P-47B
Here's my early P-47B from Dora Wings in 1:48 I finished awhile back and just got around to taking some photos. This is one of their better kits in my opinion, everything fit well except the top and bottom wings at the wing root. The wheel well structure stood too tall and created a gap at the leading edges. I filed and sanded the top of the structure until the leading edges mated. During dry fitting, I found the stub that protruded from the front of the wheel well did not want to fit into the fuselage. In the process of fixing that and dry fitting the wing to fuselage, I managed to break off both spars from the fuselage. No problem, I glued the spars in the assembled wings, and the wings mated to the fuselage perfectly with no gaps. So I attached them with CA glue. Then I discovered that the dihedral was off without the spars to help with alignment. So much for the perfect fit! Too late, I'll have to live with it. As usual, most problems during my builds are self-induced. I added Eduard seat belts and harness, wired the engine, added brake lines, and used some gun barrels from a Tamiya kit so I wouldn't have to drill out the kit barrels. I replaced the kit tail wheel with one I modified from my junk drawer, as the kit tailwheel was too delicate to withstand looking at it too hard. I painted it with some Model Master OD and NG I had left over. I wanted the early markings but didn't want the markings for "Lucky 7", so I changed the serial number on the tail to 15900 instead of 15901. Now I need to get their P-47C.
Great model & photography!
Very nice looking early T-bolt. It almost makes me want to open up the kit and start building (meanwhile ignoring the 4 I have to finish.)
I know what you mean about self-induced problems. I list myself as the biggest problem any model here has to overcome. Most recently a Hasegawa F-4G into which I tried to fit an #$#@@! Aires resin cockpit. Now I can list myself as a member of the modeling crowd who have been stupid enough to attempt that. It's in, with the forward fuselage having a twist from left to right as a result of about 1/32 inch or so, just enough to be noticeable viewed head on. Still trying to decide if I can live with it.
Tom (@tcinla), I spent last evening looking at the Aires cockpit for the Hobby Boss FJ-4B Fury, comparing it to the kit cockpit and came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the effort to fit the Aires cockpit. Instead, I will "borrow" the IP and forward center console as well as the PE seatbelts to add to the HB cockpit. This avoids a lot of headaches trying to get the Aires cockpit to fit both in the fuselage and with the nose gear well and the intake trunk.
I am also the bigger problem my builds have to overcome, Chas! Apart from the dihedral, your job is outstanding!
You did wonderful on this early Thunderbolt, Chas @chasbunch
The only way to not cause issues is to not build the model.
I always say that if you had no issues during the build, you didn't challenge yourself enough.
You did a great build of your early model Thunderbolt. Looks fantastic Chas!
Looks great, Chas, I think you’ll have to live with the dihedral problem.
Self induced...self fixed...self accomplished. If "self" is happy with it at the end, that's all that matters.
Great build and pics.
Beautifully done. Looks like it's older brother P-43 in that livery.
That is a beauty, Chas @chasbunch! 👏
Really fine work Chas!
Wonderful project - don't see many B's (or C's) done!
The P-47 is my second favorite WW2 fighter. It's amazing how many great P-47 kits are being produced now, along with some of the prototype conversations!
Your B model looks great, top notch work Chas! As usual. 😉
The B Bolt still looks great Chas (@chasbunch). I look at Dora Wings kits as an opportunity to have some different aircraft that otherwise would have to be scratched, converted, or built up from older (and even more problematical) kits. Admittedly, I haven't actually built one yet, but they certainly can't be any worse than other kits I have built (i.e. Classic Airframes P-43 Lancer).
Thanks, Carl. Yeah, Dora isn't quite Eduard, but they leave my Classic Airframes builds in the rearview mirror. Good example is the P-43. They seem to be getting better with each new release.
Thanks for the comments, everyone!
Looks awesome, Chas!
Again a very good model. I like it.