is the next best thing to sliced lasagna.

Looking good, Sir.

Best, LB

[Grossman56]

My first thought when I saw this model originally, back in 2017 was that I didn't like the paint scheme and I'd want one done up in Johnson's colors or maybe Gabreski. So I'm living vicariously through you Rex!

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[davegee]

My first thought when I saw this model originally, back in 2017 was that I didn't like the paint scheme and I'd want one done up in Johnson's colors or maybe Gabreski. So I'm living vicariously through you Rex!

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

I never had anything against the Bonnie paint scheme or Major Bill Dunham, one of the standout P-47 pilots in the Pacific theatre of war in WWII. I just had designs on my favorite paint schemes, mainly of the 56th Fighter Group that flew out of England during WWII. I'm happy to see others like Rex who appreciate the aces of this unit, and one of the very tops was Major Bob Johnson. It's fitting to salute him among the many others that people paint their airplanes for rc flying.

I only wish they would come out with a good P-47D bubbletop version, too. If they do, I have several I'd like to get and complete my P-47 collection. First up would be one of my favorites, Hairless Joe, flown by Lt. Col. Dave Schilling. I had a gasser from a Aerotech kit that was all carbon fiber with a big 4.5 gas engine in it. It flew in a number of big contests and had a trip over to England where it flew from the same field at Boxted Air Base, England. Here it is on the end of the remains of the main runway 22 at Boxted. It has been on display at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in Michigan since 2005. This plane was 1/6 scale with an 85 inch wingspan.

[jetfool]

Grossman 56,
I like the 56th fighter group better than other paint options too.

Davegee,
A 1600 P-47 bubbletop from Flightline would be great, I would turn it into a P-47M, 56th FS, painted the dark blue camo. Your models in the museums look great. I need to take a trip to the AIR ZOO this summer.

Elbee,
Getting to this point feels great. The poly acrylic has really hardened the foam, feels almost like a fiber glassed model but very little weight gain.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

I totally agree, Rex. The 56th FG was one of the first in combat in Europe for the Americans, and had the highest number of kills in Europe. Near the end of the war in Europe, they turned down the opportunity to convert to P-51s ( the only group to do so) and received Republic’s total supply of the new “hotrod” M models. They came in an array of pretty cool paint schemes: 61st FS- matte black, 62nd FS-ocean gray and dark green, and 63rd FS- a pretty “wild” array of dark and light blue “disruptive sky”. camo pattern. I have done all three patterns on different models.

[jetfool]

Do you guys ever plan to work on your models and then find 1-2 hours later you're just sitting there looking at it. It has been one of those days. Any whoo, this has been staring down on me



That's it for today
Rex

[Elbee]

Do you guys ever plan to work on your models and then find 1-2 hours later you're just sitting there looking at it. It has been one of those days. Any whoo, this has been staring down on me That's it for todayRex

Almost everyday! Best, LB

[handyman220]

Almost everyday! Best, LB

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that does this!!

[jetfool]

Today I'm working on the sway bars that hold the belly tank on. First, I measured and using a brass tube I cut 4 holes to glue some 1/2" long ny-rod for mounting the braces. I tapped them for 2-56 threads to make it easier to install small screws in. The bolts shown are just to set the ny-rod flush with the fuselage, removed after glue dries and shorter bolts will be used. Hope to have more to show later today. These little details takes as much time to do as assembling the whole aircraft.

Best Regards, Rex

[Grossman56]

The B26 reminds me of Big Beautiful Doll, an older model that still had those deep oversized panel lines. Guess we're getting spoiled! I started working over my P 51B to eliminate those aka RC Geek, Still a lot of filling and sanding, but it might work. The biggest challenge to that model is to figure out a way to reattach the wings to the fuse. I may have a plan using the screw thingies (technical talk) that you insert into a wall and screw into. If it works, I may be able to recover that plane. The only thing other than that is the motor mount may need some work and the canopy could use to be replaced. Problem is that the model has been out of production for years now, man I'd love to lay my hands on another one.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

You realize that at Midway, they used B 26's with a torpedo strapped to its underside and attacked the Japanese Fleet. A great account of it is in Martin Caiden's "Ragged Rugged Warriors" which I have a copy that I believe was the first paperback I ever bought way back in the 60's.

[jetfool]

Grossman,
Glad your resurrecting older models that have taken a lot of battle damage thru the years. Makes the winter go faster.
I have that paperback book also since the late 60s. I re-read it every few years, a good read. I thought about the Midway B-26 but it is the earlier version with different cowling arrangement. The cowls are removable on the Dynam so it could be modified, also the tail gunner position was a little different.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Today I'm working on the sway bars that hold the belly tank on. First, I measured and using a brass tube I cut 4 holes to glue some 1/2" long ny-rod for mounting the braces. I tapped them for 2-56 threads to make it easier to install small screws in. The bolts shown are just to set the ny-rod flush with the fuselage, removed after glue dries and shorter bolts will be used. Hope to have more to show later today. These little details takes as much time to do as assembling the whole aircraft.

Best Regards, Rex

Looks good, Rex. My only question or concern is the bolts look to me to be angled out away from the centerline of the model. You probably know this but they need to be angled IN towards the centerline so that they can be adjusted to touch the bomb or drop tank so that it doesn't "sway" left and right. Am I missing something? I just wanted to be sure.

I just grabbed my I Wanted Wings P-47 to demonstrate what I'm talking about. This is my oldest jug and is somewhat beat up over the years. The sway brackets have been ripped off a few times on belly landings or in the weeds. At any rate, I just wanted to try to point out to be sure we're on the same page to show that the sway brackets angle IN towards the bomb or tank, and the adjustbable nails or whatever (I used nails) then can be moved to touch the droppable slightly keeping it from sideways movement.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,
Hopefully these pictures answer your concerns. Please keep it up, keeps me on my toes.
I used alum. flashing cut in 3/16" strip to make the base, 2-56 bolts for the stabilizing of the tank, then 1/8" balsa for depth. Sanded. Not perfect but think it looks ok.
Best Regards, Rex

[jetfool]

[davegee]

Ah, that looks great! I just wanted to be sure you were on the right track, and indeed you were! Carry on, my man!

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

I've slowly been working on some details. I made up the fuel line from fuselage to drop tank and made the antenna insulator that has a black thread to the tail ant. bracket, this thread will get replaced with some old small control line cable when finished. Still have cockpit and many other things to do before I start painting. Davegee, Dangerous Dan, Elbee, I keep looking at the thing's you guys are/have done and I keep adding details......... Madness!