crazypoet

So I’m continuing to take a hard look at the cockpit, trying to match photos of various vintages against the kit version, including the Eduard PE set. Two things i’ve noticed, regardless of the series within the P-47D family, are the rudder cables and pulleys, along with what looks like a support cable that connects from behind the IP to a point just forward of the stick. Since these are plainly visible in every photo i’ve seen, i’m going to see if I can scratch up a way to replicate them. Ditto for the connections between the throttle and engine. Last, i’ve seen two different throttle versions - I *suspect* that the correct version for my early series bird is a rounded knob, instead of the hand-sized grip provided in the PE set... more to come as I dig a bit deeper!

I get ya on that one! i’m looking Forward to seeing a Mustang in Civvies, even is it’s not a risky female actor...

In order to have all my existing photo postings un-f**ked back in early ‘18, I shelled out for one of their pay plans. Until I paid up, every photo link i’d ever posted anywhere was broken. they’ve since changed their policies and non-paid photos are again visible, albeit with that lovely PB watermark smeared over the center. regardless of any of that, i’m no longer willing to support them.

This is great work! not to mention learning all the quirks of the kit and seeing your approaches to dealing with them as well

Perfect workbench view... now I need to find a way to retire!

Last of the plain PE installed, primed, swore at, touched up, primed again... layer of Tamiya flat aluminum for wear and light chipping, then a slightly darkened cockpit green (matching some surviving examples from before they shifted to a darker internal green) and a slight start to some fading and detail. when I get home, it will be time for the seatbelts, Eduard colored PE, details, washes and general internal mayhem to bang things up a bit and make it look appropriately lived-in Meanwhile, it’s time to stop and watch the sunset, with a nice gin-n-tonic...

Almost all of the base cockpit PE done and took a stab at wiring the IP - all while hanging at the lake house. there are far worse workbenches than this... priming tomorrow - but now, it’s time for a drink and a sunset

Beautiful job on this! i love some of these early jets - the evolution in design that happens from the ‘40s through the late ‘60s led to some unique and interesting aircraft. Love these!

Cockpit PE is proceeding... veeeery sloooowly i need more than a few minutes at a time to do this - hoping for some solid blocks of time over an extended weekend up in the mountains... with just the slightest amount of luck, i’ll have this all at least assembled and primered by the time I head back to the office next Wednesday

The Eduard instructions have me doing a bit of trimming on the IP - I suspect that's to account for your first point. On the second - thanks for the heads-up! Worst case, I can cut a notch or three in the piping to make room

That's what tipped the scale for me!

So I'm still working through the cockpit details... Mostly research and cross-indexing, which proved to be a bit more challenging than I'd anticipated (Achievement: FIRST DOUBLE SCOTCH AWARDED) First, the gunsight... The P-47D-6-RE came from the factory with the US N3 gunsight with a Republic-designed sight head. Most of these were swapped out for the British MkII in short order. Sadly, there's not a good photo of the cockpit interior of my bird, so I have to roll the dice and hope. The decision was simplified a bit since neither the kit nor the Eduard Interior PE set has the N3/Republic sight - only the British MkII and (later) MkVIII sights. So.... MkII it is. Crossing my fingers and hoping that I don't find a new reference a week from now that shows the factory sight installation... Next, rudder pedals. I've seen two variants, both included in the Eduard PE, but no documentation as to which goes with which variant. Soooooo… I flipped a coin and went with the version that I like better. There is at least one good reference that shows this ship with a field-modded rear-view mirror, so I know which one to use. First pic: US N3 w/Republic Head Second: British MkII Third and fourth: rudder pedals galore!

Looking sweet!

Figured it was at least worth asking...

These are beautiful shots! Quick question - do you have any pics looking up from behind/below? I'm thinking of the outlet for the supercharger here And any cockpit internals?

I didn’t get as much bench time as i’d hoped over the weekend, but I at least got started with cockpit surgery and the Eduard internal set

Thank ya - i’m always happy to learn from watching over someone else’s shoulders!

I am just now getting caught up on this build... Four words suffice to document the reaction: Holy. Mother. Of. God. This is a master class on scratchbuilding, taken to levels that us mere mortals can only hope to faintly echo...

I’m planning to do enough of the internal structures to provide proper fit, and to not leave any puzzling gaps (I may also take the opportunity to use it to practice up my mad NMF painting skilz) this is shaping up to be a fun build!

I agree here - for some reason the Bubbletop Jug never did look right to me.

I did a bit of checking and it seems that the spacing between the cylinder banks make be at least partially to blame for the fit issue. That is something that can be adjusted. The main thing for me is that I don’t want to mess with the spacing between the front of the engine and the front of the cowl. big book o’ measurements is ordered and enroute...! Meanwhile, I was able to at least determine the correct gunsight and rear-view mirror out of the options in the kit. I do wish that the good folk at Trumpeter would provide context when providing options... one of these times, I may just pick some of the options at random and see who notices!

That's unfortunate, since the correct rocker covers for the AC I'm building are the "taller" of the two (for the 2800-21 engine). I'm wondering if they have the engine sitting too far forward? If so, I can shorten it a bit back by the firewall as that area won't be visible when completed. Hmmm. Gotta love a good challenge!

That’s priceless!

Thanks! I have the Eduard interior set - I'll be cross-checking each part as I go to see which works best. I'm doing a bit of reading now to see if I can determine which version of the gunsight was installed, along with which rear-view mirror.

Ok, i’m hitting the go-button on this. the kit has some interesting quirks (a clear cowl? For Gawds sake why?!?!) and i’ve heard of some fit issues here and there, along with the whole internal-mechanics-that-will-never-be-seen thing. but ya know, I need a good excuse for a drink every now and then! so - box is open, and i’m digging through and making notes... Doog did a later version of the kit and i’ll lean heavily on his experiences and notes as i work through my own process. i’m building this as Wicked Wacker Weegie, as it existed the morning of May 12, 1944. On that day, Lt “Shorty” Rankin downed five ME-109 air-to-air in a single mission - the first ace-in-a-day with the P-47 Since the 12th is my birthday, the choice of topics was made very simple! i have a shitton of AM stuff - i’ll be fun to see how far I can take it