Tamiya P-47M Thunderbolt 1:48 – build review

Feature Article with Andy Frill
Kit no. 61096

A note from Geoff C…
Here’s a quick look at how Andy’s project turned out – very well as you can see!

Over to you Andy…

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The Republic P-47 first took shape as the Seversky P-35 before that company became Republic. The design was evolved through the P-43 Lancer before the requirements led to World War II’s heaviest fighter, the P-47. Initially, the P-47 was designed with the typical streamlined cockpit of the day before the upper deck was resigned with a bubble canopy atop the fuselage providing excellent all-round visibility. This new design was introduced part-way through P-47D production, which for whatever reason didn’t warrant a new model designation.

P-47s were among the first fighters to accompany the USAAF over to Europe as the United States entered the war. While many fighter wings were quick to transition to the P-51 Mustang as soon as it was available, the 56th Fighter Group was one of the only organisations to refuse the Mustang and see the war through in their beloved Thunderbolts.

While the bubble-top was introduced with the Block 25 P-47Ds, the P-47M was the sport model – stripped of weight and given additional horsepower to be able to chase the V-1 buzz bombs, though by the time these faster Thunderbolts arrived in-theatre, the V-1 threat was all-but-gone. The P-47N saw longer wings and additional improvements to serve over the vast overwater battlefields of the Pacific theatre.

I have always loved the P-47 and even though I am a NAVAIR guy, the P-47 has always been one of my favourite World War 2 aircraft. I looked at my stash and realising that I had quite a few Tamiya P-47s, I figured it would be an easy build while I took breaks from my S-2E/G Tracker build (more to come on that one). So, grabbed the “M” boxing and proceeded to get on with the build.

The Cockpit…