Tamiya 1/48 P-47 Thunderbolt Razorback Build Log w/final pics

Started this early summer and finished up a month or so ago. Third model I’ve built this year…first three in nearly 40 years. This is Robert Johnson’s aircraft he flew for a short bit while in the ETO. Tamiya Razorback kit, Eduard P-47 Big Ed detail kit, scalemaster (?) decals, Tamiya paints and panel liners, rosie the riveter tool to do the rivets (first time!), Tamiya Clear flat and semi-gloss, Flory clay washes and oil washes for exhaust/oil/gas stains, Micro Set, Sol, Mask, and Klear.

Lots of mistakes on the way to finished product and didn’t fix all of them because it was time to move on (burning up decals was frustrating). Choose this model to learn Black Basing (because the camo was relatively easy), riveting, pencil-aging, and some minor salt-work (propeller)…plus, when I was a kid in the early 70’s I read all of Martin Caiden’s books and “Thunderbolt!” was a favorite.

Next one is a 1/48 scale Corsair…to practice on before I try a 1/32 Corsair my son bought me.

P47 Overall

Cockpit detail

A tad sloppy and those tiny, tiny etched parts were insane to work with.

Engine Detail

More Engine

Used Tamiya Panel liner and hand-oil to age

Combining

Parts fit great…not sure I used any filler anywhere.

First time riveting

Awesome tool…saw it on one of Plasmo’s vids

Black basing

First shot at black basing technique. Only have a .50mm airbrush and not that good w/it yet. Learned it by watching Doogs.

Top

I like the randomness of the black base technique…but the sun really showed of all my riveting mistakes (lol).

Washes and Decals

Dark wash on bottom, lighter wash up top…and incredibly tiny decals…

Prop

Used salt-technique here for first time. Decal work shoddy

oil wash

used oil washes to get oil/gas/fuel stains

Underside detail and wheel...wire way too thick

Underside detail…hydralic break wire way too thick.

Decal

Sometimes Tamiya decals “melt” when flat clear is applied…I called it “aged”

Rest of pics are completed model pics

Finished 1

Fin2

Fin3

Fin 4

Fin5

Fin 6

Looks great to me!

WOW I think you’re more than ready to tackle the 1/32 Corsair. Great job

Great looking engine, cockpit, rivets and paint job. Really nice finished model.

Superb paint job and weathering. The olive, gray and red colors came out perfectly. Big thumbs up.

I agree with all the above. Really nice work.

Great Work! [t$t] [t$t] [t$t]

Can’t wait to see the 1/32 build. Should be awsome.

Jim [cptn]

Came out great. Get some Montex masks and paint those stars and bars on. Well worth it!

That is a real nice P-47, FuzzDad. It looks like you are back in the modeling saddle for keeps!

Nice job. The cockpit looks fantastic. I love that kit, such a joy to build.

Looks great and welcome to the forum.