Building a war-weary Air Sea Rescue P-47 Razorback in 1/144 scale
Building and customising the kit and scratchbuilding Air Sea Rescue equipment
I recently converted the Eduard/PLATZ P-47D Razoback kit to an war-weary air sea rescue spotter plane of 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron with scratch built dinghy packs, smoke markers and a 108 gallon drop tank (stolen from the Sweet B/C Mustang). I added a Heroes Models resin figure to the cockpit, rivets to wings and fuselage, I opened recognition lights and all air in- and outtakes with a drill. Intercooler air outtakes were rebuilt from scratch.
108 gallon paper drop tank from the Sweet P-51b/c kit with fuel lines made from streched sprues
Dinghy pack / life raft made from spare parts, styrene sheep and profiles
smoke markers made from styrene profiles
The Heroes Models resin figure is in place, riveting is done, gun barrels, recognition lights and all air in- and outtakes are drilled open, intercooler air outtakes are rebuilt from scratch.
I glue the parts back to the sprues for painting
recognition lights and all air in- and outtakes are drilled open, all wheel bays are closed
Ready for painting
Dry fit of life rafts, drop tanks and smoke markers
War-Weary Saviour
May 1944: An old P-47 Razorback armed with lifeboats and smoke markers circles above a ditched B-17 crew – the USAAF Air Sea Rescue unit detachment B of the 65th fighter wing, later known as the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron was born.
Air Sea Rescue water vignette
Building a 1/144th scale water vignette with a scratch built life raft for an air sea rescue P-47D diorama
Scratch building a life raft for air sea rescue vignette
Modification of 1/144 resin figures and scratchbuilding a life raft from styrene.
Painting and weathering A war-weary P-47D
Painting and weathing a war-weary P-47D Razorback of 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron without decals in 1/144 scale
1/144 P-47D Thunderbolt kit (Platz / Eduard)
The top-class P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback and Bubble Top kits from Platz/Eduard in 1/144 scale – Kit review