Friday, February 2

Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-30RE Advanced kit in art, sprues & colours...

MiniArt's new 1/48th scale P-47D-30RE is with us in art, sprues & colours. We look at the contents & the marking choices of these jugs in real life in our preview...


Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-30RE Advanced kit in art, sprues & colours...

P-47D-30 RE Thunderbolt
From MiniArt Models
Kit No: 48029
1/48th scale
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
Full engine & weighted wheels, clear parts are included
We first saw the nucleus of this new series of 1/48th scale Thunderbolts in their catalogue for 2023,and after much prodding from fans and much more research, it seems that the second type of P-47D from MiniArt is on the way in the shape of the P-47D-30RE version in 48th scale.
The subject: The P-47D-30RE Thunderbolt.
The D-30RE Thunderbolt differed from the previous bubbletops from the Farmingdale plant most notably by the addition of under wing dive brakes near the wheel wells, and many minor changes. There were eight hundred D-30RE's built, with orders for one hundred and thirty more that were converted to orders for the P-47M-1-RE.
The other main difference externally was the fitting of a filleted tail to improve stability that was lost after the razorback thunderbolt's lost their fin like fuselage and were replaced with the bubbletop canopy. Some earlier bubbletop marques were also retrofitted with this tail fillet. You can see the difference in this line drawing below.
Weapons of the P-47D-30 consists of eight 0.50” Colt Browning M2 guns with 425 rounds per gun. Thunderbolt can carry up to 1135 kg of bombs and do Air-to-Ground tasks. The aircraft also has the ability to carry up to 10 unguided HVAR missiles.
The power plant of the P-47 is a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59W, air-cooled, radial, twin row, 2000 hp engine with water injection. R-2800 definition means “Radial engine with total capacity of 2800 cubic inches”, which is equal to 45,9 liters. Its length - 72,75", 52,5" in diameter, with weight of 1068 kg. The engine is equipped with a single speed mechanical compressor. P-47D-30RE modification is equipped with a “Curtiss Electrics” 4-bladed propeller.

The Kit: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-30 RE
The complement to the "Basic Kit" version of the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. This is probably one of the more popular and well-kitted variants of the Jug with plenty of colourful variants to choose from. 

The feature set of the kit: The sprues show us the feature set of this version of the Thunderbolt. The tail fillet is obvious from this shot on the sprue. 
Posable flight surfaces are included for the aircraft, cowlings can be removed to show that beautiful engine off if you like to show the aircraft on the ground being serviced or repaired.
The large drop tanks under the wing let us know that MiniArt has supplied their excellent range of tanks and bombs with this version.
Six and eight spoked wheels and flattened main gear are included along with the large pancake belly long range tank.
That full engine and wheels along with the cockpit are on these sprues.
Photo Etch i included for the thinner parts of the kit.

Markings:
Inside the kit there will be three marking choices. Well known Thunderbolts to be sure, but really colourful schemes that will please also.

The first choice is for the P-47D-30RE of 509th Fighter Squadron, 405th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, May 1945.
Flown by Captain Milton Wiliam Thompson, "Balls out" is a much loved schemes for that group. Milton William Thompson (1920-1952) was a veteran of 91 missions during World War II.

P-47 Thunderbolt code IA-N 44-33240 “Tarheel Hal” of the 356th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group. 
One of the better known thunderbolts and we are lucky to have a colour photograph of this from the war. This was flown by Lt. Davis of the 358th Fighter Group, 366th Fighters Squadron, 9th Air Force in Europe during WWII.

The last is another colourful bird, the P-47D-30RE from the 362nd Fighter Group of the 9th ai-Air Force  in Germany, spring, 1945.
Flown by Colonel Joseph L Laughlin, of the 362nd Fighter Group. They moved overseas to England In November 1943. Assigned initially to the 9th Fighter Command, it flew its first combat missions In February 1944, flying bomber escort missions under operational control of 8th Fighter Command. Until V.E. Day, the Group flew under control of XIX Tactical Air Command of the 9th Air Force, in support of U.S. Third Army. Laughlin progressed from squadron commander to Deputy Group Commander, then Group Commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, upon the combat loss of Group CO, Col. Morton D. Magoffin in August 1944. During this period, he flew every model of the P-47 up to the P-47N.

Decals:
The  decals for the aircraft include national marking for one kite and the three markings for each individual aircraft. The stencils & instrument panel are also included of course!

This kit should be available soon (not sure when)next month from MiniArt's distributors worldwide. You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...