Review

This offering from MiniArt arrives in a cardboard tray with a separate card lid. Inside the sprues are packaged inside a single plastic bag, the decals and photo etch are sealed in a bag with the instruction booklet. Anyone taking on one of MiniArt’s P47s needs to be aware that the parts count is high, with a number of small parts, plus photo etch, the result of all this is that you need the requisite skill sets and a steady hand. However, once you have built it the detail is stunning and is easily a match for any other models I have seen thus far of this aircraft. The P-47 acquired the name of juggernaut and anyone who has seen one in the flesh will understand how the name was acquired due to its size. The front of the aircraft houses a huge Pratt & Whitney 2800-57 double  Wasp engine and everything just looks over scale for a fighter aircraft. 

The cockpit of the model is extremely well detailed requires careful painting and photo etch harness detail is included. There are a number of decals required for the interior of the cockpit tub. Fortunately the tub is assembled within an oblong and should fit into the fuselage very nicely and looks tiny compared to the fuselage. That huge engine at the front is beautifully detailed using photo etch and plastic, and so far as I am aware everything is as it should be on the real aircraft. Once added to the model, if you like displaying detail, the engine panels can be left off in order to display the engine in detail. 

The main undercarriage and tail wheel is again exceptionally well detailed including the bays themselves, with the main undercarriage areas being made of quite a large number of pieces, containing both the surround and cross members. You have been provided with the option of weighted or non-weighted wheels with the diamond patterned tread. The gun barrels are an area that could be improved, via the addition of a set of barrels from Master - but are not a necessary improvement. The legs of the main undercarriage would benefit from a brake-line being added. The cockpit can be displayed open or closed allowing a good view of the interior. A number of external stores are provided depending on your requirements. These consist of 150 gallon drop tanks, 75 gallon drop tanks, 1,000 pound AN-M65 bombs, 1,000 pound AN-M59 bombs, smoke grenades, 250 pound AN-M57 bombs, 500 pound AN-M58A1 bombs. These stores can be used on a centre line and/or wing pylons. 3 finishing options for the model have been included:

P-47N-1RE “21” 44-88043 “Short Snorted-2 Big and Too Heavy”, 330rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 20th Air force, LeShima, Summer 1945, flown by 1st Lt Duawyn A. Duerschmidt & Lt John D. K. Brunner.

P-47N-1RE “33” 44-88020 “Red-Echo-Ruth”, 19th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 20th Air force LeShima, 1945. flown by Lt Leon Cox

P-47N-1RE “22” 44-87968 “Empire Express”, 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, 20th Air Force, LeShima, 1945. Pilot : Lt Joseph J Devona

I would also like to mention that the potential external armaments are detailed as regards to details and decals, and the common stencil markings are tackled on a separate guide, and there are a lot of them