pitsspecial

Hi Guys,

Im building a P47 Thunderbolt kit, the kit states to cover the elevators and rudder in 'solartex' now all the photos ive seen of P47's they show aluminium sheeted surfaces? so..... do i sheet the control surfaces or do i find a P47 that has fabric covered surfaces??

Ziroli and Meister all show sheeted...... the kit is 80" span so would carry the extra weight (if any) by sheeting them.

What do you think?[]

Di n Dave.....

jeff naul

My Feedback: (16)

Only the very early "b" models had fabric covered surfaces. if i remember correctly none or not many of these were used in combat. Depending on the scheme your modeling it more than likely was metal covered "C"or "D" model. Unless your modeling a "B" i would sheet them, that little bit more weight wont be enough to worry about. Jeff

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

As I recall, even the few that had fabric were converted to alum skin. Reason: the T-bolt was possibly THE FASTEST aircraft in a dive in it's day (and still be able to fly afterward), even rumored to have broken the sound barrier. Fabric simply could not hold up the the tremendous speeds that the T-Bolt was capable of (in a dive).
So skip the solartex: sheet the control surfaces.

pitsspecial

Hi Guys,

Yes, it is based on a P47B, i would prefer to sheet them, i havent seen many schemes for the early versions, it wont be overly detailed, just all over olive drab, chequered cowl, similar to the aircraft that were based at Duxford in the U.K.

Thanks for your input guys,
Di n Dave....

RWHorton

The B model never saw combat and the 56th FG was the only unit to have the B models. The fabric was replaced with a metal skin so you would be ok with a covered flight surface. The B model was shorter than the c's or d's, the cowel was different and the radio mast was different.

I would suggest you pick up a copy of Bert Kinzey book on P-47's. Lots of info about the P-47.

Good luck.

Ron