REVELL 1:72 P-47M THUNDERBOLT

 

Reviewer: Steve Papworth  (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  9 April 2003
Addendum on pilot information supplied by Brendan Davis and Kari Fox (granddaughter of Charles McBath)

Kit Details:

Revell Germany, 1/72 P-47M Thunderbolt.  Kit 04185.

The Aircraft:

The P-47M was a special high-speed version of the Thunderbolt specifically evolved to counter the Fieseler Fi-103 (V-1) buzz bomb and the new jet- and rocket-powered fighters that were entering service with the Luftwaffe. 

This new engine installation was ordered into production in September 1944 for the last 130 P-47D-30-RE aircraft delivered by Farmingdale, the aircraft being subsequently redesignated P-47M-1-RE. The serial numbers of the 130 P-47M-1-RE Thunderbolts built were 44-21108/21237 

The first P-47M was delivered in December 1944, and they were rushed to the 56th Fighter Group in Europe. However, engine problems delayed their use until the last few weeks of the war in Europe. Underwing racks were not fitted, as the P-47M was meant to be operated strictly as a fighter. 

Performance of the P-47M-1-RE included a maximum speed of 400 mph at 10,000 feet, 453 mph at 25,000 feet, and 470 mph at 30,000 feet. Range (clean) was 560 miles at 10,000 feet. Armament was six or eight 0.50-inch machine guns. 

(source: http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p47_12.html)

Instructions:

Typical Revell Germany 12 page fold out booklet giving 18 construction steps and two paint schemes.  The instructions are well detailed, clear and precise. 

Construction:

Kevin Ronayne has submitted a detailed guide to the Revell P-47D-30 on this site and I agree fully with him.  These two kits seem to be basically one and the same with minor inclusions for each model.  You start with a reasonably detailed cockpit for 1/72 then proceed to the joining the fuselage with the cockpit trapped inside.  The cockpit is movable so attention to detail in the cockpit pays off.  Steps 4 & 5 details the wing assembly, including drilling holes for rockets.  Beware! the P47M is an interceptor and although the rockets are included I left them off.  Steps 6 through 9 detail assembly of the Pratt & Whitney R2800 engine.  There is a small amount of flash evident on the cylinders which required removal but nothing that gave any concern.  The engine is sufficiently detailed that time spent painting here pays off in the finished model.  Step 10 involves assembly of the wings, tailplane and cowling, once again no problem here even the dihedral came out right first go. Step 11 is the detailed and robust undercarriage which required only a slight sand to slip in and set right.  14 is the sliding canopy assembly, which is straight forward, although I would advise painting first as mine got stuck halfway open when the paint dried. The remaining steps involve attaching the underwing stores which include rockets and drop tanks which I omitted. 

Painting:

The box colour does not really convey the actual colour of the fighter, it’s BLUE.  Once again Revell gives us a chemistry exam trying to mix the correct colours.  As Revell paints are becoming harder to obtain in Australia I used Humbrol.  Humbrol M89 for the lighter blue which worked well.  However I used a conversion chart from another website which listed H25 as a substitute for Revell M56.  This is NOT the correct colour.  I had the devils own job trying to match the darker blue and I’m still not happy with the job.  I used a colour photo of another P47-M from the 63rd fighter squadron as reference.


(Lt Charles R Clarks P47-M, UN*S)

Decals:

An exceptionally detailed set of decals are provided for two aircraft from the 63rd F/S 56th F/G flying from Boxted, England in 1945.  The 63rd F/S was formed in 1941 flying P40’s receiving Thunderbolts in 1942.  The squadron was transferred to Boxted, England in 1943 and remained there until the end of the war. The first; ‘Shoot your Faded’, F*UN, flown by Capt. Charles McBath and the second ‘Dottie Dee’, M*UN flown by Capt. Walter L Flagg.   Capt. Flagg flew two tours with the 56th Fighter Group, receiving the DFC, Air Medal and Purple Heart. (Source: http://www.web-birds.com/8th/56/63rd/63rd_squadron.htm)


Capt. Walter L Flagg

ADDENDUM supplied by Brendan Davis
The Instructions give false information.  Capt. Walter L Flagg flew "Shoot your Faded", F*UN; Capt. Charles McBath flew ‘Dottie Dee’, M*UN.  If you look at the decals the numbers 21 and 24 are correct. This can be verified at the following web site:
http://www.56thfightergroup.org/HisTest/P4763rdFS.html. 

FURTHER ADDENDUM supplied by Kari Fox
My grandfather was Charles McBath. 'Dottie Dee' was his plane, Flagg's plane was 'Shoot You're Faded'. Dottie Dee was his brother Georges (Army) wife.  Charles was not married at the time.
Incidentally, 'Dottie Dee' was badly strafed while my grandfather was shooting at a train over Germany. He was forced to fly through the explosion of the train. 'Dottie Dee' caught fire, the oil tank spewed it's contents into the cockpit - but Charles managed to fly more than 200 miles into friendly territory.  Then came 'Dottie Dee II'.
Furthermore, the person who developed the decal for my g'pas plane left out a hit, (I hate 'kill'). So anybody who has made a model of his P47 is off one.

Conclusion:

This kit is a gem!  There is sufficient detail to satisfy the enthusiast and it is simple enough for the beginner/intermediate modeller to complete without worry.  I have been impressed by Revell Germany for a while (Ta152 excepted) and this kit is another example of Hasegawa quality for an Airfix price. 

 

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