Official FMS 1500mm P-47D Razorback Thread

[davegee]

I have seen all the P-47 fly at chino ,2,5 hours away and now they have the yearly airshow at Santa Maria , one hour away with there new wing being built to relocate all of it there in the years to come 4 P-47 Thunderbolt's Missing Man flight, Planes of Fame airshow 2019

That's a beauriful video there, James! I've always wanted to see the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, haven't made it yet, but hope to. I liked that a P-47 in Hairless Joe markings was in the show. I got to take a ton of photos of it back in the day for reference detailing my Aerotech P-47. Even got to sit in the seat, which was Awesome!

Thanks for posting that.

Cheers

Davegee

[Eagle15]

Hi all,

Unfortunately, I haven't made any real progress since the last time I attached photos. I'm torn between giving my razorback the markings of the white-nosed HV-A of Gabreski or the white nosed "Lucky" of Robert Johnson.

However, I have decided to give my razorback panel lines and rivets. . . its gonna take a REALLY long time lol. I'll attach photos later today when I get back home; so far I've made progress on the right wing. So far I've just traced each panel line into the plane, then gone back with a pin vise and poked in little holes for each rivet. I'm using blueprints from IL-2 XD but its accurate enough for me! I plan to go back with an airbrush and black paint over all the panels, then get a thin coat of olive drab to let a little bit of the pre-shade of black show through to complete the paint job before flying it!

Have any of you riveted your P-47? I know many modelers rivet their aircraft, and I figured my razorback would look great with them as well. If anyone has also done this to their thunderbolt,I would love any tips to make this process faster!

I'll attach photos when I get home.

Cheers (and good luck on that bubbletop conversion; I personally am in love with Gabreski's last thunderbolt; the two tone camo red nose red rudder D-25 bubbletop. Maybe one day I'll also have to do a bubbletop conversion)

[Elbee]

Eagle15,

Looking forward to those.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Eagle15,
Glad you're enjoying modding your P-47. Some people have used a Sharpie fine tip marker to make their rivets. They gently poke a hole in that leaves a small rivet that is black. When they paint the black rivet shows a small difference to the final paint. Are you brushing Poly acrylic on before primer and paint? Makes a smoother, harder shell over the OEM foam
Please post your progress because we all learn from others and more friends we make. Someday I'd like to do a P-47M. Waiting to see how Davegee comes along with his.
Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

While work is being done by James in California on the bubble top redo of the fuselage, I'm getting busy on detail items that I wanted to include on the rest of the control surfaces like the wings and the horizontal stabilizers/ elevators.

I have already applied three layers of acrylic Minwax and sanded lightly between each coat. Used a reasonably good bristle brush from Ace and it went on smoothly. It really fortifies the strength of the foam to resist bumps and dings a little better. After that, I've been using a spray Tamiya primer and am continuing to smooth out the surfaces so that they can be painted and look smoother that way. I circle with a pencil any rough or high spots that I will sand and respray with the primer to prepare it for eventual final painting.

Some minor details I like to do with airplanes, especially P-47s, are listed below and with pictures.

In the first picture, I am roughing out the fresh air vent on the forward right wing leading edge. Also are the beginnings of the gun camera port indicated by the small square to the left of the fresh air vent.

The second pic shows the fixed trim tab that is on both elevators just inboard of the cutouts for the elevator trim tabs. They are unpainted white plastic at this stage. These were part of the factory installation on each airplane, and then initial flight tests where they could bend the thin tabs slightly to refine trim characteristics. They would normally not be adjusted after that time. There are even placards painted above these pieces that admonish everyone NOT to alter them as they were fixed at the manufacturer.

The third pics shows a cutout for a aileron trim tab (only one installed on the left aileron, only, back then). For the right wing aileron, there was no trim tab installed as was typical with American built aircraft of the day, but it did have a fixed trim tab installed similar to what was done on the elevator fixed trim tabs.

The fourth pic shows a scratchbuilt removable pitot tube installed in an aluminum tube mounted in the leading edge on the left wing tip. If the plane ever gets into the weeds for any reason and it breaks off, it is easily replaced. I made a bunch of them over the years!

The last pic shows a scale landing light which was installed aft of the landing gear on the left underneath wing on the earlier models of the P-47 Later models had it moved to near the left wingtip. (Note to Rex: if you do a later model P-47 or M model, that is where you will want to place the landing light.) I used parts from a flashlight to make it look realistic. The real ones would rotate down 90 degrees for use at night, but this one is static and stays in the retracted position.

There will be many more little scale items that I will add in other parts of the airplane, going forward.

[Grossman56]

Good to see you on a roll Dave!
Am I doing a pilot for this project?? (hint hint)

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[f4u ausie]

Eagle 15. I used a pointy wooden food scewer. Just poke the surface for rivits

[Eagle15]

Eagle15,
Glad you're enjoying modding your P-47. Some people have used a Sharpie fine tip marker to make their rivets. They gently poke a hole in that leaves a small rivet that is black. When they paint the black rivet shows a small difference to the final paint. Are you brushing Poly acrylic on before primer and paint? Makes a smoother, harder shell over the OEM foam
Please post your progress because we all learn from others and more friends we make. Someday I'd like to do a P-47M. Waiting to see how Davegee comes along with his.
Best Regards, Rex

shaprie is a good idea, I'll try that out! What is that about Poly acrylic? I've never heard of that before, is that something I should do to my thunderbolt?

[f4u ausie]

Jetfool and davegee r the guys 4 that. They will chime in. I believe it's worth doing

[davegee]

Those are good ideas on riveting, Craig. I must confess I haven’t done riveting on foamies, Done a lot but those were on wood, fiberglass, or carbon fiber models. But you could certainly use a sharpie or sharp instrument and mark exactly. I where you want to place the rivet patterns.
Doing some test patterns would be advisable to refine your technique.

Minwax poly acrylic is used by many on Hobbysquawk and elsewhere. It would strengthen the foam for a better surface to do your rivets and also smooth the skin to more resemble metal skin of the airplane. You can get it at most hardware stores. Acrylic clear is probably better, paint on not too thick with a brush, let dry, use sandpaper to smooth it out some before applying additional coats, sanding lightly in between coats.

[Grossman56]

I did a bunch of riveting on my Corsair, used a Sharpie and a larger caliber needle for larger rivets




I used a 'dead' ink pen with a small diameter 'nozzle' and just pushed it in until it broke the surface. Worked very well.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[jetfool]

Min-wax poly acrylic clear is what I use. Mine cost $25 a quart at Home Depot but I have used this quart on three airplanes with 3-4 brushed coats. Dries quickly (30-45min) but I usually let it dry for three hours before sanding because I think I get a harder shell after the whole process before primer. Sand as Davegee has advised and you will have a level baby butt smooth surface to apply primer and paint. I am no expert and many friends here have helped me get where I'm at today. Hope you post your photos as your build unfolds.
My Home Depot has the Federal Standard paint in their paint computer so if you know what FS colors, they should be able to get you the correct paint match.
Best Regards, Rex

[f4u ausie]

Just awesome 👍 👍

[davegee]

Good technique there on the riveting, Dan.

. Yes, I’d like you to do the painting of the pilot Col Dave Schilling figure for my Hairless Joe if you’re game. I’m thinking I’d like to have him without the mask on but hanging down from the helmet so we can see his face. This was typically how a lot of pilots looked on the ground and below 10k feet when they would strap the mask on. I’ve seen pics of Schilling in the cockpit just like this.

Let’s plan on that.

Dave

[jetfool]

Grossman56,
Your Corsair came out fantastic. What are you working on now? Flying season will be here before long. I have my Dynam B-26 hanging above workbench waiting for its turn on the bench, I have most of the 3d parts for it. Want to try to make operating bomb doors as a few others have done. Fingers crossed.
Best Regards, Rex

[Eagle15]

Thanks for the info! Here’s the photo of the one section I’ve done on the wing … If you want I’ll attach photos each time I finish a big section (wings, fuselage, etc). The white is foam putty where I messed up some lines… don’t mind that! 😆

[davegee]

Very cool, Eagle15! What tool(s) did you finally use to do the riveting??

Cheers

davegee

[jetfool]

Looks great. That spackle is just the start of a great looking plane. Mine look terrible until finished. Good work.
Rex

[Eagle15]

Very cool, Eagle15! What tool(s) did you finally use to do the riveting??

Cheers

davegee

I ended up using a toothpick 😆
it worked surprisingly well!!

Here’s the same wing after an hour of poking holes in my plane with a toothpick lol

[Eagle15]

Looks great. That spackle is just the start of a great looking plane. Mine look terrible until finished. Good work.
Rex

Thanks for the encouraging words! I sure hope it turns out good!