1:32 P-47D Bubbletop

The bubble canopy changed the whole aircraft

Until the middle of 1944 the Thunderbolt had a tall spine behind the cockpit which took the pilot's view to the rear away. A new all-round canopy cut it down and the spine of the fuselage was lowered, by which the machine gained a view in every direction. In terms of looks it is the most striking change in the whole career of the type, and modelers have a name of their own for it after the shape of the canopy.

The sheet holds markings for two such machines. The first carries serial number 44-20437 and the fuselage codes 2Z with the letter J; it flew with the Ninth Air Force over northwestern Europe and its pilot was an officer who later became commander of the whole group. The second aircraft with serial number 42-26947 belonged to the Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean and carried the marking 6B.

Both formations used the Thunderbolt mainly as a fighter bomber. A load under the wing, a diving attack on a train or an artillery position and a fast departure low over the terrain; that was its typical role in the last year of the war.

The finish decides the procedure

Machines of the Ninth Air Force tended to be in bare metal with prominent invasion stripes, whereas Mediterranean examples often received camouflage. A quality gloss base belongs under a polished metal surface, because even a small irregularity shows through the film as a shadow. On matte camouflage paint, by contrast, the surface has to be evened out with gloss varnish first, otherwise the printing turns white all the way around.

The package deals with surface markings, not with a build. The model of the fighter and paints are not included.