Trumpeter P-47D Thunderbolt “Razorback” 1:32 – build review

(kit currently Out of Production)
Short Feature Article by Les Venus (March 2016)

A note from Geoff…

Any of you that have been with us for some time will have seen some of the great contributions Les has made over the years, since we started SMN back in November 2009.

It’s been a while since Les was able to really get back into his modelling and it’s with great joy we can bring you this excellent build of his Trumpeter P-47D Thunderbolt ‘Razorback” in 1:32. In my opinion, one of his very best to date – especially one in his trademark natural metal finish. I love Les’s builds for many reasons, not just because he builds great, authentic-looking scale models, but mostly because he just experiments and is prepared to do his thing and not feel compelled to follow the crowd with the latest this-and-that product. It just goes to show, have some faith in your own ability, try new stuff out and if you’re happy with it – happy days!

I see that Les refers to his first build of this model and it appears in your SMN Subscribers’ Gallery – just a couple of pics there and so it’s great to bring you more in-depth coverage from Les of this Trumpeter kit in this special feature article.

References…

I did spot this useful thread on the web that has some great artwork, photos and comment for Kansas Tornado II, depicted around 11 September 1944; Lt H.J. Curran 510th FS support mission near Pont-à-Mousson. Follow that thread here.

Background

I am a big fan of The ‘Jug’ and most especially the “Razorback”. I am boringly many would say, a huge fan of a natural metal finish (NMF), so combining these two loves has always been appealing. This is controversial given that Tamiya have fabulous kits of the Jug available in 1:48 and 1:72 and Hasegawa has a nice 1:32 Bubbletop but I am of the firm opinion that Trumpeter’s effort is their best aircraft kit and is the best P-47 kit in any scale.

Sadly and for reasons beyond my understanding this kit has long been out of production which is a real shame. I got mine through a temporarily available REDUX boxing of it with lots of interesting decal options but it is, under all the fancy labelling, the Trumpeter kit.

I have built one before which staggeringly won a Gold at the Milton Keynes Model show several decades ago! It was before the emergence of SMN but I do think it’s in the reader’s models part of the mag. It was horrible and the finish makes me want to weep even now, so I always wanted to do better and this build was my chance. I will leave you to judge if I achieved my ambition.

This review
This review is not a blow by blow account of fit part 1 to part 23 but simply an overview of the build with the focus almost entirely on the painting weathering and finish. I hope that you find it helpful.

On with the build…