1:144 P-47C/D Razorbacks

A heavy fighter with a fuselage spine

The first production forms of the Thunderbolt had the fuselage carried right up to the canopy, so a full spine was left behind the pilot. The solution was strong and aerodynamically clean, but the view to the rear practically did not exist, and in a turning fight that cost more than one pilot his life. Even so, it was with these machines that the American fighter force began escorting daylight bombing raids over the continent. The sheet offers four schemes for models of that form.

One group, four aircraft

The supplier assigns all four machines to the same squadron and the same fighter group of the Eighth Air Force. That creates the unusual option of building the whole foursome and displaying it together, because the aircraft share the squadron letter code and differ only in the final character and the name on the fuselage. Among the pilots named is a man of Greek origin who reached the US Army Air Forces by a roundabout route through British service.

The order in which to lay them

First put on the large squadron letters, then the national insignia and finally the personal inscriptions. The model must be smooth and given a gloss coat. Separate the artwork from the sheet one piece at a time and wet it only briefly, otherwise the film releases from the backing before you have time to aim it. In 1:144 scale it helps to work over a light-colored mat, on which the transparent edge of the decal can be seen.

The extent

The package consists of a printed sheet with four schemes. The kit and the paints are not part of it. Before buying a kit, check the shape of the fuselage spine, because both forms of the Thunderbolt are sold alongside each other and it is easy to mix them up.