1/32 P-47D THUNDERBOLT

Hasegawa's latest addition to their 1/32 lineup is this very impressive P-47D. Jug fans have been wanting a new 1/32 kit of this classic aircraft for years, and here it is! It has been well worth the wait, too, as this kit gives us detailed cockpit, landing gear and engine assemblies, clear lenses for all lights, optional position flaps, Hamilton Standard and Curtis Electric propellers, a pilot figure, two complete canopies and windscreens (open and closed), as well as drop tanks and bombs that attach to the pylons with poly caps and pins, which means they can be swapped out or removed for transport. We are given the flat-style belly tank, two P-38-style teardrop tanks and two bombs. Also of note are the parts included but marked "not for use": a dorsal fillet, late-model gunsight as used on the D-40 (gunsight glass parts are also here!), and external mirrors. Inserts are used in the lower wing to enable early and late Ds (pre-dash-30 without dive flaps, and dive flaps with relocated landing light for -30 and higher). In other words, with this one kit you can build any version of bubbletop P-47D you wish. Bring on the decals!

Not that there is anything wrong with the kit markings, of course! We are given decals for Lt. Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski's D-25 as it appeared on July 5, 1944, and again as it appeared on his last flight on July 20 of that year, plus Maj. Glenn T. Eagleston's D-30 as it appeared in early 1945 in France

Option Markings:

 US Air Force (1947-now) 

• 61 FS, 56 FG HV*A/226418 (Lt.Col. Francis Gabreski)
  Julio 1944 World War 2 
• 61 FS, 56 FG HV*A/226418 (Lt.Col. Francis Gabreski)
  Julio 1944 World War 2 

Republic P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt

 US Air Force (1947-now) 

• 353 FS, 354 FG FT*L/420473 (Maj. Glenn T. Eagleston)
  Agosto 1944 World War 2 - Normandy