Double Edged Razorback P-47s

 

For the P-47C, I've borrowed the spare cockpit parts from a Tamiya P-47M kit, adding a True Details seat, a control column from the spares box, a spare gunsight from the Tamiya razorback, and a new rear bulkhead with armor and headrest from sheet styrene. 

The Tamiya P-47D cockpit is almost out of the box, with seat belts from a spare Eduard set. Both cockpits got some Reheat decal placards. Instruments from the Tamiya decal sheet were punched out with a Waldron punch and applied individually to the panels. 

To backdate the Hasegawa kit to a P-47C, I'll remove the bulged belly that was added to later Thunderbolts to accommodate the fittings for a belly mounted drop tank. The belly has been lined with sheet styrene to support the slimmer profile. 

About a half hour with a file and some 220 grit sandpaper removed quite a lot of material. What looks like reflected light on the belly is actually the white styrene showing through where most of the kit plastic has been sanded away. 

I still need to refine a bit (and fill/sand the notoriously bad wing/fuselage fit) but it's looking pretty close. 

All together, prepped, and with a coat of primer. I still need to touch up a few areas before paint goes on. 

 

The underside of the 47C, after a lot of sanding and filling - some to slim the keel profile to C standard, and some to fill the nasty Hasegawa gaps. 

Maybe it could have been slimmer, but I'm happy with it and don't feel like sanding any more. 

Paint and decals are on, but both could use some touching up 

Paint and decals are on, but both could use some touching up 

Paint and decals are on, but both could use some touching up 

I missed the fact that the 61st FS aircraft had large insignia under the port wing. I've seen a source that says they also had large insignia under the starboard wing, partially covering the standard insignia. It's not too late to fix this. 

Here's a profile showing the reshaped keel. I am happy with how this turned out. 

I'm not sure what to do about this. I had a source that says that the white cowling band on P-47s was 24 inches deep, but it was obviously less on Johnson's aircraft. I could leave it as is, or resort to some tricky masking and repainting.