CompARF P-47 Thunderbolt

[Phil Clark]

Canopy frame complete in FliteMetal.....not an easy job as it was so flexible, it wasn't easy putting the metal down as quite a lot of pressure is required to get it round the various curves etc.....

Back when the wings were riveted, I never got round to the flaps & ailerons.......so these are now well underway as well.

[Phil Clark]

Meanwhile.....national markings are being applied (sprayed using Flightline Graphics masks) + 4 x A4 size sheets of dry set run on 'nomenclature' decals. All painted areas are also receiving their wash do dirty things up and dull the bright colours down a little. Dark wash over the yellow, lighter wash over the dark to give a slightly bleached oxidised appearance. This is being done with a mixture of Humbrol enamels & artists oil paints + white spirit (the spirit having no effect on the klass kote epoxy colours)

[Phil Clark]

1st coat of KK satin clear + oil paint wash has now been applied to the fuselage really dulling things down taking away the bright shiny factory fresh finishing giving something a lot more used & abused.........national markings next.

[rob ellis]

WOW!

[Phil Clark]

Markings done.......disappointed with the results of the large water slide decal used for the nose art though. Produced by Flightline Graphics, the quality is excellent, the problem though is it's not 100% opaque and the joint between the blue & yellow on the cowl is showing through. The decal is to be removed & a paint mask made 2-3mm underside so the area can be blown in white (hiding the blue-yellow line) before a replacement decal is applied.......

[Phil Clark]

The problematic 'translucent' nose art water slide issue has been resolved.......after a original was removed, an undersize paint mask was used to blow the offending area in with a white basecoat before a new decal was added over the top......JOB DONE

[Phil Clark]

All 'painted' areas have also been 'weathered' to match the dirty aluminium finish + a little light airbrush staining around the shell ejection ports on the underside of the wings & the exhausts before the whole airframe received it's final KK clear coat.

This will now be left for 2-3 days to fully cure before work starts in reinstallation of all systems.....

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Superb work Phil, but those kill markings need description, the bombs are obvious, but umbrellas, and straw brooms?

[Phil Clark]

Umbrella - TOP COVER

Broom - FIGHTER SWEEP

[Steve Mansell]

Phil,
Will you get to fly this, before the handover to the customer? If you do, a short vid or piccies would be nice.
Cracking job, an inspiration to all.
Steve

[Phil Clark]

No flying for me unfortunately ........but there wil be plenty of 'finished' photos + I will be giving it all the ground based checks, engine runs etc......so there will at least be some 'taxi' video before it get crated & shipped off to the client in Norway. I will also have it on display in the static model park at Flying Legends at Duxford in a couple of weeks.

Phil

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Cheers for that Phil, one learns something every day,

[Phil Clark]

Wings finished......now well on with completing the fuselage & final installing & hooking up all systems.

[Phil Clark]

A few shots of the 'almost finished' P-47 taken @ Flying Legends Duxford last weekend........I'm aiming to be finished ready for initial engine runs within the next week.

[rob ellis]

nice but that canopy looks too small.,.,imo

[Phil Clark]

If I'm honest, I agreed with you Rob the 1st time I saw the kit, but having checked dimensions against my 3-views, it's bang on.

Phil

[rob ellis]

At first glance maybe its the angle of the pics,..,two main company's made the bubble canopies for the 47.,one being more streamlined,,,ie teardrop shaped,.other being taller,the duxford based pic shows the taller one, boxted based HV-K has the later similar to the Inglewood built & dallas built p51,,, I aways find side on pics of the full size are more true than drwaings,.great model ,..,I bet the customer cant wait.,

[Phil Clark]

Last few bits & pieces complete & a final shake down at the strip during the week......all running well and ready to fly. CG a fraction behind the 25% root chord suggested in the manual.......from report from other CARF P-47 pilots, this is a little nose heavy, so the client is happy to leave it where it is with no additional nose weight. Final AUW come in a 64lb.......a little higher than 'painted' 47's but not unexpected considering the FliteMetal finish.

So.....we're all done & the custom shipping crate should be with us in the next few days......

[Phil Clark]

.

[frank fearn]

Superb Phil