1:32 P-47D Thunderbolt engine set

P-47D Thunderbolt engine 1:32 — a resin accessory (Aires)

This set holds a detailed engine cast in resin for the American Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter in 1:32 scale. It is not an aircraft kit but a detail accessory that replaces the powerplant of the base plastic model with a faithful casting of the radial engine. It is made by Aires, a Czech brand specializing in resin detail sets.

The real subject

The P-47 Thunderbolt was an American heavy fighter of the Second World War, powered by the air-cooled Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine. A faithfully detailed engine under removed cowling panels is one of the most prized features on a model, because it shows the characteristic layout of the cylinders and the accessories.

Building and painting tips

Wash the mold release agent off the parts, separate the casting blocks and sand the parting lines. They are bonded with super glue (cyanoacrylate). The engine usually calls for reworking the front of the fuselage and the cowling; after laying down a primer, paint the individual components, pick out the metal surfaces and set the lines and accessories apart with a wash.

Who the set is for

• For modelers building the P-47 Thunderbolt in 1:32 scale.
• For showing the engine under removed cowling panels.
• For more advanced modelers used to working with resin.

This is a resin accessory, not an airplane model. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.