P-47 Thunderbolt "The Milk Jug" 1-33 [Marek redesigns]

[airdave]

I'm giving up on Mustangs for a while!
I am P-51ed out!

I will continue the Mustang Updates thread and continue to work on mods, updates and fixes for my models
but I need a break from painting Mustangs!!

As a result of a repaint request, I am focusing on the P-47 Thunderbolt!



Specifically, Marek has a couple of older kits available through ecardmodels that I am working with.
I have a number of paint schemes already in mind,
might even try a "Rare and Unusual" series again?

1/33 is the new scale
and don't worry...I have already begun redesign and modification of a number of areas and parts in the original kits!
I've also got a few plans for add-ons, like a cockpit, wing tanks and armaments...but those are later projects.

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I have looked through the forums, and can't seem to find a single post regarding a Marek P-47.
Are there any builds out there?

And although I'm sure any of you have tried a Marek P-47 will have a number of comments, please don't drown me with negative criticisms here
but please share some of your ideas and concerns (if you have any)
Any suggestions on how I can improve the kits (if necessary) need to be posted.

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I have a few repaints ideas in mind, already working on the first plane,
and I am really wanting to focus on some of the many "pin-up" noseart designs...(haha "jugs" on "jugs"!)
are there any specific "Jugs" that you are interested in?

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heres some unfinished artwork from the first repaint

[ct ertz]

Oh cool! The Thunderbolt is one of my favorite planes! 8-50s firering at once must have about made the plane come to a stand still in the air!

I have been working on my MEs for so long I have not gotten to any thunderbolts yet. I will though.

Off to ecardmodels to buy a starter kit for the Thunderbolts...

CT

[member_3]

Great news, Dave! I look forward to your take on the Jug, especially in 1:33. I will put forth an unsolicited suggestion...please do at least a full-blown fuselage test build before publishing to hopefully avoid the P-51 and Spitfire problems. I just did a complete resizing of the formers for Marek's P-26A so the fuselage could actually be built! The P-47 deserves a great "launching" and I know you are the man to do it!

[cgutzmer]

ooohhhh sweetness you da man!

[airdave]

As I am repainting and redesigning, I have already built two sections of the fuselage
to test fits and modifications.

I also have another member currently in the middle of a full Marek P-47 build (and he will build this first repaint)
and he is reporting to me his progress,
and I am making mods and changes per his suggestions,
and he is test building all my new parts!

As I said, I am making an effort to work out some of the already existing kinks in this kit!

Don't worry, I will be detailing all the changes, mods and refits.

On that note, Marek formers are always an issue...we know that...and the P-47 is getting an across the board (fuselage) former upsize.
We have only found a couple of misfitting formers so far, but a 101% increase will allow for the necessary sanding/shaping of the fuselage formers to get the best fit.

[cgutzmer]

Are these butt join type formers or insert back a litle bit and join the sections with paper strips? If its butt join would you mind converting to the friendlier method (well at least in my opinion)
Chris

[cjwalas]

Glad to see this, Dave. Big fan of the jug and I can't wait to see your repaints. I'd love to see something in invasion stripes!
Chris
PS. What Chris said. I think Marek's kits benefit a lot from switching over to formers and stringers.

[Texman]

Tarheel Hal is always a popular and colorful T-bolt.

[cjwalas]

How about this one, America's top ace in Europe, Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski,

Chris

[member_3]

Good news on the test builds. I had to adjust the sizes of the formers for the P-26A anywhere from 101% to 106%!! If I had it to do all over again (oh wait...I do) I would convert the fuselage to single bulkhead/joiner strip construction (1BJS) as opposed to the original double bulkhead butt joint (2BBJ) style. In my P-26 models I added a page with the "adjusted" formers and left the originals also with appropriate notes. I'm not sure that was necessary but it gives the builder an appreciation of how "challenging" many of the early (pre-2008) Mareks can be. I am eagerly awaiting your models, especially if you include some Pacific theater T-bolts.