HOW TO
P- 47 Thunderbolt
Makeover
Af Ter
in addition to the obvious paint scheme
differences, comparing the “Before” and
“after” photos shows the other changes
made like the weathering and exhaust
staining. i even reworked the bombs to
include more realistic fins. Subtle changes
have a big visual impact!
Republic’s Street Fighter
in British warpaint
By Rich URavitch
BefOre
I’ve always liked Republic’s big P- 47 Thun- derbolt and I’m certain I’m not alone. A longtime favorite of warbird enthusiasts, the Jug has its own remarkable place in the history of aerial warfare. In service about he same time as the equally well-known P- 51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire, and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it had very little in common with the others. Sure, they were
all considered “fighters,” all very capable
and some better than others in specific
areas. One thing the Jug did not share with
any of its contemporaries was size. Its airframe was massive with a big, round R-2800
engine to match plus eight—that’s right,
eight!—.50-caliber machine guns packing a
firepower punch none of the others could
match. So, why does this giant of an airplane get the reverence it does from those
who flew it, respect from those who flew
against it, and the admiration of those who
have studied it? The biggest reason has to
be its amazing ruggedness in combat that
provided safe passage home for those who
would have been lost in less “substantial”
airplanes. It will remain a favorite and a
legend for generations to come.
The project
This Airfield P- 47 ( nitroplanes.com) is
one of the latest in the world of foam ARF
warbirds and it reflects two big differences
from “first generation” foam models. It’s
larger, by a good bit, than others and it’s
molded of EPO (Expanded PolyOlefin)
foam. Nearly all of the foam ARFs use this
material under various names and it is a big
leap forward, especially in the “finishing”
and appearance department. Almost gone
is the EPS (Expanded PolyStyrene) model
that looks like it’s covered in alligator skin;
it has been replaced by the smooth, close-
cell foam surface that offers a number of
refinishing opportunities from simple re-
paint to the application of lightweight fi-
berglass cloth with epoxy-based resin.
