The Modelling News: Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-26RA Advanced kit in art, sprues & colours...

MiniArt's next 1/48th scale Thunderbolt is the Evansville-produced P-47D-26-RA type. We have art, sprues, & colours of the kit in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-26-RA Advanced kit in art, sprues & colours...

P-47D-26-RA Thunderbolt

From MiniArt Models

Kit No. 48003

1/48th scale

The kit contains three marking choices in the box.

Full engine & weighted wheels, clear parts are included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The subject: The P-47D-26-RA Thunderbolt.

The P-47D series entered service in 1943 and was utilised by the USAAF and RAF as fighter-bombers, ground assault aircraft, and short-to-medium-range escort fighters. The P-47D could be armed with eight.50 machine guns and carry a 2,500-pound bomb or ten 5-inch rocket missiles.

P-47D-26-RA #42-28307 "Toots" Code: #71 of 57th Fighter Group - 66th Fighter Squadron, with her pilot, Lt. Joseph 'Joe' Angelone, at Gosseto, Italy, 1944.

The P-47D-26-RA was the Evansville equivalent of the D-25-RE, but with a 13-foot Curtiss Electric propeller. This manufacturer produced 250 of them, with the canopy serving as the primary distinction between this and the prior razorback variant. The 25RE/26RA was the first Thunderbolt version built (normal, unmodified) with a bubble canopy, based on the Hawker Typhoon.

The covergirl of this kit is this P-47D-26-RA, 42-28382, "Ole Cock III", Mjr D.Smith, 61FS was another Evansville-built aircraft that was famous with Jug enthusiasts...

The redesigned canopy enhanced the pilot's rear visibility, as did the flatter rear fuselage required to attach the new canopy (the Thunderbolt latter used a fillet to improve stability after the rear fuselage was flattened).

Republic P-47D-26-RA Thunderbolt, 50th Fighter Group "Juicy Lucy", #42-28229

The Kit: MiniArt's 48th scale P-47D-26RA

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.

Corrugated floor is provided as well as the earlier type wing fillet

The 13-foot Curtiss Electric propeller is included here

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, along with the large pancake belly long range tank..

Six and eight spoked wheels and flattened main gear are included

That full engine is included on this sprue.

The clear sprue included the bubbletop and other parts

Photo Etch is 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.

Decals:

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