P-47D Elsie

1
February 9, 2021
Since I cannot paint at the moment, I opened up this build by fixing the nose cowl, following Mr Soyuyo's build here soyuyo.main.jp/p47/p47-1a.html. Widened 1.2mm at the top and .8 at the bottom, +.2 ring around the periphery. In retrospect, there's probably no need for so much epoxy putty on the inside.
2
February 9, 2021
I also started on a long journey trying to learn how to rivet stuff. After failing with a riveting wheel, I tried a swiss beading tool and like the technique and result much more. Some sink marks had to be dealt with on the stabs.
3
March 14, 2021
95% done 🙂 Sprue goo works well to fix mistakes. Used a #1 tool, perhaps a #0 would be more in scale, will try that next time.
4
May 1, 2021
Cockpit almost done, with minimal scratching. Used the kit IP rather than the awfully flat Yahu dashboard.
5
May 1, 2021
Pondering whether it's worth cabling this.
6
May 11, 2021
Belts and ignition cabling done.
7
May 11, 2021
Instrument panel done (here next to a P-51d Look+ Eduard panel, both with a matte coat and UV resin for windows).
8
May 11, 2021
ABT Brown wash applied to the HGW belts, not a fan, will go a lighter shade next time.
9
May 19, 2021
ID and nav lights done. Fuselage is also assembled and awaiting some re-riveting before I can put on the wings.
10
May 21, 2021
And the wings are on!
11
May 24, 2021
Exhaust valves redone with card and sprue. A bit rough but that'll do.
12
May 24, 2021
Glued and mated the flaps, riveted the tailplane and gear doors.
13
July 20, 2021
Mr. Hobby SM201 shot straight over plastic. Sanded back a bit with a 3000 sponge to try and soften the riveting, then worked around with SM203, SM206, stencils and tape. I experienced some minor paint lifting while unsmasking the underside panels, hoping that won't become an issue while working the antiglare. Which I'm still unsure how to tackle, kinda wary of the decals for the red filet.
14
July 21, 2021
After some careful masking, trying to match the layout from pictures and using decals as templates, I sprayed some XF-7 along the lines.
Cut some .6mm stripes for the filets using the AK cutting board for the first time. You really need a new blade for a clean cut, and it might be better to go maybe .1mm smaller than the needed size, because some of the tape bends down into the gorge during the cut.
15
July 21, 2021
Sprayed XF-69 and XF-85 for the black. Masked the cockpit aft deck and those YZC remnants using the canopy as a template. I couldn't find any info so I assumed the deck would have been olive drab.
16
July 21, 2021
Also sprayed the invasion stripes, got some overspray and paint lifting, nothing too hard to fix.
17
July 21, 2021
Looking good. Will probably need to tweak the nose filets with a brush and enamels once the round nose decals are on.
18
August 7, 2021
Decaling started after a few touch-ups. Decals need some work but they're doing ok and the film is nearly invisible.
19
August 17, 2021
Quite a few little tasks done. Decals settled reasonably well, except for one stencil which silvered a bit. Trying panel line mixes on the underside, this is still a bit too dark.
20
August 24, 2021
Getting there. Main assembly is done, but after a quick photoshoot, I found a few things I want to adjust.
21
August 29, 2021
22
August 29, 2021
23
August 29, 2021
24
August 29, 2021
25
June 13, 2022
New photo background test.

Comments

37 9 February 2021, 07:37

Mathieu
J'aime beaucoup !! Justement concernant le sujet choisi, Il se trouve que j'ai fais quelques recherches sur ce fighter group il y'a peu. Une chose m'a interloqué, ce serial number correspond à une machine commandée en 1942, époque où il n'y avait que des razorback en circulation. Je suis donc resté interloqué. Une idée?
Salutations amicales.
Mathieu

19 May 2021, 19:13

Pierre
Hello,
Je ne suis pas expert, mais après une recherche rapide, 42-27234 est bien un D-27-RE de 44, cf. p-47.database.pagesp..atabase/42-2xxxx.htm

Peut-être as-tu cherché 22723 ? L'USAF zappe souvent des chiffres du serial sur les tailcodes, même encore de nos jours, ce qui prête souvent à confusion.

19 May 2021, 20:26

Mathieu
Ha merci pour la reponse. Non je n'ai pas cherché j'avoue, je documentais sur un autre appareil du meme FG, Razorback en l'occurence, et dont le serial passe apres celui ci. Je suis tombé sur la meme photo que la banniere de ton album, j'ai été intirgué par le serial, et j'ai continué sur mon sujet. Ce qui m'a interpellé c'est que les 2 premiers chiffre (dont le premier qui n'est pas affiché sur la derive) correspondent a l'année de la commande, 1942 en l'occurence. Du coup un Bubbletop commandé en 42 c'etait pas tres logique. Ca doit venir d'une commande non honnorée en 42, dont les serials ont ete reattribués.
Merci pour le lien en tout cas, tres instructif, j'y retournerai !

19 May 2021, 20:37

Pierre
Je comprend mieux! Si tu trouves une explication sur ces retards de livraison, je suis preneur, mais je ne tomberai pas dans le piège de la recherche documentaire, sinon je n'avancerai jamais sur la maquette 🙂

19 May 2021, 21:28

Steve Desarzens
superbe projet ! Bravo pour le travail 🙂

25 May 2021, 16:27

Pierre
Merci !

25 May 2021, 20:15

Never a Pro
Hi Pierre. Awesome build. How did you aligned the rivets and spaced them so nicely, if you punctured each of them manually?

17 August 2021, 21:29

Pierre
Thanks guys!

I used HiQParts guide tape to align rivets, which is like a softer Dymo tape, then once I got the hang of it, Tamiya tape was enough and you can even follow panel lines freehand easily (i.e. landing gear doors and tail were freehanded).
The spacing was eyeballed. It's consistent enough that the eye thinks it's perfect, but don't look at it too closely 🙂

18 August 2021, 07:18