P-47D Torrid Tessie

[The Orange]

Hello!

Rant/Intro

I'm on a Thunderbolt fix, and I've been eying Mr. Griffin's P-47D and its metal textures for a while now, so I've decided to try my hand at it.
I am loving the graphics on this model and I've recently begun on the formers. The model design is wonderful!

One little personal preference is that I wish this model included more diagrams than just the General plan for 1 page.
Again, not too much of a problem just a preference.

For any future builders of this model, I'll be documenting my build almost step by step as a means to display the long text block instructions as images.


Picture 1
Here are the formers for the fuselage all cut out and sanded. One thing I found interesting was that the hole in the middle of each former, is referred to as a "lightning hole" by the instructions. I have never known that!



I'll be building the model using the 'strip' method rather than the Former-to-Former method, so I didn't print a copy of the fuselage formers.
*The model is designed for Former-to-Former construction as stated by the instructions.

[GreMir]

And now I know who you are
Good beginning and hope to see more photos soon.

[The Orange]

Yup!
Thank you, and I must say I am in love with the scaling aspect of DataViewer. Scaling has never been so easy!

Inquiry (Picture 1)


Does anyone know what type of cockpit this is, or have any reference pictures to it? I've been hunting for a while now, and all I've found are P-47 cockpits with corrugated floors. The cockpit provided with this model is distinct compared to other P-47 cockpits I've seen. Anyone?

[DeadlyTedly]

I believe the author meant "lightening holes" as in, holes to make lighter in weight.

[The Orange]

Doh! You are correct DeadlyTedly, looks like I was reading too quick!
Nonetheless, I've never seen those holes referred to as such until now.

[The Orange]

Alright, moving right along!
I truly am loving these graphics! It's a shame
that my camera doesn't do it justice.

I forgot to add earlier that I scaled this model down to 1:33 rather
than the 1:24 the model comes originally scaled as.

Pictures/Narration
Picture 1
Parts F1 through F7 cut and laid out. I still have to go back to cut out elements from F4 and F6.

Picture 2
F3 - Just showing some of the amazing textures, I wish I had a better
camera to take these!

Picture 3
F1/F2 - Same as above, more displaying of the textures.

More updates to come!

[The Orange]

Still hunting for that cockpit information
I have found some similar cockpits but all of them are from plastic kits,
no restorations or from the true aircraft.

Not much to report, almost near to the same information as the last update with some minor changes.

Pictures/Narration
Picture 1
Truth be told, I was wondering my pictures had 'fuzzy' quality
ever since I made my camera switch from my old Kodak
Easyshare Z650 (old and decrepit) as compared to my
Sony HDR-CX110. So, I took up my old camera and decided
to compare it to the Sony's picture quality. Here is F1 through
F7 with all components cut as per the instructions.

Picture 2
Same as picture 1, camera and all, just with flash. (I know! Flash! )

Picture 3
HDR-CX110 for this picture, same parts as pictures 1 and 2.

Picture 4
HDR-CX110 - The instructions I believe tell that the
outlined area (which I've cut out as shown, hence the
lack of a black space) is to be cut out after assembling
the fuselage section. Now I don't know about you all,
but I'm not too good with cutting up a piece that's been already assembled, so I've opted to cut the area out prior to assembly.
It's worked for me before on the Mustang, so I decided why not!

Picture 5
HDR-CX110 - Oh! These little buggers, as referred to by
the instructions as slits were troublesome. The Spar's Aft
and Forward wouldn't fit into the inside of the fuselage,
so I wasn't sure where to improvise (if I cut too high,
then the wing fairing would be too high, and if too low,
then wing fairing too low.) 3 reprints later, I decided to
begin the slit where marked at the top of each slit,
but cut just a bit lower than the original area where the slit ends.
I then tested one rib root along with the Spar's
and what do you know, the work out just alright!

Picture 6
HDR-CX110 - The instructions label the area cut out as the side exhaust.

Picture 7
HDR-CX110 - The instructions label this area as the tail
wheel doors that are to be cut out if displayed with landing gear.
(No doors present in the picture because they've already been cut).
I haven't sanded or edge colored so that curve
where the tail doors are located looks less than tasty!

If you read through all of that, pat on the back to ya. Hopefully this will help future builders.

As a note for the cameras, I've decided, after looking at the pictures, that I will opt to use mainly the Z650. The photos don't have that fuzzy look as compared to the HDR-CX110.

[The Orange]

Haven't gotten much work done I must admit,
and I've been working on the cockpit for 4 days!
(No breaks, save for the meals and sleep)
Half of the time I was searching for reference pictures
and to say the least, I think I've found a match!

So for those who've been wondering, I've been spending the build time for the instruments and elements of the cockpit.

Pictures/Narration
Picture 1
The instrument panel is composed of I3 and I4A/I4B panels.

I wanted to lay a punched out copy on top of the
instrument panel to simulate the panel glassing, but
my varieties of punches aren't sharp enough.

*A note for those who will build this or are, there are
some nifty side-view diagrams that show how certain
parts on the instrument panel are formed (I4A and I4B panels,
as well as the little panel off of I3). I didn't figure it out
until I went hunting for actual P-47 cockpits. What I
found interesting was that in all the pictures I found
of the P-47 and it's variants, none had a panel as
indicated by I4A.

Moving on, I also completed I8B, I8A and I8C, other
elements that attach to their indicated areas on F4.

Please pardon the uncolored edges of I8C, I did this
intentionally to illustrate the process of retouching
the edges meant for another forum.

Picture 2
What really sapped away time and caused me much
grief was the rudder pedals (I4A and I4B pedals).
I plan to put an adequate amount of detail into the
cockpit, much of which won't be provided from the
"out of the printer" kit. So, I decided to scratchbuild
elements of the pedals, and I'm slightly satisfied with how
they came out. If I wasn't so pressed for time of
completion, I would surely re-do them.

That's it for now, sorry for the long winded post(s)!

[Inky]

Hollie crap! That dash board panel looks so real, you do amazing work.

[Leif Ohlsson]

Second that! - L.