1/48 Academy P-47D Thunderbolt

A D-Day P-47

by Greg Wise

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  D-Day Anniversary 2006 

 

The 1/48 Academy P-47D Thunderbolt is a pretty good kit and there are newer kits out on the market that are better. But the price of these makes them very attractive. As for what you get in the box you'll find the typical Academy standard, nicely engraved panel lines, little flashing, pretty basic cockpit and gearbays, good instructions and crappy decals. The fit is pretty good except for the way the gun barrel exit the wing this area was awful and needed filler work. And I added homemade belts and buckles to the pit.

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I wanted to build a Jug for this years 2006 ARC D-Day Group Build. Inspired by Jim Fox's website from the 2005 D-Day GB I decided on a 78th Thunderbolt and came across a photo of this aircraft P-47D-25RE ETO 78th FG 83rd FS June 6 1944 nothing fancy or flashy. I'm sure their is a story somewhere on this birdie.

After prepping for a NMF I sprayed the model with Tamiya silver for a base and to find imperfections in the work. I then did some minor paneling with Alclad and then I masked of for the invasion stripes and painted everything else with enamels. The decals came from the spares box  except for checkerboard that I robbed from a Tamiya kit the first two attempts were with the crappy Academy decals. And finished off with a little weathering.

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After the kit was finished I set her the shelf where she now lives She will never be a show winner but she is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy.

Greg

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Photos and text © by Greg Wise