discussion Hobby Boss - P-47D - 1/48 (Steven)

[Steven000]

Hi guys,
I need a break from some very slow progressing shelf-queens, so last week I started something which (I hope) will be a quick build; a 1/48 P-47D from Hobby Boss…

Boxart (note the “Easy Assembly” label)


Not too many parts or options inside...






2 options for the paint scheme, haven’t yet decided but at the moment I like the one on the right with the D-day stripes the most…


(max 5 images, so will take a few posts...)

 

[Steven000]

Started with the parts for the cockpit. The ‘gun-sight’ is not a transparent part,


So I’ve cut off the syrene gun-sight and used a round file to make it look somewhat like in the reference pic, I’ll add a small clear-plastic oval later.


I marked the ‘visible’ sides for the cockpit, 2 small ejection pins need to be scraped away.


I want to turn this plane into a ‘flying’ model (on a stand), so the hatches for the tailwheel need to be closed. I used a scribing tool to remove the hatches,


and then I glued them back into the fuselage in ‘closed’ position. Added a small piece of sprue for reinforcement.


(max 5 images, so will take a few posts...)

 

[Steven000]

Since I’m making a ‘flying’ model I also need a pilot, I didn’t have any USAF pilots in my stash, so I looked for a 3D model that I could print. I found a nicely detailed (huge) 1/5 scale pilot in multiple pieces on google,
(Product image)

So I bought a copy, scaled it down to 1/48, fused all his parts except his head and then used ‘Chitubox’ to create the supports and printed the model x4 times on an ‘Anycubic D2’. I probably make it sound easy but those with a 3d printer know what a mess and time consuming process it can be…


After cleaning and UV-curing the pilot came out very nice in 1/48,


I kept his head separate so I can glue it in other angles, that way I can make variations and use the same pilot-print for a few airplanes and still keep it interesting…


(max 5 images, so will take a few posts...)

 

[Steven000]

Next I started airbrushing the cockpit interior green, I primed the parts with Vallejo olive drab primer, then mixed the final color with some Vallejo light green and yellow…




That’s all for the moment, next I’ll need to paint the pilot and add the decal for the instrument panel.

Thanks for reading & have a nice day,
Steven

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

looking good Steve.

 

[flyjoe180]

Off to a great start Steve

 

[Tworrs]

Very nice Steve, the pilots came out great.

 

[adt70hk]

Off to a great start Steve. I have this in the stash, so will try to follow along, albeit I think mine will be wheels down!

ATB

Andrew

 

[Neil Merryweather]

I do love a Jug!

 

[Jim R]

Cracking start on this Steve. It is a straightforward kit with a low parts count. Excellent work on the gun sight and the tail wheel doors. I suppose they would have been separate parts on a more complex kit. I like your pilot.

 

[scottie3158]

Steve, off to a great start mate.

 

[yak face]

Fantastic start steven , looks like a nice simple build . Pilot is excellent , great idea to print a few more with the separate head . Cheers tony

 

[Steven000]

Thanks for the kind feedback guys!

Small update, I decided to ‘paint’ the instrument panel instead of using the decal.
Left: Started with some dry-brushing and painted a few details (all Vallejo).
Right: The next day I added Vallejo Gloss Varnish to all instruments, to replicate the glass.


To replicate the gunsight I’ve cut a small elliptical shape from a piece of packaging plastic with a knife,


I glued the gunsight to the instrument-panel with ‘Micro kristal klear’



The pilot
I really like to add figures because they add life and scale to the model, but I always struggle a bit getting started as I don’t paint a lot of them and each time I have to ‘reinvent’ my technique…

The pilot was primed with Vallejo primer (first black, then white from above). I started with a dark skin tone, and added lighter tones on parts of his face as I went. After the face I painted his hat with some brown colors.


Then some yellow for the life-jacket, more brown for his jacket, a few details with black and khaki, green for his pants…


With all the base colors done I try to mix and add some small shading tones (light green for the pants, light brown for the jacket etc…) Also added gloss varnish to the goggles.


That’s all for now, next time the cockpit should be ready to install...

Thanks for reading & have a nice day,
Steven

 

[Mark1]

Looking good.

 

[Jim R]

That's some pretty impressive detail painting Steven. Figure looks good.

 

[Waspie]

Hat off to you for doing the IP by hand. That's a great result.

 

[minitnkr]

Excellent start.

 

[Guest]

Love the instrument panel

 

[Steven000]

Thanks guys, I had some more bench-time today and glued all the cockpit parts together,

The pilot was put in his seat with superglue, he fits nicely and holds the stick just below the handle, but acceptable as he’s a bit tired on his way home : D, his left hand is hanging in thin air since the throttle-control is missing in the kit (Perhaps I’ll add that later).


The 2 halves of the fuselage have a large pin,


When gently put together it looks like this, after that it’s a tight fit and most likely very difficult to separate the halves again. So you can’t really dry-fit unless you remove the large pin. I guess they designed it like this for people starting out, who don’t yet have clamps etc…


The placement of the cockpit is very easy and well designed,


The model will end up on a stand (flying), so in a later phase I’ll have to drill a hole in the underside. In order to have some ‘solid material’ in that place I’ve added a piece of wood, I drew a center-line on the wood to make sure the block is about 55% inside the first fuselage-halve, that way I’m sure the 2nd halve will fit without hitting the wood. The wood was fitted with a few drops of hot-glue.


Next I glued the fuselage together with Tamiya Extra Thin and added a few clamps.


At first glance no putty will be needed, still need to scrape down and clean the glue bond.




Next step is the wing,
Cheers Steven

 

[Jim R]

Excellent progress Steve. It looks a well thought out and well fitting kit. The block of wood is a good idea. Your pilot looks very comfortable