Japanese P-47

[Librarian]

An idea I've been toying with for ages, it seems. Built it in my head several times but finally biting the bullet. A sort of pocket-battleship single-engine B-25 thingy . Most of the ventral and rear area of the fuselage on the P-47 is pipes/ducting etc so I thought it would be fun to build in a shallow weapons bay for bomblets/parafrags/Mk.46ish torpedoes (fit nicely too). Open up the cockpit, and with a rear fuselage and ventral hatch for an overworked gunner:









Probably going to be a slow build but I'll post updates as and when

[scooter]

So...Proto-Skyraider, with waist gunners?

[loupgarou]

If you add a turret too, you'll have an Avenger! 

[Librarian]

Turret sounds good but I'm going to keep it all hand-held.

I think she's heading more towards the idea of a Shturmovic on steroids...this is all part of an alternate world and history I've been edging towards, nothing to do with our own history. I like the idea of this aircraft in Japanese markings but on the outskirts of Moscow .

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool! 

[Leading Observer]

With Floats?

[zenrat]

Skis for Moscow surely?

It's sort of like a single engined multiplace de combat aircraft. 

[Old Wombat]

Going to be watching this!

[Librarian]

Going to have to put some serious effort into the interior...bulkheads, ribbing etc. I should source some 1/48 plans for the P-47 as it would certainly help cutting/shaping those items to the interior contours. I love Mk.1 eyeball but it can be a strain.

Going to do something similar to a Tamiya Beaufighter...with a glass-nose. Why do I do it to myself

Might calm myself with a straightforward build in the meantime...I've a got a gorgeous Special Hobby 1/48 IMAM Ro-57 in the stash crying out to be built.

[scooter]

Going to do something similar to a Tamiya Beaufighter...with a glass-nose. Why do I do it to myself

[scooter]

Going to have to put some serious effort into the interior...bulkheads, ribbing etc. I should source some 1/48 plans for the P-47 as it would certainly help cutting/shaping those items to the interior contours. I love Mk.1 eyeball but it can be a strain.

Full size here

Hope this helps.

[Librarian]

Thank you....looking at that I've realised I'll have to move the fuel tanks. I'm using the bubble canopied version but that cutaway certainly helps determine where the 'skeleton' goes

[Captain Canada]

What a neat idea ! loads of room in there eh ? Great job so far !

[Librarian]

Every now and then a mental pedigree turns into a physical pooch...this is more the offspring of Greebo and the anonymous, surprised bear . Great fun and I will finish it but  Taken days just to cut, sand and test-fit ad infinitum the canopy but now looking OK.

I'll post some pictures when feeling less ashamed

[Captain Canada]

It happens. It's probably the biggest roadblock on my whiffing journey, the build never matches the vision, or pales to it.