I started this one a while ago and only realised tonight that I hadn't posted anything about it.
This is the Tamiya Razorback being backdated to a P-47C using the Loon Models cowling. Further modification is the fitting of an early style flat keel and the first droptanks the P-47s were equipped with as the battle to extend the range of the fighter escorts in 1943 began in ernest.
Until last years release of a resin replacement there was no flat keel available and the inclusion of the 200 ferry tank has made it possible to depict this short period of the Thunderbolts service in the ETO for the first time using AM parts.

A review of the Lone Star flat keel can be found HERE

First job is to take that fabulously moulded expensive Tamiya Razorback and chop the bottom off the fusalage!

I did this by gradually scribing along the panel lines until the kit keel comes away.



It's evident in this photo just how much shallower the early keel is compared to the later "bulged keel"



Once the kit had been suitably "modified" I did a quick dry run of the major parts to check how everything went together and if there would actually be enough ground clearance with that "bathtub" tank in place!









Once I had acertained that the thing would actually sit on it's undercarriage and not wallow like a beached whale I was able to start putting it together as I would any other kit.
The cockpit was the first area to be done and I forgot to take a photo fo it before joining the fusalage halves but it looks pretty much like this one.



The main wing spar section needs the bottom part trimming to allow the resin keel to fit. This isn't structural, as it's designed to house the battery for the motorised version of the Tamiya P-47 so just chop it away.

Once the fusalage was together and cured I attached the resin keel.
The initial fit was very good and it didn't require much filling. For this I used a combination of CA glue and Talcum powder. Lost detail was rescribed and then the ferry tank attached. The seams around this were blended in with Mr Surfacer and smoothed with isporopyl alcohol on a cotton bud.











Once the wings and horizontal stabilisers were attached it's time to start throwing some paint at her

Nige

First some preshading.





Followed by a base coat of Neutral Grey which was faded using thin mixtures of NG and white to break up the uniform finish.


Topsides painted in OD and faded using a mixture of OD and XF4 yellow.





Once that was dry it's off with the masking and see how it looks with the main wheels dryfitted.



And that takes it up to date as the build stands at the moment.
Once it's all cured then its time for a couple of coats of Klear before painting the white cowling and empennage bands.

Then it's Miracle Mask time

Nige

Nice one Nigel! And a cool conversion as well!



Magnus

Excellent work fella, great to see one of the uncommon Jugs being built up. Great SBS thread as well.

Cheers, D

Thanks Magnus,
Thanks D.

Got the white bands painted on the empennage and cowling today, and thats all I can do on the main airframe for now. Miracle Masks are on order and I'm going to pick them up at a show in a couple of weeks.



Before then,if I get any chance for benchtime, I can get the engine, undercarriage, prop etc done.
If I get bored theres always that 1:32 Tamiya Mustang to keep me amused

Nige

Nigel,
a most impressive conversion to a C. I don't recall ever seeing one done before.
Joel

Very impressive indeed.

Thanks guys.
A bit of a resurrection for this thread, as well as the model.
It's still not finished.
Waiting SO long for AJ Press to publish the book containing the nose art etc meant it went in hold for a lot longer than planned.
The national markings and codes were all painted on using Miracle Masks.

I'd done a couple of P-47C's before but these were ones that received the modifications to the keel from end of August 43 onwards (as did this one), and all the needed was the cowl flap modification.
This is the first one I've done with the early keel and short lived 200gal bathtub tank.
A few photos to bring this build up to date.
It's at the varnish stage now so not far off the finishing line!

Lovely build Nige, and some fairly significant subject matter!

It will be good to see this one get across the line and on to the display shelf.

Cheers, D

I read on Hyperscale that Lonestar have discontinued the keel as it was proving daunting for people to hack up a Tamiya razorback.
It's going to be replaced by a whole replacement resin fuselage in the near future.

I had heard the same thing, but on Mike's website it is only listed as "Temporarily Discontinued." I have emailed Mike direct to find out what is happening.

Cheers, D

Edit: Reply from Mike West
"If you can hold off a month or so I am redesigning this. It will be much easier to use now with a whole new C model fuselage. You will just make the mods to the cowl flaps on the kit parts and use the rest of the kit parts for the model.

Mike"

Splendid looking Jug! I like your effort, though I hafta admit that the belly tub is kinda ugly. I must admit, I like my fighters a bit on the clean side.

Best wishes,

Gary

Great modification Nigel! The belly tank looks pretty 'obese', like a double chin .



Jelger

Damian,

That's really great news, and I'm looking forward to actually purchasing one. I've got multiple 1/48 scale Tamiya P-47's in my stash, and one day relatively soon really want to concentrate on all things Republic and Grumman's, as I'm LI raised, and therefore they're both my favorite aircraft companies.

Joel

Wow Nigel that looks impressive. Like many I was not aware of this modification. The fuel tank looks more like a housing for radar equipment.
tim

Sweet conversion build Nigel. You got the resin parts to fit very well indeed.

Cheers guys,
The resin parts fitted very easily.

Finally, a few coats of Matt varnish tonight and the finishing line just got a lot closer.
😀😀

Looking good mate, glad to see you back at the bench.
Andy

Cheers mate,

Well overdue benchtime.
Now we've finished the house moves etc I finally have a dedicated room for my mancave again

Nearly done 😀

REALLY nice though a little surprised to see it on one of Hub Zemke's A/C. Can you post some pics of the real A/C?

Thanks

Brian

Thanks Brian.
Why surprised to see it on Zemke's aircraft?
At this stage of the war the quest for extra range was paramount, and anything that gave the Thunderbolts more precious time with the bombers was important.
Zemke, as commander of one of the 4 Fighter Groups of the Eighth in the ETO at that time, was extremely keen to exploit the extra fuel capacity, whatever the carriage method available


We used this photo in oneo f our recent books on the 56th FG.

Because I haven't gotten the book yet. [Hangs head in shame] I will.

Meantime, that is a GREAT build. Would be proud to have one like it in my collection.

Just for the heck of it, here is my build of the same aircraft in earlier markings, and when Zemke had only 2 kills. This was way before I knew anything about weathering or had any knowledge of how complex interior colors were.

In other words, the build goes back to the 1980s! It's the old Otaki P-47D model with the cowling backdated to a C version.

Looking really good fella, lovely work!

Quick question to help out with my build of the same aircraft, would Zemke have used the paper tank or the flat tank under the centreline during this period?

I have looked through both books and both websites and can't seem to find any images.

Cheers, D