1:32 P-47 Thunderbolts

Kits-World 1:32 P-47 Thunderbolts

A decal sheet from the British manufacturer Kits-World in 1:32 scale, devoted to Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. It is a standalone set of markings, not a kit: it is bought as an accessory for a model you already have. Which machines the sheet covers and to what extent is shown by the illustration on the packaging; compare them before buying with what you want to build. Kits-World prints with strong color and good coverage, which comes in useful with this type of aircraft.

The real subject

The Thunderbolt was a heavy single-engine fighter with a radial engine, a turbocharger in the rear part of the fuselage and a large internal fuel volume. The machines served in a whole series of forms, from the early versions with a fuselage spine behind the cockpit to the later form with a bubble canopy. The color finishes differed according to the deployment: from dark camouflage schemes to natural metal with prominent recognition stripes and colored areas on the engine cowling and the rudder.

Application tips

Coverage is the key question. Light elements of the markings, especially white numbers and stripes, easily sink into a deep dark surface and look gray. Kits-World prints with fairly good coverage, but even so it pays to underlay the critical places first with a thin layer of light paint, or to carefully overlay the decal once dry with a second piece if the sheet contains one. Always test one less visible piece first and only then carry on to the exposed areas of the fuselage.

Who the sheet is for

• builders of American Second World War fighters in 1:32 scale
• modelers who build several machines of the same type and want to tell them apart
• those dealing with the coverage of light markings on dark camouflage
• those interested in supplementing or replacing the decals from the base kit

The package contains decals only. The kit, paints and glue are not part of it.