Eduard 1/144 P-47D Razorback
By Matt Bittner
Introduction
Is there anything that needs to be typed about the P-47D that most of humanity doesn't know about already? There are plenty of references out there so go Google!
The Kit
The Eduard 1/144 P-47D Razorback is actually a re-release of the Platz superlative kit with Eduard goodies thrown in for good measure. There are 35 gray, injected pieces on the main sprues and two pieces on the clear sprue. Eduard has also added a set of their masks with this release, to be used on the canopies and on the wheels. Eduard decals are for the following five aircraft:
- P-47D-11-RE, s/n 42-75510, Lt. Col. Francis Gabreski, 61st FS, 56th FG, 8th AF, Halesworth, England, February 1944
- P-47D-22-RE, s/n 42-26298, Lt. Albert P. Knafelz, 62nd FS, 56th FG, 8th AF, Boxted, England, July 1944
- P-47D-23-RA, s/n 42-27908, 86th FS, 79th FG, 12th AF, Fano, Italy, September 1944
- P-47D-20-RE, s/n 42-76553, 1st Lt. Arlie J. Blood, 510th FS, 405th FG, 9th AF, Christchurch, England, May 1944
- P-47D-23-RA, s/n 42-27884, Maj. William D. Dunham, 460th FS, 348th FG, 7th AF, Tacloban, Philippines, December 1944
The first and fourth aircraft are finished with Olive Drab upper and Neutral Gray on the undersides. The second machine has Ocean Gray and Dark Green top sides with Medium Sea Gray unders, while the third and fifth P-47s are mainly overall natural metal. The decals appear to be nicely done and in register.
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Construction starts with adding decal seat belts to a seat you've already painted, then adding it to the already molded-in cockpit "tub", along with the separate instrument panel with decal (all pieces naturally best painted before starting the assembly process). This is followed by gluing the fuselage halves together.
Now the wings are glued together but before you do, be sure to drill out the holes if you want to add the external bazooka tubes and/or bombs. The next step has you paint the engine and glue the separate underside piece and tube for the prop shaft to it. Once that is complete then glue the engine inside the already-painted cowl. Now you create the airframe by gluing the wings, stabs, cowl and upper antenna (but best left off until after painting and decaling) to the fuselage.
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The next three steps have you assemble the belly fuel tank together along with the main landing gear prior to adding them to the model's underside, followed by adding the one-piece canopy. The other additions to the underside include the bazooka tubes, bombs and the tail wheel-well along with the tail wheel.
The final construction step has you glue the one-piece prop to the model, and be aware Platz/Eduard provide three different props, so choose the correct one accordingly.
Conclusion
The Platz/Eduard 1/144 P-47D Razorback is the best model in this scale. Platz does a remarkable job with their models and this one definitely shows how nice their kits are. Add Eduard's masks and decals, and you truly have a superlative Jug in 1/144.
Many thanks to Eduard for the review sample.