Model Aircraft – August 2019

I

t is perhaps an understatement to say

that the P-47 made a huge impression in

World War II for the USAAF. Not only was it

the largest, heaviest and most expensive

ighter aircraft in history to be powered by

a single reciprocating engine, but it also played

a massive role in the skies over occupied

Europe. It was introduced initially in the

bomber escort role, a role in which it played

well, but was eventually replaced for this by the

very capable P51 Mustang. The P-47 was now

free to shift to the ground attack role and set

to work destroying the supply chains and

ground forces of the mighty German war

machine occupying Europe. P47s were

credited with destroying 86,000 rail

cars, 9,000 train locomotives, 6,

armored vehicles and 68,

trucks between D-Day and the

end of the war. Despite its shift to ground

attack, the P-47 remained an efective

ighter aircraft until the end of the

war, aiding to achieve and maintain

air superiority until ighting ended.

It is a itting tribute that the A-

Thunderbolt II was named after this

legendary aircraft.

This model recreates a P-47D

Razorback that operated out of England

in the ground attack role over France. This

aircraft belonged to the 405th ighter group,

510th ighter squadron, lying initially from

Christchurch, England. The aircraft was named

‘Georgia Peach’ by her pilot, Lt Edward Curry

Powell, who hailed from the state of Georgia in

the USA. He lew eighty-one missions in the War

and is credited with destroying one aircraft and

seven tanks. Powell survived the War, however,

Georgia Peach did not. On the 25th of July 1944,

‘Georgia Peach’ was hit by lak on a bombing

run over France, and pilot Second Lt Elwood

Wilson lying it at the time was forced to bail

out into captivity. The aircraft crashed into the

French countryside and was destroyed.

The Tamiya kit is superb, and for this build

I’m using a set of decals from Eagle Strike

Productions, and the Tamiya stencils. The build

started, as usual for most aircraft, in the cockpit,

and this went together very well. I started with

a Vallejo Black Primer layer and then built up the

layers of Vallejo Cockpit Green on top. The side

‘Georgia Peach’

Alister Curnow takes a look at the 1:48 Tamiya Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

Manufacturer: Tami y a

Scale: 1:4 8

K i t Ty p e: Plastic injection moulded

Kit Number: 610 8 6

P-47D Razorback

(^20) REPUBLIC P-47D THUNDERBOLT WWW.MODELAIRCRAFTMAG.COM