1:72 P-47 Thunderbolt gun barrels

Quickboost 1:72 P-47 Thunderbolt gun barrels

A set of replacement machine gun barrels for the model of the American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter in 1:72 scale. It is made by Quickboost, the accessory line of the Czech company Aires, and according to the available information the parts are cast from resin. It is neither a kit nor an aircraft model: it is a detailing accessory intended to replace the original plastic barrels. The base model, glue and paints are not in the package.

Why it matters on the Thunderbolt

The P-47 was a heavy fighter with a massive radial engine, nicknamed the Jug. Its hallmark was heavy wing armament, eight heavy machine guns of 12.7 mm caliber, four in each wing. That is exactly why a set of barrels is especially useful on this type: on a model it means eight visible muzzles in the leading edges, a detail that everyone notices. Injection-molded plastic tends to be the weak point here, as the barrels are thick and their muzzles solid. A resin casting allows a thinner barrel with a hollowed muzzle, and that shows even in 1:72.

Use

• Cut the original plastic barrels off and level the area in the leading edge.
• Separate the resin parts from the casting blocks with a saw; never snap them off.
• Do the sanding wet and with respiratory protection; do not breathe resin dust in.
• Wash the parts in water with dish soap before gluing because of mold release agent residue.
• Glue them with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue), as ordinary cement for plastic does not hold.
• Apply a primer before painting; the barrels then tone easily into a metal shade.

Who the set is for

For anyone who builds the Thunderbolt in 1:72 and wants its eight machine guns to look like weapons rather than plastic sticks. Working with resin is manageable even for a moderately advanced modeler; what matters most is separating the part cleanly and aligning it accurately in the wing.

An accessory for modelers, not a toy. When sanding resin, work wet, in a ventilated area and with respiratory protection. Cyanoacrylate glue bonds skin instantly too, so protect your eyes and hands.