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DETAIL & SCALE has released P-47 THUNDERBOLT, with 22 new pages and more color images. It features original artwork, an excellent selection of photos, and a modeling section.

Introduction

P-47 Thunderbolt in Detail & Scale is a recent release from Detail & Scale, the 17th volume in their Detail & Scale series, ISBN 9798988667612. This monograph updates and enhances their original P-47 book, published 25 years ago;

P-47 Thunderbolt in Detail & Scale has more than 260 photographs, over 190 of which are in color, 11 drawings, and 9 color profiles.

Twenty-two pages have been added, including more contemporary color photographs, and even more color detail photographs. Line art has increased with original graphics by Lloyd S. Jones. Detail & Scale is known for producing focused monographs of aviation subjects, primarily focused on specific historical and physical characteristics of an aircraft. Authors Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak bring over 60 years of first-hand military aviation experience to their titles. Both are also modelers, obvious by their detailed survey of kits of the P-47;

Kits in all popular standard modeling scales from 1/144th through 1/24th scales are included.

Changes and modifications through the development of the P-47 are documented and examined. It also focuses on the multiple paint – and paintless – schemes of the Thunderbolt.

Three formats are available with the print version containing 102 pages, 267 photos (192 in color), 11 illustrations, and 9 color profiles. The Apple and Kindle formats feature 173 pages, 268 photos (193 in color), 16 illustrations, 9 color profiles. That is a juggernaut of resources. On a somber note, the book is dedicated to the late aviation artist, historian, author, and scale modeler Jerry Crandall, of Eagle Editions, LTD.

Let us explore this remarkable examination of the legendary P-47.

The authors include technical tidbits that spins the turbo of abbreviation geeks like me, such as deciphering the meaning of parts of aircraft model codes, e.g., the "RA", "RE" and "CU" at the end of a model type, i.e., P-47D-27-RE. They include production numbers, often of individual sub-series;

A total of fifty-seven P-47Cs and fifty-five P-47C-1-REs were built...

Eagle-eyed students of the Jug may have noticed the fuselage profile changed with a bulged keel which contained shackles and piping to allow the P-47 to carry a drop tank, and the authors note which production block had these fitted at the factory; field modification kits were sent to the war zone as proven with a photo of an earlier variant with the bulge. Such insight may prove essential for modelers and historians seeking the most accurate Thunderbolt possible.

In the 10-page chapter Thunderbolt History the authors take us through a brief yet detailed survey of the aircraft, and the visionaries Alexander De Seversky and Alexander Kartveli, who created the companies and aircraft that led to the P-47.

In the 10-page chapter Thunderbolt Variants, each version of the P-47 is examined, beginning with the XP-47B and progressing to the ultimate P-47N, while not ignoring dubious production models (looking at you, Curtiss-built P-47G) and experimental Jugs, e.g., P-47E-K, and the XP-72. Each operational-variant section explores the version’s changes, brief operational history, anecdotes, and accompanied with illustrations, and data tables presenting:

WEIGHTS: Empty; Gross; Max Takeoff
DIMENSIONS: Span; Wing Area; Length; Height
FUEL: Internal; External
Number built
Engine
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed/Altitude
Cruising Speed
Max Range/Altitude
Normal Range/Altitude
Service Ceiling
Climb

Next, Details is a 38-page feast for the eyes of original up close and personal color detail photos of key areas of the big fighter, featuring ten different sections that include 170 detail photographs that cover the P-47 in intimate detail, both inside and out, propeller hub to the rudder trailing edge position light, and wingtip to wingtip. A unique color of cockpit paint is identified and discussed, as is the structure of the cockpit floors. Excellent views of structural and electrical components are clear and illuminated. No less than ten different P-47s were photographed to achieve the greatest breadth of imagery for the Thunderbolt family. Each photo is accompanied with a caption of varying detail. This includes cockpit details of P-47B, C, D, G, M and N variants:

P-47B: three black-and-white images from the pilot manual (instrument panel, left and right side consoles), keyed to 55 components
P-47C: three black-and-white images from the pilot manual as above, keyed to 70 components
P-47D: eight color photos, including the seat
P-47G: nine color photos
P-47M: five color photos
P-47N: four color photos.

Other full-color sections focus on the details of:

Canopy and windscreen: nine color photos including a P-47 with a Malcolm Hood

Fuselage: 19 photos of important areas of the fuselage, including five sequenced images of the intercooler door which prove whether it slide open or opened outward

Wing: 22 views of flaps, ailerons, gear, lights, pitot tube, compressiblity brakes

Landing Gear: 28 views of all things landing gear, with interesting painting and color details

Internal Armament presents eight looks at the P-47's eight machine guns

Pylons and External Stores shows 25 examples of enhancing the Jug's punch and range (note - several images are black-and-white):

Drop tanks, racks and plumbing
Bombs
Bazookas
Rockets with and without rails
Smoke generator

Tail: 10 of the empennage

Propeller: showing four types through eight photos

Engine: nine photos.

These afford an exceptional resource for P-47 modelers, artists and historians.

Models!

Seventeen pages of known P-47 models available at the time of publishing, including by Dora Wings and MiniArt. Scales shown are 1/144, 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24. Subtopics include older kits, classics, and currently available. Over two dozen manufacturers are listed, e.g., Hawk, Tamiya, F-Toy, Special Hobby, AHM, Jo Han, Hasegawa, and Dora Wings just to name several. Each kit in each scale is reviewed and assessed, i.e., Platz Thunderbolt Kits in 1/144. Photos of finished kits per scale/manufacturer subject accompany each write-up. Those reviews contain interesting findings as these excerpts from three different kits show;

We have read reviews that have stated that the fuselage is about a scale foot too long. However, this does not check out with the measurements we have or the drawings we developed.
However, as did other kit manufacturers, Monogram mistakenly put an adjustable trim tab on both ailerons rather than on the left only.
Either way, there will be some issues and inaccuracies that will need to be corrected. Perhaps the best way to proceed is to use parts from both kits to build a single model.

With so many P-47 models issued since the early 1950s, we are fortunate that several modellers contributed their models to this section. If one wants to know about the state of P-47 models, this book can inform you if your model will take your display by storm.

Photographs, Artwork, Graphics

The text is supported by 33 pieces of art and tables. The line art illustrations are by Mr. Jones, with color profiles by Mr. Roszak. Most of the photos are color, both contemporary wartime images, and those recently shot by the authors and contributors.

Tables

Six tables present the data noted in Thunderbolt Variants for the XP-47B, P-47B, P-47C, P-47D, P-47M and P-47N.

Color Profiles

Nine profiles illustrate:

P-47C, 56th Fighter Group (FG), Lil Abner: two left-side profiles of LM*O with and without the bulged keel; different markings; right side close-up of the cockpit.

P-47D "Razorbacks": “Lil Lo”/“Miss Behave," 355th FG; "Kay" 348th FG.

F-47D "Bubbletop": Virginia Air National Guard.

P-47M, 56th FG, left side:

UN*Z, Maj. George Bostwick, 63rd FS
"Ol-Miss Lib", UN*T, Lt. Edgar Huff, 63rd FS
HV*Z, Capt. Witold Lanowski.

P-47N, left side, Georgia Air National Guard.

Line Art by Mr. Lloyd

XP-47B in profile showing the original rear window, clamshell door, and stub antenna.

P-47C-1-RE: left and right profile; planform from above and below; 11 airframe changes.

P-47C-5-RE: illustrating the 205-gallon ferry tank.

P-47D-20-RA: profile showing three new airframe features.

P-47D-40-RA: left and right profile; planform from above and below; five airframe changes. Three propeller types are illustrated: Curtiss-Electric symmetric and asymmetric paddleblades; Hamilton-Standard paddleblade.

Conclusion

P-47 Thunderbolt in Detail & Scale from Detail & Scale is another excellent history of the Army Air Force's most-produced fighter, the one which took the fight to the Luftwaffe in the first half of the Strategic Bombing Campaign. Thoroughly researched, expertly written, richly illustrated, detailed, it should be a must-have for historians and modelers of the Republic Thunderbolt. Many of the scenes in photographs of the big fighter call out to be modeled. The modeling section can help you decide which P-47 is for you, which are inaccurate, and why.

The P-47 is a favorite of WW2 fighter enthusiasts and this book does the Thunderbolt justice. I am happy to have this book on my shelf and recommend it to enthusiasts, historians and modelers of the aircraft. Recommend.

Please remember to mention to Detail & Scale and retailers that you saw this product here - on Aeroscale.

The current list of the Detail & Scale Series:

V1 - F3H Demon

V2 - F9F Cougar

V3 - F2H Banshee, Pt. 1

V4 - F2H Banshee, Pt. 2

V5 - SBD Dauntless

V6 - F-102 Delta Dart

V7 - F4F & FM Wildcat

V8 - F-8 & RF-8 Crusader

V9 - F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

V10 - F6F Hellcat