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1:72 P-47 Deacon Dandy


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Seemingly unable to work on just one kit, I've added what I hope will be a quick side project to my task list for this GB.

 

The kit is Tamiya's excellent bubbletop thunderbolt. The subject is an 86th fighter squadron aircraft from February 1945 called Deacon Dandy.

 

In early 1945 the 86th operated over northern Italy, flying close air support and interdiction missions.

 

I have been unable to find much info on this specific airplane, but chose it because of the unique finish. The plane was entirely natural metal (even the cowling, unlike most P-47s) but featured a royal blue empennage with large yellow lightning bolts. Something I'd expect on a Ki-84, not a P-47.

 

I started with the cockpit, and wanted to give it that 90s look with a harsh contrast wash and dry brushing. 

 

IMG-20201006-220619.jpg

 

Everything is from the box, including the harnesses. I cut out the decal with it's backing paper and glued it to the seat after coloring the sides of the paper black, and then hitting everything with a clear flat coat.

 

IMG-20201007-212456.jpg

 

I'm going for a similar effect on my P-38 tomorrow.

 

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LookSorry for the lack of updates between the cockpit and now. Assembly was fairly straightforward, but I needed to use filler around the gun inserts and alongside the fuselage spine pieces where they meet the rest of the fuselage. Fit is good but not perfect. 

 

I still have some panels to rescribe and clean up. But I'm mostly on the right track.

 

IMG-20201011-220854.jpg

 

Question. On the real aircraft, was there a panel line around the guns in the area where the Tamiya piece fits into the rest of the wing?

 

IMG-20201011-221300-2.jpg

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29 minutes ago, SoftScience said:

Question. On the real aircraft, was there a panel line around the guns in the area where the Tamiya piece fits into the rest of the wing?

 

IMG-20201011-221300-2.jpg

Id say yes ... https://www.cybermodeler.com/aircraft/p-47/images/frouch_p-47_04.jpg

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Re: leading edge gun area

 

The Thunderbolt at the NMoUSAF even has it painted special. Here are some pics I've shot of various P-47s in museums and airshows. Hope they help you decide how much to emphasize on your build.

 

P-47D 45-49167 “Five by Five”

NMoUSAF 2018

P-47-5x5-NMoUSAF-2018-10-12-6984.jpg

 

P-47D 45-49295 Thunderbolt II

RAF Museum London 2008

P-47-RAF-London-2008-02-18-1018.jpg

 

P-47D-15RA 42-23278 “Fiery Ginger”

NMoUSAF 2018

P-47D-Razorback-NMoUSAF-2018-05-19-3047.

 

 

P-47D 45-49406 “Tallahassee Lassie”

Flying Heritage Collection 

P-47-Aviation-Day-2012-05-19-1299.JPG

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P-47-FHC-2016-06-25-5761.jpg

 

 

P-47D 44-90471 “Hairless Joe”

Erickson Collection, Madras 2017

P-47-Madras-2017-06-30-0986.jpg

 

 

P-47D 45-49346

Yanks Air Museum, Chino

P-47D-Yanks-2018-04-11-7400.jpg

 

YP-47M 42-27385

Yanks Air Museum, Chino

YP-47M-Yanks-2018-04-11-7166.jpg

 

 

 

Hope this help!

 

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi Dennis. 

I'm just unsure if the canopy frames should be aluminum or blue. I might make them blue just for interest. Some profiles also show the prop boss as red, others as blue.

 

Finally, i presume Med P-47s didnt have the two big stars on the bottom of the wings like NW Europe?

 

heres where I am right now.

 

PXL-20201101-011449416.jpg

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1 hour ago, Ol' Scrapiron said:

That is niiiiiiiice. Beautiful sheen to that silver.

 

I used Mr. Color super metallic 2 (SM 201) super fine silver and Mr. Color (8) silver. They're pretty great.

 

Probably the most idiot proof metallics I've ever come across.

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1 hour ago, SoftScience said:

Hi Dennis. 

I'm just unsure if the canopy frames should be aluminum or blue. I might make them blue just for interest. Some profiles also show the prop boss as red, others as blue.

 

Finally, i presume Med P-47s didnt have the two big stars on the bottom of the wings like NW Europe?

 

heres where I am right now.

 

PXL-20201101-011449416.jpg


 

Well you're in luck I did some serious digging and found a photo of “Deacon Dandy”. It was in this gallery. 

 

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/p47/

 

qkiY8VK.jpg

And a close up of your plane. 

 

exH6X3d.jpg

 

Judging on this photo canopy should be aluminum. Heres more from the same unit. 
YJREMZI.jpg

 

looks to be “Martha Darling” X92 has Aluminum also. As for the twin stars & bars no I dont think Ive ever seen one. My research pertains mostly to the 57th Fg in Italy. 

yTtwpNE.jpg
 

324th Fg

Wnvh5P6.jpg
 

 

Edited by Corsairfoxfouruncle
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5 minutes ago, SoftScience said:

What do you suppose that circular aperture is on the front of the hard point of Puny Pug?

My research says it was an armored strike camera, meant to protect the camera mounted on the front of the pylon from low flying shrapnel. My research also says its cut up bomb casing that they used. I had custom decals made up for “Puny Pug & Ay Chuhuahua” which are sister aircraft from the 57th. I will be doing a tandem build in the new year of both. And I will be adding the strike camera. I believe it is a concussion anti personnel bomb. 

Edited by Corsairfoxfouruncle
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Here are another type of cluster muntions on a P-47. nAkfFIb.jpg
 

YiqwPge.jpg

 

If I could figure out how to make them or maybe 3D print them they will go on my next build. As fir the other type, I think some plastic pipe/tube in a larger diameter with a piece of plastic for the flat plate. Then add the fins from a standard bomb would get you close to the M14 type. Or possibly 3D printing again ? 

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