Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Hello everyone... With my RF-4B Phantom shelved due to unforeseen circumstances. I decided to go dig in my stash. I found three Kits that would fall under the rules, though two of them are slated for the Corsair STGB. That left this kit, Monograms classic P-47D Thunderbolt from 1983. I first built this very kit in junior high about the time it came out in this boxing, so ‘83-‘84. I would build three more of these before I was 21. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/monogram-6838-thunderbolt-p-47d--159066 I found this kit by chance last November at the one local swap meet here in Chicago and grabbed it. A gentleman was selling his late fathers collection. I grabbed two kits this one and the Monogram P-51B for a total of $7. Both were bagged kits this one still in a shrink wrapped box. So for the obligatory sprue photos. Now the kit is not difficult as its only about 40 pieces total. Here are the Kit Markings, “The Turtle #10 509th Fs., 405th Fg, 9th USAAF based somewhere in France summer 1944. The other option are these two Jugs. These are also from the same 405th Fg. The 509th and 510 Fs. I have a fourth and fifth option but would need custom decals printed for that plane, and it would be from the 12th A.F. 57th Fg. in Italy. If I can find someone to make them for me it would definitely move up to the front. The last one would be to cobble the markings to make a RAF Thunderbolt II from the CBI Theatre. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, and or thoughts. Dennis 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Great to see that your Phantom hasn't beaten you Dennis! And what a fantastic choice, who doesn't love a Thunderbolt! I've never built the Monogram kit but it looks to be the same quality as their P-51B which I have built and as such should go together without too much fuss. As for markings the Turtle wins for me every time, I've got an Aeromaster sheet with the same aircraft on it for a future build. Really looking forward to seeing this one go together mate. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) Great choice 👍! built one of these a wee while back and it was great fun 😀 I hope this one goes better for you than the Phantom. . All the best Greg Edited May 4, 2020 by GREG DESTEC Spelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Very nice indeed. I haven't built many P-47s over the years but I did have the razorback version of this in a double pack with the Do-335. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Classic plastic - good to see it being built rather than left on the shelf as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Can't go wrong with a classic Monogram Dennis,memories time..........way back early seventies the modelling staple was Airfix and Revell even then the larger kits were birthday and Christmas only,my friend was DC comic mad and although not my cup of tea I used to look in awe of the model kits advertised of aircraft mostly I'd never seen or heard of I suppose Aurora,Renwall and Revell US in origin, it was maybe as late as the early eighties that I came across Monogram 1/48 scale by way off a shop selling pre-owned kit's at sensible prices I remember it being the Grumman Avenger,favourite has to be the Devastator though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 Great Dennis. Hopefully this one is a better fit than the phantom. I don’t think you can lose with any scheme on a jug 😎 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted May 4, 2020 Share Posted May 4, 2020 9 hours ago, stevej60 said: Can't go wrong with a classic Monogram Dennis Exactly what I was thinking! Good luck with this one Dennis, I'm sure it'll be a different story. Shame about the Phantom, but there's a reason I've only made one Hasegawa kit in my entire life! Alan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 4, 2020 Author Share Posted May 4, 2020 3 hours ago, Alan P said: there's a reason I've only made one Hasegawa kit in my entire life! Hasegawa to be fair make better kits of WW2 subjects (except the P-51D Mustang), shivers at the memories of that build. The Modern Jets like Harriers, Tomcats, and Hornets are nightmares. Ive had nothing but problems with them (displays nervous ticks). Though I’ve built two Hasegawa phantoms both the same scale and had no issues what so ever. The difference in my opinion is the mold for the RF removes a section of the lower nose. This is replaced of course with clear panels for the cameras. I think by doing this caused the molds to warp or shrink ? When i went to mount the cockpit it was wide by way to much. I would have had to remove a good chunk of detail on both sides to get it to fit. My RF-4B will get built, but i think I will do what my buddy did years ago to get his RF-4C. Im going to use the standard B/N kit and graft the appropriate camera nose and bits onto it. Maybe I’ll use a Hasegawa kit or an possibly an Academy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 So its down to three sets of markings now, The Turtle #10, RAF 73 OTU Black with Red Lightning flash, and RAF NMF SEAC. Though the Turtle is definitely leading in the race. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 (edited) Hello everyone... Looks like it will be “The Turtle no.10” as my build. A bit of quick history of the 405th Fg. from wikipedia. “The 509th helped prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, by striking military airfields, and lines of communication, particularly bridges and railroad marshalling yards. On D-Day, it flew combat patrols in the vicinity of Brest, France, and in the following days flew armed reconnaissance missions over Normandy.[3] Toward the end of June, the squadron moved to Picauville Airfield, France, and for the rest of the war concentrated on providing close air support for ground forces. It supported Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo in July with attacks on military vehicles and artillery positions. The squadron engaged and destroyed a German armored column near Avranches, France on 29 July 1944. After immobilizing leading and trailing elements of the 3-mile (4.8 km) long column, the rest of the tanks and trucks were systematically destroyed with multiple sorties.[4] Its operations from D-Day through September 1944 supporting the liberation of Belgium earned the squadron a citation in the Order of the Day of the Belgian Army. The squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 24 September 1944 when the 4th Armored Division experienced a counterattack by enemy forces and urgently needed air support. Elements of the 405th Group attacked the enemy armor despite an 800-foot ceiling that forced attacks to be made from low level in the face of intense flak.” I should be able to start this up in a day or two. I found some info tonight which may alter the scheme a bit on this but not to bad. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, or add thoughts. Dennis Edited May 5, 2020 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 5, 2020 Share Posted May 5, 2020 Great choice of markings Dennis, looking forward to your Turtle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share Posted May 5, 2020 Evening everyone... If you’ve built any of the classic Monogram kits, then you know they don't have 400pcs. They build up fairly quickly and you can get many steps done in one sitting. I knocked out the first 5 steps today which brings us to closure of the two fuselage halves. the engine is completely painted and is just pressed in for photo’s. I still need to paint the interior of the cowling and supercharger intake. Does anyone have a straight answer on that BTW ? Over the years I've seen aluminum, ZCY, and Interior green on the inside of cowlings on Jugs. All in original B&W and color photo’s. I re-used the Phantom’s rudder pedals on this. Please feel free to ask any questions, post comments, and add thoughts. Dennis 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Great choice Dennis, looks like a proper classic kit. Looking forward to this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Great looking cockpit dennis, for a kit that harks back to the mid 60s that must have been state of the art ,can still hold its own today 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 6, 2020 Author Share Posted May 6, 2020 (edited) Built up the wings tonight and once they were set mocked up the whole aircraft. I also drilled out the IFF lights on the lower wing. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, and or thoughts. Dennis Found this kool video of the 509th. https://youtu.be/K3gTi5F-sA4 https://youtu.be/bXNhiFPZtwU Edited May 6, 2020 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 6, 2020 Share Posted May 6, 2020 Some very good work Dennis, she has come together very nicely and very quickly too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 8, 2020 Author Share Posted May 8, 2020 Good morning everyone... Pulled an all nighter here to do some work. I mounted the wings and stabs today, and then tried a new technique for filling. I've read about this but haven't tried it until today. I took tamiya white filler and added a good amount of Lacquer thinner to it. After a few minutes it became a nice smooth paste, its supposed to be a poor-mans substitute for PPP. Surprisingly it worked quite nicely. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, and add thoughts. Dennis 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dansk Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Looks like it worked a treat. 👍 my that psychedelic patterned silver plastic is so old school cool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 I think your putty has worked a treat Dennis, looking good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted May 8, 2020 Share Posted May 8, 2020 Looking like good progress, Dennis. Mine is on the home straight now that I have been gifted some missing parts most especially the transparencies for the canopy and screen. They are Academy parts but they fit well once those grooves in the top of the fuselage are built up. One thing Monogram omitted is an intake in the leading edge of the starboard wing that you may want to drill out. Mine was moulded in dark brown plastic and the instructions look older than your "fancy modern" version 😅 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 9, 2020 Author Share Posted May 9, 2020 Evening everyone... Well shes ready for paint. Now as @rob Lyttle pointed out the leading edge of the right wing has an intake thats oval in shape. And Monogram did neglect to add this feature, so I did. Please feel free to ask questions, post comments, and or add thoughts. Dennis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Nice work Dennis and really good to see that your P-47 has gone together a lot easier than your RF-4B. Paint next, excellent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted May 10, 2020 Share Posted May 10, 2020 Coming along nicely! I like the cockpit. I haven’t ever built a Monogram kit until I built the X-15 last year, when I realised I’ve been missing out! Looking forward to the rest of this. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted May 11, 2020 Author Share Posted May 11, 2020 Hello everyone.... Busy weekend with family for celebrating of Mother's day. Which didn't leave a lot of time for modeling. I sprayed my two Mk.VIII Spitfires the respective green camouflage colors today. When i had sone left over RAF Dk.green i sprayed the seems down on this. Everything looks good so should get into paint in a few days. Sadly We are taking our last dog to the vet tomorrow. He's a 17 year old Chihuahua that has slowly faded after he lost his brother my 15 year old Pug in February. He doesn't seem to have the will to go on and refuses to eat. Please feel free to ask questions, post thoughts, and or add thoughts. Dennis 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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