1:48 P-47N-2RE Thunderbolt (Basic Kit)

P-47N-2RE Thunderbolt - Basic Kit, 1:48, MiniArt

An injection-molded plastic kit in 1:48 scale. The Basic Kit designation at MiniArt marks the basic version off from richer releases of the same family: against the Advanced line there are no openable sections here (engine cowlings and gun bays with ammunition), and against the BIG SET there is no base and no diorama accessories. Neither glazing masks nor a pilot figure are in the box, so count on that. What is in the box: plastic sprues with engraved panels and riveting, a well-worked cockpit with an open and a closed canopy, a radial engine, clear parts and underwing stores (bombs and auxiliary fuel tanks). The decals offer two markings.

The real subject

The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, nicknamed the Jug, was the largest and heaviest single-engine fighter of the Second World War: an air-cooled radial engine with a turbocharger, proverbial toughness and the role of a feared destroyer of ground targets. The P-47N is, however, a different aircraft from the ordinary P-47D. It was created for long-range missions over the Pacific, where hundreds of kilometers of open ocean had to be crossed: it received a new, larger wing with clipped tips and internal fuel tanks, which sharply increased the fuel load and the range, and strengthened pylons for a heavier load. It was the heaviest and the longest-ranging Thunderbolt: bomber escort and attacks on ground targets at long distances. If you want a European Thunderbolt, reach for the P-47D; the P-47N is the Pacific long-range machine.

Building and painting tips

Glue with thin cement for polystyrene. Finish and paint the cockpit before you close the fuselage. Because there are no masks in the box, prepare masking tape for the canopy framing or buy masks separately. Unify the surface with a primer and spray with an airbrush; a gloss varnish under the decals and a matte overcoat at the end. With the natural metal finish typical of late American fighters, a perfectly smooth and dust-free base is the key, and a polished surface is worth the effort. Bring out the panel lines with a thin wash.

Who the model is for

• For modelers who want precisely the long-range P-47N rather than the ordinary P-47D
• For those who are content with a basic kit without accessories
• For those interested in the Pacific theater and American fighter aviation
• For the slightly advanced: masks and a figure have to be bought separately

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.