Sometimes they are just too old to use, Thomas.

Gaz

Folks,

trying to find a way to keep the build/thread alive
and to save the kit and work.

Fact: the decals are useless. Maybe a bad sheet or just too old.
Masking/painting the checkers in 72nd is out of my abilities.
So, sorry and bad news for Flt. Lt. Cecil O. Dean - the unit can't be delivered!

Started as a build for the MTO campaign it should likewise fit there. But with the minimum of changes and to keep the done work.

Found some suitable decals (Reminder: buy a decal sheet of US markings) and so I switched to PLAN B:
A random unit for the famous Red Tail-Tuskegee of
332nd FG in the same mediterranean theater...


Again masking and then painted the red tail and the yellow
band. Just modified the paint on the outer gear door.













Hope you stay tuned,
Th mas

Great save, Thomas!

Very excellent save



Terri

sorry to hear about the decals Thomas-nevertheless you have come up with an even better solution

Terri, Gaz & Russell,

thanks a lot for your visit and encouragement!
It's very helpful to find my way out.
Glad to keep it interesting though.

Th mas

Really struggled even with the spare decals I took from 2 Heller kits (the only spares I had to use; didn`t want to steal some from my Eduard kits).

The ones for the wings went ok but two more for the fuselage came out useless too
So only 2 were left (a bit out of register and smaller) to achieve it - handled them veeery carefully and was happy that they can be applied.
The first one went a bit too much aft. and was not correctable without a chance for damageing. So the second has to be on a similar position what shows up now a little misalignment. Had only 1 Number that fits with scale and format - "w.3".

I will not go on with any further decals from the original sheet nor from any other.














appreciate your visit,
Th mas

Hi Thomas,
Good save. I had a horrible feeling that you were going to have issues with the decals and they didn't disappoint. But you kept your cool😓.Plan B 😀just as good,The red tail looks better on the T'bolt in any case. Not far to go now until it's finished.

Chris

Looks great, Thomas!

Wow Thomas,

I can feel Your pain with the decals. But brillant plan B! The red tail looks really good.

Keep up good work!

Oliver

Chris, Gaz and Oliver,

thank you so much guys for your kind words and support!

Switching to a different plan needs also a new adjustment of your mojo to move on. So somehow things won't go easy after a break.

And for the decals: When all Academy kits suffer on this, I really think about selling my 7-8 48 and 72 kits...

Thanks for your visit, Th mas

Back on it and a few steps foreward.
After another clear coat I went on with an oil-wash and some pigments what looks quite heavy on first sight.
But all was blended after the final finish with Vallejo matte (with 2 drops satin)and now the panel lines might look a bit weak on the upper surface.

Anyway time to remove all masks. Painted the gun barrels and the recognition lights.
As you can see, the 2 original Academy decals on the starboard fuselage are still silvering anyhow what I did to them. Have to live with it.
You can see also the color modulation depending on the light source when taking pics.



































Getting closer.... hope to see you back soon

Th mas

Now that is looking very sweet Thomas




Terri

Thomas! Well done, it looks good even after all these mishaps!



Magnus

Terri & Magnus,
thanks a lot for your thumbs up!

Honestly I'm not unhappy to found a fix for this build and meanwhile I like how it turns out.
Now she can stands on her own feet and there are just a few parts to add on.
Wheels not yet glued - needing a small turn to sit flat.












Looking foreward to take final pics quick and have you back,

Th mas

Thomas,

Very well done P-47. I look forward to your next post.

Simply stunning work as per usual Thomas! Hard to believe it's only braille scale!

Thomas,
That looks great! Love the weathering!

Gaz

Frederick, thank you so much for your visit and the support! Greatly appreciated!

Chris & Gaz, great to have you still aside!
And thank you for your more than kind words as I’m yet on the beginners side. I haven’t touched a plastic kit for about 40 years – so this is only my #10 build in the last 3-4 years. Still trying out different things I’ve never done before and looking for ways to reproduce sufficient proceedings.
… and having fun!

Cheers
Th mas

Well, let’s say it’s done!
I’m happy to finally finish my 10th build. And glad to get it in the timeframe given by the MTO-campaign and myself while practice the things I wanted to. (And those, I didn’t wanted!) Already posted a few pics to the campaign’s thread.

Sorry for the delay in showing some final pics as I’m quite busy these days.
Thanks a lot, ladies & gents for your patience, visits and comments – very much appreciated!

So, here’s my version for an early P-47 Thunderbolt that was delivered generously to the famous 332nd FG from the 325nd FG “Checkertails” in second-hand condition (funny, a real historical fact, I wasn’t aware of when switching to Plan B).
Probably it could be the one, Cecil O. Dean left behind – that could make a sense after all …

Landing gears & flaps were glued in place (after the length correction, take care for a proper alignment of the main landing gear). Inner flaps received a piece of sprue to replicate the retractor strut, added gunsight, armored glass, canopy, pitot and antenna. Not to forget the prop.

Now, without any load, the legs and shock absorbers seem to be at a proper position. - at least to my eyes.
The kit isn’t bad at all and looks like a proper P-47. Some issues are well known and hopefully somewhat I pointed out could be helpful.





Please check out your self – here’s too many pics … again

My best wishes to all of you for an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas time!
Th mas

Merry Christmas, Thomas!

Well done!

Gaz

Beautiful Build.

Finished in time for Christmas, well done ! I like the mood in that black and white photo.



Magnus

Thank you very much, guys!

Hope you have pleasant days,
Th mas

Hallo Thomas,

this really is a nicely modeled Thunderbolt. And the photographic presentation is a pleasure, too!

Thank You very much for sharing!

Oliver