Friday, September 29

From Basic to Advanced - MiniArt ups the detail on their P-47D

We have already seen the "Basic kit" in MiniArt's new 1/48th scale P-47D-26-RE series. Today we get our first glimpse of the "Advanced" version, offering upgraded parts & photo-etch to make the most of this kit for the more ambitious types. We take a look in our preview...

From Basic to Advanced - MiniArt ups the detail on their P-47D

P-47D-25 RE Thunderbolt "Advanced kit"
From MiniArt Models
Kit No: 48001
1/48th scale
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
Clear parts, full engine & weighted wheels are included
Photo-etch parts included
We first saw the nucleus of this new series of 1/48th scale Thunderbolts in their catalogue for 2023, We have seen the first in the line #48009 a "Basic Kit" P-47D from MiniArt. Now the "Advanced" kit is also on the way.

What we saw in the catalogue and a vague idea of the differences between the Basic & Advanced kits.

The second in the series was called the "Advanced Kit" version of the Republic P-47D-25 RE Thunderbolt. We have some CADs that show the differences between the kits and the upgrades (or more extra work - your choice) in the new version. 

First up, we see that this advanced kit is stacked with .50 cals, ammo and ammo boxes...
 ...and these bays can be posed opened or closed
A view from over the aircraft showing the bays opened...
A closer view of the gun bay.
...And closed - one or both of course can be posed as your choice allows.
The flying surfaces on the kit can also be posed. These flaps down option below...
...and up in the version below here.
The other large attention grabber is the R-2800 engine. This can be shown with cowlings on or off. The engine also comes with a wiring harness and photo-etched parts around the firewall.
You can display this without the photo-etch if you want.
A wiring diagram is supplied in the instruction manual for the harness.
Here is the page from the instruction manual (still in process) of the wiring diagram.
The cockpit of course is another focus point of this kit. Photo-etched harness, gunsight and detail behind the IP is enhanced in thinner material.
A view of the cockpit closed up with the PE harness...
Similar to the basic kit, the plain hub, six and eight spoked wheels with diamond and regular cross patterned tread. Great options.
The D-25-RE omits the speed brakes, and we can see that like the basic kit the parts are provided to close the  wheel wells if you desire.
A wiring diagram for the engine, the wheel well is included in the instructions.
The diagram from the instruction manual for you to make your wiring for the wheel bays.
The weighted tailwheel is a feature of this and the basic kit.
The P-47D-25RE could carry a 2,500lb bomb load, and this one is supplied in 50, 100, 250 & 500lb bombs and smoke dischargers. Photo-etch is supplied for the fins of these.
The 200 Gal flat and 150 Gal P-38 style external fuel tanks
We DO know that there are three marking versions included in the instructions. Also, that at least one of them is the box art version. One of the most colourful & well -known Thunderbolts, that of  Lieutenant Colonel Gabreski’s Republic P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt, 42-26418, RAF Boxted, Essex, England, 1944.
A close up of the man in his mount, Lieutenant Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, commanding 61st Fighter Squadron, in the cockpit of his Republic P-47D-25-RE Thunderbolt, 42-26418, 1944. The marks show 28 enemy aircraft destroyed. 
That is all we know about this kit so far. More to follow in colours, sprues & other info. See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...

New #MiniArt Kits Available September 2023:


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