US Navy Republic TFS-4A Orca: Finished Pics Page 3.

[zenrat]

Done.

Republic TFS-4A Orca

The Thunderbolt and the Avenger both first flew within three months (almost to the day) of each other in 1941.  What if the US Navy had chosen a single seat Torpedo Fighter for its carrier air wings instead of a three seat Torpedo Bomber?
According to the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation system a navalised P-47 Torpedo Fighter would have been designated TFS.  TF for torpedo fighter and S for Seversky (issued before the boardroom coup and the name change and never withdrawn).  There is no number in the designation as this was the first Torpedo Fighter design by Republic (the second would be the TF2S, the third TF3S and so on).  4A refers to a minor modification to the fourth sub-type.
According to zenrat's guidelines for navalising an aircraft a navalised P-47 has to have folding wings (check), a hook (check) and be painted blue (check, check, check).

Republic TFS Orca - 16 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Republic TFS Orca - 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Republic TFS Orca - 5 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Republic TFS Orca - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model.
Tamiya P-47D Razorback (1/72 natch)
Torpedo from my weapons box.
Alliance Model Works PE dynamic propeller (A1 Skyraider - so it's slightly oversize).
Vallejo paint.
Transfers from the Tamiya kit and from an Academy Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger.
Stand by Super Model (love that logo).

Republic TFS Orca - 17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Knightflyer]

Oh me, oh my, oh WOW! I really like those pics (the model ain't 'arf bad either!) 

[NARSES2]

Come out really well mate 

[Glenn Gilbertson]

A truly hairy beast - good one!

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice! 

I am just not certain about the underwing roundel on the right wing? 

BTW: I have gud out an old Matchbox P-47 Razorback, just to check if I have some proper ingredients in the donor banks to create one, too, with personal mods. 

[su27rules]

 

[dwomby]

That looks convincing.

David

[Old Wombat]

Nice one, Fred!

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

Dizz, I may not have been paying attention when I put the transfers on but both markings on the same wing make sense to me in the same way I think RAAF (and RAN FAA) Kangaroos should have their feet on the wingtip side of the roundels.
BTW, because I run ad blockers in my browsers I don't get to see any comments left in Flickr.

[PR19_Kit]

From recent study of the subject it seems the USN had the stars and bars on opposing wings, with the result that the view looks the same from top or bottom.

Unlike the Aeronavale who do the exact opposite, having both roundels one directly above each other on the SAME wing.

Plus ca change etc......

[buzzbomb]

Well that worked out really well.

Well done Fred

[zenrat]

Thanks Brian.

[The Wooksta!]

Now someone needs to do the bubbletop version, preferably in British markings.

Or possibly a Corsair, as that may have more clearance for the torpedo.

[loupgarou]

Very interesting and original idea. Came out really well.
Ahem, the tailhook looks like Queequeg's harpoon. 

[kerick]

IIRC there was a story about a P-51 using its six .50 cals to sink a Japanese destroyer. With eight guns the Thunderbolt might sink a cruiser! (I know, not really but crazy to imagine.)