Trumpeter 1/32 P-47D Bubbletop
By Luc Janssen
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Introduction
This kit is of the standard Trumpeter quality: the overall look is good but fine detailing is not to be found here. I decided to build a late war P-47D equipped with drop tanks filled with napalm. In the final stages of WWII, napalm bombs were indeed dropped in the ETO. On the internet I found some good photographs of such drop tanks with their igniters.
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The kit was put together mostly straight from the box. I added the ignition harness and some other wiring to the big Pratt & Whitney radial engine and the landing gear received brake lines. In the cockpit I used the instruments from Kits-World and the buckles of the HGW Models safety belts. The belts were made from flattened lead strips. Some tubing, wiring and handles were added in the cockpit as well.
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On the very simple base I added wheel chocks and a single fire extinguisher.
After Market Sets
- HGW Models: Seatbelts 1/32 USAAF/US NAVY Laser cut
- Kits-World: P-47D Instrument Panel
- Item C
Paints
I used paints from Alclad, MRP, AK, Vallejo and Humbrol.
Decals
The decals came from:
- The Kit
- My stores box
- EagleCals
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Weathering
As usual, weathering was done with oil paints, colour pencils, pastel powders and Vallejo wash.
References
- Aero Detail 14 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- Squadron/Signal Publications – P-47 Thunderbolt in action
- Squadron/Signal Publications – P-47 Walk around
- Model Detail Photo Monograph No. 15 P-47D Bubbletop
- P-47 Thunderbolt in Action – William N. Hess
- Kagero Republic P-47 Thunderbolt no 20 + 24 + 28
- American Eagles P-47 Thunderbolt units of the Eighth Air Force
- Canfora U.S.A.A.F. Aircraft Weapons of W.W.II
- Mechanism of Military Aircraft no 8 P-51 + P-47
- Meng Air Modeller no 57 + 78
For questions or remarks: go to lucjanssen32nd.com
© Luc Janssen 2022
This article was published on Friday, April 08 2022; Last modified on Sunday, April 10 2022