P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback
The aircraft itself doesn't need to be introduced in very detail. Big radial engine, 8 guns, superb speed and thoughness, this is the real workhorse designed to deal with heavy damage and spread a panic inside the enemy's formation... Unlike the pilots, I personally prefer the Razorback version before the bubble as the more attractive one.
This excellent Tamiya kit in 1:72 scale was real fun to build. As all worries from getting parts together were away, I could focus my attention to final painting and weathering. I decided to use salt method to show a light wear of the surface. I also tried new method to get dirty cowling and fuselage as it can be found in many photos of almost all wardbirds. I simply used tamiya weathering set - black powder and my finger to make streaks (the surface was coated with lacquer before).
To improve the kit I just changed plastic guns to injection needles and plastic pitot tube also to injection needles made from two different diameters.
8 additional images. Click to enlarge.
An excellent rendition, Martin...I thought for sure it was a 48th scale kit when first I saw the photos (which are very good, by the way). I agree with your two opinions as well - I, too, prefer the razorback version from an aesthetic viewpoint and being a Tamiya kit - well...you can't go wrong there, either.
Stellar workmanship in your detailing effort(s), sir. Beautiful job indeed.
This kit in 1/72 is difficult to catch in detail. Nice work here.
Beautiful Thunderbolt Martin, great finish, I think you got the panel lines and weathering just right. I've always loved the raw brute power of the Razorback but I must admit that for me, the Bubbletop P-47 is the most beautiful U.S. fighter of the war.
You caught the Jug rather well in this scale Martin.
Well done sir.
Your P-47 rocks! Well done! The Razorback is also my firm favourite!
Sterling effort, Martin. It's hard to believe that it's 1/72. Like Craig, I agree with you that the razorback is the more interesting looking variant, although not the best for checking six o'clock of course 😉
An almost perfect presentation of a truly great WWII fighter.The 1/72 scale
is not too easy to archive this ! A bubbletop would be very nice from you too.
Great work, Martin!
Best regards, Vlad.
Very nice. Great job.
Great job Martin. Like Craig, I thought for sure this was 1/48 before reading your text. Very well done paint job, and I like the bazooka tubes! I can only hope I can do the same justice on a 1/48 razorback at some point.
Very nice job on this Thund, bravo
Eric
I am 1/72-only (well, almost...) and I know a masterpiece when I see it: that's one absolutely great Thunderbolt! I like every aspect of it : weathering and how it conveys that detailed look that I always strive for, paintwork and choice of markings. Complimenting on the build is borderline to an insult considering the quality of the kit :-)!
Regards Magnus
Yes what a superb rendering of this classic; grasping that you did it in 1/72 scale is difficult for me - TERRIFIC and congratlation!
Very nice job, on such a small scale! NICE!
Best regards;
Ulrich
Hello Martin...I want to echo what's been said about your 1/72nd Razorback Thunderbolt build...Very nicely done...one of the best I've seen in that smaller scale. Absolutely beautiful.
I'm not sure which version of this aircraft that I prefer, but this one really looks the business, especially so in 1/72.
Thank you all! 🙂 I am starting new kit, which I look forward to more than one year - Warburton's Martin Maryland model 167. I am really hungry for its heavy wear outlook and finally thanks to AK Interactive I have also the tool to do it properly.
1/72? Wow!
Very nice! Excellent finish, and tastefully weathered.
Martin,
Boated praise on your work ith his model.