P-47D - Finished

[Heavens Eagle]

Here is my choice for this year's MMM. Out of my stash a Tamiya P-47D. Straight out of the box. (yeah right, but I will try) No aftermarket stuff for this one. Here are the start photos as a place holder.

As I have been doing a fair amount of work with Alclad lately, I thought it would be a nice little challenge to do a natural metal finish on a build.

 

[sharkman]

Nice choice Paul!

 

[SA Dave]

Another tamiya i see

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Yeah Dave, good to see you!!

After the horrible Dragon kit I did last year I was going through my stash a while back and doing some needed weeding out and ran across this. I decided then it would be a better choice than many other kits in my stash. It will also give me something to expriment with a NMF.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Moving right along with this build. It is much nicer to build a decent kit rather than one that will need modifications to get it looking right. Just small tweaks here and there and using some odd tricks to assemble the fuselage and wings with no fillers. As this is going to be a NMF finish I am working to get it as smooth as possible. Only things really left are the horizontal stabs. I learned a long time ago, a little time on setup saves lots of trouble with cleanup. As the stabilizers are a little fiddly, the jig is the best way to go. Set it up, measure it all up, get it all aligned, add glue and let it set up.

Here is what has been going on.

Thanks for looking in an remember to punch the like if you like what I have posted.

 

[jeaton01]

Nice jig, Paul.

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

That is amazing Paul!
I also love Tamiya kits, specially the A6M Zeros and the Spits. The Sturmovik is also a gem.
Your assembly is immaculate. Congratulations.

Cheers

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

Nice jig, Paul.

That's what she said....

Looks great Paul.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

John, I started building jig parts back when I started building my old Eduard Hannover kit. The thought then was to clamp warped parts and give them a hot water bath to straighten them. That does not work let me tell you. But I needed some setups that would hold things while drilling and assembling and for that it has evolved and worked beautifully.

Thanks for looking in Alex! This is going to be an experimental metal finish build. I have been using Alclad paints on various things the last year or so and this is going to be an experiment for me. I know the plastic has to be pretty much perfect to start so that is the aim for now. Paint is probably going to start this weekend.

Thanks for looking in Bob! The tail feathers were a little wobbly in how they fit so for me this is the best way. Yeah it is a little overkill, but keeps it super clean for the NMF.

 

[Sharkmouth]

It is a beautiful kit indeed. Is this the scheme?

Regards,

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I finally was happy with most of the base build and it is time to put paint on it. First time to just do a NMF finish, and I am fairly happy with it so far.

Here are the photos.

I wanted to get some mottling on the surface and am fairly pleased with the results. The photos and lighting don't really show the super shiny and then duller or slightly off color areas. In photo 14 it looks like some dark areas, but these are really shiny chrome areas and the room is dark it really makes it harder to tell, but I am very pleased with this first finish.

Remember if you like this at least click the like to let me know and thanks for looking in!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Amazing Paul. I totally get the mirror-like image. Such a crisp and fine work. Beautiful to see.

Cheers

Alex

 

[moon puppy]

Very nice, and now you tone back the mirror effect with weathering yet it's still shiny.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Thanks for looking in Alex!

Bob, I already toned some of it back with the other types of aluminum so it has dull patches that are more silver. I still have to do decals and weathering, though I won't do a lot just a hint. Thanks for looking in!

 

[Tojo72]

Looking good,those Tamiya P-47's are fantastic kits

 

[Barney]

notworthy

Very spiffy!

 

[jeaton01]

Great finish, Paul.

 

[MrT]

Looking great!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Did anyone notice in that last picture the reflection of the fuselage side on the top of the wing?

View attachment 134584

 

[Sherman 18]

Looking good!