1/72 Tamiya P-47D Thunderbolt 

Razorback

by Eric Bade

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The conclusion of the report I wrote for ARC nearly two years ago about my 1/72nd Hasegawa and Academy Thunderbolts (see link below)  is that my next P-47 might be a Tamiya model. That finally is what happened. 

http://www.arcair.com/Gal4/3601-3700/gal3678_P-47_Bade/gal3678.htm

Although I was quite satisfied with my previous models, I must admit Tamiya is a completely different class. Shapes seem to be right, the stance of the model on its wheels is spot on, panel lines are nice and rich. More, I built my model almost straight out of the box and this had not happened in years.

The model 

All said above : it’s a gem  

Building 

Building was straightforward.  I obviously started with engine and cockpit.  Chance is that I had bought a Eduard pre-painted set, so I decided to use it for lines in the engine and instrument panel in the cockpit.  That’s it and I was not that necessary.  Rest is just a matter of gluing parts together and painting.  Oh yes, I  also added some brake lines on my main landing gears and that was it.

Cockpit was painted dark green – Will I say bronze green : I used FS34079.  I used the same colour on landing gears struts although wheel wells are zinc chromate.

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Painting and decalling 

My Academy Thunderbolt was OD/Gret so this one had to be NMF.  I also wanted some experience on metal finishes as I have built relatively few models with a silver skin.

The quality of this Tamiya model warrants a perfectly smooth finish that helped for NMF application.

I used Xtracolour paints : they dry very strong and very smooth. On the reverse side they do not come as shiny as most of the metallic paints on the market.  I therefore had to choose a well weathered Thunderbolt and decided the Hawaiian sun and sand would give me the excuse for dull NMF Thunderbolt.  I used Superscale sheet nr 72831 and chose aircraft #238 of the 78th FS/15th FG.

A light panel contrast was created with mixes of Xtracolour metallic hues.  Yellow and black squadron markings were also airbrushed

Decals followed then weathering began, this process was completed with the application of sand colored powder and matt varnish in very thin layers on the decals and selected panels.

 

I might be one of my easiest but most rewarding builds in recent years.  Now I know all my future P-47D models (Razorback or Bubbletop) will be Tamiya.  Now, if only they could release a P-47N one day!!

Eric

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Photos and text © by Eric Bade