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1/32 P-47D-25-RA Thunderbolt "Eileen"


F100Hun

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Just a short update tonight.....

 

Still working on some stubborn seams. I think I've got them this time... third time is a charm!

If it's ready (after sanding tomorrow) I'll mask and paint on Friday. I'll post some new pics of the progress then.

 

Bill L.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well it's been a l-o-n-g while since I worked on this Jug, but I managed to steal a few hours to make some more progress. Tonigh'ts work included:

1) mounting the windscreen (windscreen and canopy were dipped in Future and dried the previous night),

2) masked the canopy for paint prep,

3) built the flaps (mine will be in the down position),

4) attached the supercharger and external bottom cover,

5) and most importantly I built the cowl.

 

This is significant, as I plan to use a Montex mast to paint the black/white checker boards instead of using the CE decals (they'll be the fall-back plan should the masking fail to achieve the desired results.

 

Everything needs to dry before I continue. Maybe I'll go do some more sanding in the USS Seawolf......

 

Bill L.

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OK - What's going on??? A second post in as many days?? Where is all this free time coming from. No seriously, I really want to finish this before Dec.20 when our local IPMS chapter has it's 'Year In Review' so I can say I completed at least one model this year.

 

So I built the cowl the other night, but when I worked the seams it fell apart, too much flexability. So I re-worked it and this time it help. After wet sanding the seams, and polishing the plastic I painted the white base coat. I'll let it dry over night to be sure the white doesn't come up with the mask, and apply the Montex mask and paint the black tomorrow.

 

I'm starting to see the end of this project!!

 

Bill L.

post-1380-1258404130.jpg

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Today I spent some time looking at the Montex mask and it really wasn't what I expected. What I expected was a lattice of squares that I would peel 'very carefully' off the sheet and press on to the cowl. Instead it was just a bunch od squares that needed to individually be applied. I really don't have the time or patience for that so I'm going with plan 'B' - Use the Decals!.

 

From the previous append you can see that the cowl is sprayed white (Tamyia Primer white - Works great, dries fast, doesn't attack the plastic!!!).. so for the decals I brushed on Future to give it the glossy finish the decals need to grab. I need to let that dry over night.

 

Next up - Invasion stripes!

 

Bill L.

post-1380-1258663252.jpg

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While I've done invasion stripes before as a young boy on my Hawker Typhoon, I really wanted to learn how to do them right. While there are many opinions and philosophical differences of thought, I chose to go for what was aesthetically pleasing to me (my model, my rules!).

 

I asked a fellow IPMS Eagle Sqrn. club member for some advise and mentoring, which he was very happy to share, so props to Lee Kolosna and an acknowledgment that if they don't look right, it's my fault on execution of his instructions.

 

So like I said, I wanted it aesthetically pleasing to me, so that naturally meant putting a base coat of white down prior to any other paint. Lee taught me the benefit of laying out the pattern with thin line of tape, outlining the stars and bar placement ( keeping it white underneath).... and yes, size does matter, don't ever let anyone tell you different!!! :)

 

Sorry, but I was so involved it the process that I forgot to take a picture to show you how the masking looked before painting. Really wish I had done that... Next time.

 

So as you can see in the picture below, I believe I achieved my goal. The down side is I now need to mask it (after drying a day or two) to paint the reat of the A/C. But first the white tail bands, which are prepped (already sprayed the surfaces white) and ready for masking, much in the same way I did the invasion stripes. I'll get a picture when I do them in the next day or two.

 

Thanks for looking...

Bill

post-1380-1258662840.jpg

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I wanted to show you what I was talking about with the Montex mask so here's a high level image. The printed paper really shows you the cut out, but ther are no directions how to apply them. Montex assumes you'll figure it out. They're probably right. It seems pretty straight forward... just very time consuming.

 

It comes with masks so you can paint the stars and bars as well as the lettering on the aircraft.

 

**Note that this set was originally designed for the Trumpeter P-47D Razorback, not the Bubble top.

 

Bill L.

post-1380-1258663740.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Why I (sometimes) Hate Modeling

 

It's the frustration for what you can't control. Ok, so that's not unique to modeling, but for me it was in this case. Time to build models is a semi-luxury for me, so when I spend that time in frustration and aggravation, it really stresses me out.

 

I really start making so progress on this Jug and the TWO bottles of Polly-Scale RAF Sky paint are both bad, spoiled, poor quality...whatever you want to call it. So I spend 5 hrs total (2 sessions in as many days) cleaning clogged air brushes because the paint won't stay fluid regardless of thinning. Of course it got to the point where it was too thin and I had to spend additional time cleaning up the model from the mess I had made. ARRRRGGGG!!!

 

So, since there are no Hobby stores around me that carry PS RAF Sky, I need to plan where and how to get it. I really wanted to have this done for our clubs End Of Year Christmas party..... Looks like that won't happen now.

 

(More To Follow).

 

Bill L.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I ended up using the Model Master Acryl RAF Sky and it matched the Polly Scale color pretty well. So the bottom is done.

Sorry for no pictures, but its late, and I'm exhausted. I'll mask and paint the upper surfaces tomorrow and throw up a couple of new pics.

 

Bill L.

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A Good Day (Part 1)

 

In spite if all the little things that get in the way of my big plans, I was able to make some progress. I switched to Model Masters Acryl and was very happy with the result.

 

Bill L.

post-1380-1261233179.jpg

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A Good Day (Part 3)

 

Invasion stripes were new for me so I got some advice from a friend to explained the fine art of 'small amounts of tape'. I'm happy with the over all result. I masked so the stars and bars would not have the DK green under it. I'm sure I'll need to do some minor touch up after the decals are applied. I'll need to apply some Future or clear gloss prior to applying the decals so they settle down.

 

Bill L.

post-1380-1261233683.jpg

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