Official FMS 1500mm P-47D Razorback Thread

[jetfool]

Davegee,
I tried thin cloth but at this size it didn't lay right. tried the toilet paper and it looks like my real photo so I'm happy. 99% won't see it but it just feels right to try. I can't imagine what those guys went through, day in day out. facing death and able to come home and have a decent life. My uncle was at the battle of the bulge and Bastone front lines. Came home with a German Luger with ss ruins on the handle. He used to fire it every New Year. When Saving Private came out he and my aunt went to see it. When the tiger came through the village and the tracks were squeaking my uncle jumped under the seats and my aunt had to get the manager. He was in his eighties, but that sound brought back memories.
Rex

[Grossman56]

Hmmm, looks like FMS Warbirds are drying up. All FMS birds show 'discontinued' on H.H. I wonder if this is because of the B.S. ban on importing 'drones' H.H. doesn't show them on their list of manufacturers either.

[davegee]

Davegee,
I tried thin cloth but at this size it didn't lay right. tried the toilet paper and it looks like my real photo so I'm happy. 99% won't see it but it just feels right to try. I can't imagine what those guys went through, day in day out. facing death and able to come home and have a decent life. My uncle was at the battle of the bulge and Bastone front lines. Came home with a German Luger with ss ruins on the handle. He used to fire it every New Year. When Saving Private came out he and my aunt went to see it. When the tiger came through the village and the tracks were squeaking my uncle jumped under the seats and my aunt had to get the manager. He was in his eighties, but that sound brought back memories.
Rex

Wow! We can only imagine the horrors that these soldiers experienced, like your uncle. God bless all of them, some 16 million from the USA alone who put on the uniform and fought to save the world.

My good friend Bill Getz, who passed away at 99 years of age a couple of years ago, was one of the youngest, if not The youngest 4-engine aircraft commanders flying B-24s in1944-5 in the 8th AAF. He remarked that even as a 19 year old pilot, when they came over the planned Initial Point (IP) to the target which varied from 5-20 miles long or so and couldn't take evasive action until the bomb release point, even for a 19 year old who at that age considers himself "bullet proof" it was absolutely terrifying. He showed me a piece of the front windscreen from his B-24. I had assumed they were armored glass. Nope, it was just clear plexiglass about 1/8" thick, and definitely would NOT stop a bullet or piece of flak.

Cheers

davegee

[davegee]

Hmmm, looks like FMS Warbirds are drying up. All FMS birds show 'discontinued' on H.H. I wonder if this is because of the B.S. ban on importing 'drones' H.H. doesn't show them on their list of manufacturers either.

Hmmm.... That's unfortunate. I guess I'll just have to continue on with the current bubble top mod and hope that another plane kit comes available in time. Worst case, I could take one of my other airplanes and use those parts like the wings and such. I think I could still pull it off ok even in this worst case scenario. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this is temporary, but we'll just have to see.

Thanks for the heads up on this.

Davegee

[f4u ausie]

There's a 1500 p 47 FM's here but likely shipping to be drugmoney

[davegee]

Hmmm, looks like FMS Warbirds are drying up. All FMS birds show 'discontinued' on H.H. I wonder if this is because of the B.S. ban on importing 'drones' H.H. doesn't show them on their list of manufacturers either.

Hi Dan: I was able to find one online so I think I am all set. This is the last P-47 I plan on doing and didn't want to cannibalize my Penrod and Sam razorback to make the new bubbletolp version.I do hope regardless, they will be available in the USA in the future.

Cheers

Dave.

[jetfool]

Guys,
It's sad to see these planes disappear. Seems the current world situation has put a damper on new kits/parts. Hopefully Motion, FMS, HH will keep their R&D going and surprise us with many new improved warbirds in 1500-1600 size. Glad I have many 60 size BT plans and cowls, canopies in storage. With electric and scale props these models make great flying models.
Dave will have the only 1500 P-47D bubbletop in the world when he finishes it.
Dave, for the instrument gages did you scan the internet or are the gages available for sale somewhere? I have some installed but still looking for a full set. I will look on the net and can scan to use if I find a good photo.

I hear there is a new company starting, catering to the scale modelers- D&D Inc.

Got a few more things done today. Painted the seat and weathered, added the rubber canopy seal in front canopy, armor glass and frame painted. New throttle controls installed on side panel etc. Command put Bob on temp. R&R so he hasn;t done much except drink to calm his nerves and watching mechanics put his plane back together
Best Regards, Rex

[jetfool]

More photos

[jetfool]

A few more

[davegee]

Guys,
It's sad to see these planes disappear. Seems the current world situation has put a damper on new kits/parts. Hopefully Motion, FMS, HH will keep their R&D going and surprise us with many new improved warbirds in 1500-1600 size. Glad I have many 60 size BT plans and cowls, canopies in storage. With electric and scale props these models make great flying models.
Dave will have the only 1500 P-47D bubbletop in the world when he finishes it.
Dave, for the instrument gages did you scan the internet or are the gages available for sale somewhere? I have some installed but still looking for a full set. I will look on the net and can scan to use if I find a good photo.

I hear there is a new company starting, catering to the scale modelers- D&D Inc.

Got a few more things done today. Painted the seat and weathered, added the rubber canopy seal in front canopy, armor glass and frame painted. New throttle controls installed on side panel etc. Command put Bob on temp. R&R so he hasn;t done much except drink to calm his nerves and watching mechanics put his plane back together
Best Regards, Rex

Hi Rex: It is disturbing that some of these models like this FMS P-47 are getting to be extremely rare to find now. I took about 45 minutes trying to find one, as I plan on using the "guts" out of a new kit and put it into the bubbletop fuselage that Jim is working on. Worst case scenario, I could have cannibalized one of my other P-47s, but I really didn't want to do that; each one is special to me. So, I finally found one online a kit in Europe and it is on its way to me now. They don't pay shipping, but at least I'll have one I can count on to continue this project uninterrupted.

Regarding the cockpit instrumentation, I'm at a loss at the moment where I came up with those. It could be that the ones that came with the kit were good enough and I repainted the green instrument panel black after masking off the instruments and then putting a drop of clear resin epoxy over each one to simulate glass. They look to be period-type instruments of that era and were close enough detail for me. Callie also offers instrument faces that can be glued onto the back of the instrument board. They don't have one specifically for the P-47, but her flight instruments (those used for flying the aircraft) are close enough to the P-47 that her P-51 instruments are. I just looked at the cockpit of my Penrod and Sam, my most recent P-47 now 3 years old, and they look pretty acceptable to me.

You might find some on the internet and reduce them to the proper size. That might be a good alternative to the stock decals that come with the airplane. I might do the same thing with mine when I get to that point with Hairless Joe.

All the cockpit details are looking great. I am (we all are) enjoying following your progress on your model. The paper seat belt/shoulder harnesses that I included in your package are your choice to add them or not, but I really like the finished look of my cockpits with the pilots looking like they are really "strapped in" for combat! There might be some vendors that make like 1/8 scale seat belts and shoulder hanresses in cloth or stamped metal that can be painted to look real.

Nice surgery on the canopy/windscreen! Pays to have a steady hand and a sharp razor saw! I'll be doing the same with my bubble top canopy when it comes back to me some day. I'm still convinced that having a slidable and open canopy for the judges will score points when they see all the detials you are adding, not to mention a very lifelike Bob Johnson at the controls!

Press On, my man!

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

There's a 1500 p 47 FM's here but likely shipping to be drugmoney

Thanks, Craig. I just scored one that comes out of France somewhere. It is on its way. I have to pay $100 FedEX shipping to my house in Wyoming, but well worth it, to me. I found very few for sale online, and those that were available were more than I wanted to pay. So, for now, I have it covered. I can continue my project to completion, hopefully.

Cheers

davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,
I am planning to add harness and seat belts. I copied your seat belts/harness on photo paper to see the difference. Both look good. My wife wants to try making some cloth ones, she has some fine material that has the real look of the real ones. Time will tell which ones I use.
Glad you scored a new kit. I can't wait to see your creation.
Trying to finish the P-47 so I can concentrate on the Phantom.
Tried the baby powder/tape on touching up some dents in the belly tank. Works like a charm. Smells good too.
Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Davegee,
I am planning to add harness and seat belts. I copied your seat belts/harness on photo paper to see the difference. Both look good. My wife wants to try making some cloth ones, she has some fine material that has the real look of the real ones. Time will tell which ones I use.
Glad you scored a new kit. I can't wait to see your creation.
Trying to finish the P-47 so I can concentrate on the Phantom.
Tried the baby powder/tape on touching up some dents in the belly tank. Works like a charm. Smells good too.
Best Regards, Rex

Sounds good, Rex. I heartily endorse the detail of scale seat belts and shoulder harnesses. I think anything you add that looks scale will be a helpful scale addition.

How far along are you on the Phantom? April will be here before you know it, but I think you have adequate time at this point to get everything finished without rushing it, and the time to think through details that might need some time to arrive at a successful conclusion.

I am looking forward to hearing of the trip to Toledo and the swap meet and show. I remember Toledo fondly. It was at the Toledo Express airport in early 1979 that a bunch of us flew from Detroit Ypsilanti airport to Toledo in a DC-8 freighter and did a ton of takeoffs and landings as part of our checkout. It was quite a thrill for a low-time pilot like me to get into the seat of a 300K pound capable aircraft and driving it around the sky! I'll never forget that day. At a low gross weight like what we were that day, it was like a Rocket!

Cheers

davegee

[davegee]

deleted by author

[jetfool]

Davegee,
The phantom is coming a long tho slowly. Elbees 3d scale parts are almost all added and the HS kids are printing the centerline fuel tank/ladders. I have my FS # latex paint waiting. Need to get Callies graphics/ stencils ordered. I have been filing/ sanding non scale manf. lines and will add some more scale panel lines before paint Going to order another cockpit/canopy from Motion to try an open static display. I think end of Jan. the Phantom will be on the big bench and all the prep work I have been doing the process will proceed quickly. The scale cockpit is almost all painted. Since Feb. is always the longest month for me (cold,dweary out) I will spend most hours on this. Wife understands and is encouraging on my addiction with my hobby.
I miss real flying, only private license. Your adventures in your career must have been thrilling to fly those large/heavy aircraft.
Best Regards, Rex

[jetfool]

Davegee,
The phantom is coming a long tho slowly. Elbees 3d scale parts are almost all added and the HS kids are printing the centerline fuel tank/ladders. I have my FS # latex paint waiting. Need to get Callies graphics/ stencils ordered. I have been filing/ sanding non scale manf. lines and will add some more scale panel lines before paint Going to order another cockpit/canopy from Motion to try an open static display. I think end of Jan. the Phantom will be on the big bench and all the prep work I have been doing the process will proceed quickly. The scale cockpit is almost all painted. Since Feb. is always the longest month for me (cold,dweary out) I will spend most hours on this. Wife understands and is encouraging on my addiction with my hobby.
I miss real flying, only private license. Your adventures in your career must have been thrilling to fly those large/heavy aircraft.
Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Davegee,
The phantom is coming a long tho slowly. Elbees 3d scale parts are almost all added and the HS kids are printing the centerline fuel tank/ladders. I have my FS # latex paint waiting. Need to get Callies graphics/ stencils ordered. I have been filing/ sanding non scale manf. lines and will add some more scale panel lines before paint Going to order another cockpit/canopy from Motion to try an open static display. I think end of Jan. the Phantom will be on the big bench and all the prep work I have been doing the process will proceed quickly. The scale cockpit is almost all painted. Since Feb. is always the longest month for me (cold,dweary out) I will spend most hours on this. Wife understands and is encouraging on my addiction with my hobby.
I miss real flying, only private license. Your adventures in your career must have been thrilling to fly those large/heavy aircraft.
Best Regards, Rex

Sounds like you are methodically getting the work done to have the models completed with a margin of extra time if something unplanned happens that you need to do a last minute repair or something. Hopefully that won't happen and you can breathe easier as you await the time you'll head out to Toledo for the show.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Bob finally came back from R&R and is trying out the cockpit as the mechanics are assembling plane back together.
I think the headrest is to long so will re size
seat needs to be higher in my real photos
need an another 7/8" of legroom so Bobs feet will fit, test fit will allow room underneath with 1/4" clearance
Dan, Bob said to tell his buddies he will be back on flightline soon, looking forward to hearing their stories
Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Bob finally came back from R&R and is trying out the cockpit as the mechanics are assembling plane back together.
I think the headrest is to long so will re size
seat needs to be higher in my real photos
need an another 7/8" of legroom so Bobs feet will fit, test fit will allow room underneath with 1/4" clearance
Dan, Bob said to tell his buddies he will be back on flightline soon, looking forward to hearing their stories
Best Regards, Rex

Looks good, Rex. I concur on the headrest. The way you made it is great, just too large. You probably have a photo of a pilot in the real cockpit that shows the headrest, too. You can scale it down from there. Let me know if you need a photo of that, I probably have one I can email you. If you need to move the seat and frame up some, when you reduce the size of the headrest and maybe move it up some on the back wall, that should help to get the clearance that you need. Worst case, you could "surgically" remove his feet, but I hope we don't have to do that. I didn't on my pilot who is the same size and print. He seems to fit in there fine after I lowered the floor 1/2 inch like you did on yours.

Regarding the fit of the pilot, you can play around with the chair angle some to get him to fit. I think I also angled my pilot forward in the seat to have enough room for his feet to fit. In other words, slid his butt forward some so it helped with the legroom and footroom in the cockpit.

If need be, you can raise Bob up on a small block of wood to make him sit higher in the cockpit. After all, they were sitting on a parachure and liferaft which would have raised them up in the bucket seat some.

The photos are publicity shots of the pilots in their seat and they have the seat jacked up as high as possible for hte pic. They would not have flown this way, but some pics I'm looking at the pilot's head is pretty high, almost touching the canopy when the canopy is closed. So, you have some leeway to get him to fit properly in the seat. There are lots of possibilities to getting 'ol Bob in the seat again!

Looks splendid, though, really coming along!

Davegee

[jetfool]

Still working on Bob sitting in the correct position per my documentation. Getting Bob and seat position to floorboard. I added 3/4" more to the sidewall depth and cut a 1/4"X1 1/4" wood dowel rod that sits underneath the seat to floorboard to align to back former. Bob now clears everything underneath floorboard, and he gets to keep his feet. I added a 5/16X5/8" square balsa spacer to get the control stick positioned.
Dave when you print your stick for the bubble top add 5/16" length to it.
Cut out the harness/ seat belt and started on the harness, not in the correct position yet but getting things figured out before install. I think these details will look pretty good.

6 degrees out so a good day in the shop.
Best Regards, Rex