This is my current build nearing the painting stage. I am much happier with this kit over the F4U-4 that gave me so much hate and discontent. But that’s behind me.
I was not totally satisfied with the kit details on some items, so I changed them. Mostly just seeing what I can do and get away with. I know the purists may find fault with the changes but I’m not building a show piece. This is for building practice.
The kit installed guns really left a lot to be desired and I really didn’t like them as they just don’t look right. So I cut them off and installed my own guns.
The next thing the I really didn’t like was the gun sight. So, I cut it off and scratch built my own. I think it looks better, although its not completely accurate.
I also decided to insert my own scratch built nav lights as to me, painted lights look like paint. So, I experimented with an idea to cut them out (notch the wing) apply a drop a paint to the inside and super glued in clear sprue, then sanded and polished smooth. The color only shows when you look at them head on, not visible from the top or bottom as it is just clear. Neat affect.
Now the exhaust pipe on this kit is basically none existent so I made my own. It’s a bit big but I think it looks better than without it. Anyway, it’s just practice.
This next item I had issue with is the lack of detail on the one piece engine casting. I painted it up and found it to be, well…blah. So, I set about goofing off and adding some details as best I could. I think it looks better. Not perfect by any means but it looks better to me anyway.
Now, after all this little laborious work she’s nearing paint. She is in primer and I’m touching up some spots that need attention. I think the paint on this one will come out nice. This one is coming alone very well.
Brandon: This is a great start. =] I wouldn’t ever worry about what others out there ought to expect out of a build. I think there’s enough content out there and on the finescale forum as well, that we all like to see something new every once in a while. I always like seeing somebody scratch out something on their own as well. If I could make any suggestions, then I’d share something a guy at a hobby shop told me a few years back. He used to judge at some of these shows too, and he said often times the thickness of certain things (e.g. walls, pipes, pitot tubes, gun barrels, etc.) would be too much and that the more experienced modeler would file and sand these parts down to a more correct thickness. Little things like that go a long way to help your subject out. It’s not even something most people realize they’re seeing, but when it’s off…it can seem obviously wrong.
But it’s just a suggestion to throw your way. =] Some people don’t mind things like that too much and some do and want to fix it. Soooo…that’s that. I do like your solution to the nav lights. I did something similar on a Corsair but it was way more complicated than I needed to make it and your’s seems just as effective. I’ll be following your progress to see how this Revel kit matches up.
I totally agree with the thickness of items and if this were a serious build I wouldn’t accept what I’ve done. But, I’m just getting my feet under me and experimenting which is kinda fun. But, ya the scale does look off a bit, but I’m not concerned about that on this one. I will be as I get better and expect more perfection from myself. Thanks for the advice, it is appreciated. And will be used.
Of course! You have to get 'em under your belt some how. =] I have a Wildcat with a couple of quirks of her own. One of which in particular were the gun barrels…buuuut I wasn’t patient enough to find something smaller that better approximated the scale there so I compromised on that one. I’ll build another one down the road. But you’re right. That’s the perfect kit to try new things with and not some $50-60 kit that you chop all to hell and come out with a bunch of issues to tear apart and fix. blah!
Keep 'em coming BK. Any commentary you have on the ease of the kit or troubles along the way are always appreciated. =]
Nice work on the Razorback! I love a P-47 of any variation. You’re doing a great job of modifying and updating, and I really like the work you’ve done on the engine. It’s detail is rather lacking and you’ve gave it a needed overhaul. And I like brass gun barrels.
Just for information, and these aren’t something you need to worry about, but you might like to know if you build another such as the bubbletop.
The guns were actually installed parallel to the ground, and not to the wing. It’s hard to describe (and I think I have a picture somewhere). The inner gun was actually a bit higher than the outer gun, so they sort of sloped and had a slight staggered appearance.
The waste gas exhaust did have a flap valve on the end as the model showed. Modern rebuilt P-47s have removed the turbo-charger system so now have a simple pipe coming out of the side as you have done.
As a warning, the canopy (as you’ve probably discovered) is not exactly well-fitted. It’s too thick to fit well into the back notches. I solved the problem by just fastening it in the open position.
Those seam lines in the wheel well where the wing meets the fuselage are a bear to get filled properly.
Ooh, great stuff. I get what your saying about the guns, it makes sense. And the exhaust was a mystery as I saw it two ways and went with “modern”. Oh, well I don’t have to fly it, that God.
I like the looks of it, but my only sticking point is the “exhaust” its actually a waste gate for the supercharger system, the part that looks like a hole is the butterfly valve to either open or close the the system to the SC impeller in the tail section, don’t take my words as a criticism, its ANYTHING but that, I just wanted to let you know the nomenclature of the area and its significance.
I love the 47 and your Razorback is gonna look SCHWEET when shes done
(okay, the stupid link doesn’t work so you will have to copy and paste it into your address bar)
Don’t worry about the waste gate! [:D] Just tell them it’s a “modern” version of the P-47, and dazzle them with your knowledge! LOL!
Take care!
Gary
PS> Another quibble I have with the Duxford P-47 razorback is that they painted the inside of the cowling. Supposedly, it should be natural anodized aluminum. At least, that’s the way it came from the factory.
The look I’m going for on this one is a more modern, travelling show plane that hits the air shows. It will be pretty polished and clean. But, I didn’t know about the exhaust and that’s gonna make a difference on the next one so I get it right. Oh well, practice practice practice.
you guys are reading too much into the my post, lol, I like the build and hes doing the Jug a testament, I just wanted to pass along some info he might not have known, my post might not have come across the same way typed as it did in my head when I was thinking it, if it did I apologize.
BrandonK, its coming along nice and I cant wait to see the finished product
As far as the canopy, yes it is too thick. I intend to pose it open. As far as the gaps in the landing bay to the fuselage, nope, not messing with that one. I’ll just slap anyone’s hand that tries to pick it up and look at it. That way they stay hidden. LOL Not really sure if I feel like filling that in. I will take a closer look soon and decide. Seems kinda weird to do all I have and not fill it. Right? Ugh !
The kit itself is rather nice to build. It fits well and goes together with very little fuss and almost no filler. The kit appears to be a much newer mold than my Corsair which gave every indication that the mold was very worn. I have a Tamiya kit, F4U-1D so I’m hoping it is an all around better kit. I love the Corsair and would build them all but that Revell kit just makes me cringe. Maybe I just got an old crappy kit. I may challenge myself and do another one just to see if I encounter the same issues.
Now that I know better on the exhaust I will still say that the guns are poorly done with little to no detail and plenty of flash. That’s about the only real gripe I have with the kit. All the other stuff I did is just for fun and it’s not needed. I just felt like seeing what I could do and how I could do it. I’ll go do my 100 Hail Mary’s now for the exhaust and take my 50 lashings.
I like the work you have done so far…the only person your models have to please is yourself. It’s great to learn new techniques and ways to get better, but no sense in sweating stuff you have already done, file it away for the next build and enjoy the ones you have already done.
