As the war raged in Europe in May 1941, a single-engine fighter aircraft weighing more than 4 tonnes made its maiden flight. It was the XP-47B, the prototype of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, of which a total of 15683 were to be built.
Thanks to its wartime experience, this aircraft was equipped with a 2000 hp R-2800 radial engine, a supercharger and eight 12.7 mm machine guns.
The XP-47B was to reach a speed of 633 km/h.
Production of the P-47B began in January 1942, shortly after the United States entered the war.
This was followed by the P-47C, which contained various improvements, and finally, from April 1943, the P-47D - the most widely built version.
The P-47D was equipped with an R-2800-59 engine, which could produce up to 2300 hp when the combat water injection system was switched on.
The ducts running to the side and below the cockpit for connecting the supercharger located behind the pilot's seat gave this aircraft its massive appearance. Many subtypes of the P-47D were produced with the designations D-1 to D-40, but the first versions were called "Razorback" because of their sharp-edged dorsal fin.
The D-25 subtype, which was introduced in June 1944, was equipped with an electrically operated canopy to improve the pilot's visibility and had larger fuel tanks.
This decision led to a completely redesigned aircraft shape. All subsequent subtypes were also fitted with the bubble canopy and became a characteristic feature of the later Thunderbolts
The P-47 "Bubbletop" proved to be an excellent, well-balanced fighter-bomber.
Plastic model kit
- Fuselage length: 230mm, wingspan: 259mm
- Flaps
- can be mounted in the upper or lower position
- Three different mirrors, sighting devices and four propellers are included.
- 500-pound bombs, rocket launchers and three different
- Pilot figure
- Two different marking options
1:48 scale
unbuilt / unpainted
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