| Jerry
Rutman P-47D Bubbletop Replacement Fuselage in 1/32nd Scale Out of the Box Review ¶¶¶¶¶ Reviewed by Mark Proulx |
| Many
1/32nd scale model builders are becoming increasing familiar with Jerry
Rutman's extensive product line. Among those items recently released is
a replacement resin fuselage for the Revell P-47D Bubbletop. This is a
review of that product.
When I received the resin cast parts, I discovered that the parts were shipped in a large cardboard box with larger items taped within, to avoid damage while shipping. A set of pencil sketch instructions, 1 styrene and 17 resin pieces make up the set. |
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 My
instruction sheet was damaged in shipping, having arrived with slight
tears and scuffs (see attached scan). However, due to the simplicity of
the conversion, it won't pose any difficulties. The pencil sketches are
easy to follow and I doubt that any modeler will have difficulty understanding
the task at hand. |
 The
fuselage is designed to be a direct replacement for the styrene items
supplied in the Revell kit with no modification required. I was able to
dry-fit the Revell wings to Jerry's fuselage with no difficulty. The tan
resin casting is nicely done with recessed surface detail. Consequently,
the kit wings should be scribed and sanded to match. The modeler is required
to add a number of resin scoops over the oil cooler, intercooler and turbocharger
exhausts. Thin areas of flash need to be removed from the cockpit and
tail wheel opening. The fuselage interior has small ribs attached to assist
in the correct placement of the interior parts. Jerry completes the fuselage
with newly detailed set of canopy rails, antenna mast and tail wheel boot.
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 Jerry
also supplies a separate one-piece rudder, allowing you to position it
at any angle. It is also nicely scribed to match the fuselage. Much has
been written about the inaccurate profile of the tail in the Revell kit.
Using references from Aero Detail and Detail in Scale, Jerry has corrected
the outline of the leading edge of the tail. |
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I highly recommend this product to any scale modeler with a desire to create an accurate 1/32nd scale P-47D Bubbletop. The replacement fuselage, with its scribed surface detail and corrected outline, is vastly superior to the Revell item. Jerry Rutman's website |
| © Mark Proulx 2002 |
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The
cowling is made up of three pieces, and needs to be added separately.
It matches the fuselage with its finely scribed surface detail. The
instructions make no mention of the cowl flap and oil cooler/air intake
installation, however, the parts are included. The cowl flaps can be
added in either the closed or open position. The fit of the oil cooler/air
intake appears to be poor with no alignment marks visible in the cowling
to assist the modeler with its proper location. Careful attention needs
to be made to ensure that it sits exactly at the bottom of the cowling.
A finely scribed circle can be found on the firewall attached to the
fuselage. I assume that this is to show the correct location to mount
the engine. No mention is made in the instructions for its intent, or
for that matter, how to mount the engine.