P-47D Razorback
Double D Jugs Part One

Bombshell Decals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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New from the Fayetteville, North Carolina based Bombshell Decals are two new sheets that provide markings for the Republic P-47 D Thunderbolt.  The subject of this review is 48-BS-011, Part 1 of the pair.

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The sheet provides very comprehensive markings for two early 8th Air Force machines, the details of which are as follows:

• P-47D-5 RE 42-8412 "Sweetie" assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group’s
  486th Fighter Squadron, and flown by (the then) Lieutenant Colonel Luther Richmond.  The machine is in the standard olive drab over neutral grey camouflage scheme of the time with the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) identification markings worn by fighter aircraft that consisted of white bands (15 inches wide around the horizontal stabilisers, 12 inch wide across the vertical stabiliser and rudder as well and a 24 inch one around the cowling front.  Markings are provided to enable you to model the aircraft in two versions, from early 1943 wearing the short-lived red surround to the national insignia and the winter of 1943 - 44 when it wore the later blue-bordered national insignia.  The machine was also fitted with the early D-5 cowl flap configuration as well as the later “scalloped” configuration.   It wears the name “Sweetie” on the left hand side of its cowling and sports the seemingly obligatory reclining nude figure, also on the left hand side of the fuselage.

• P-47D-22 RE 42-26293 "Belle of Belmont", flown by Lieutenant Armand A. Laflam, of the 63rd Fighter Group’s 56th Fighter Squadron in 1944.  This option too is finished in olive drab over neutral grey camouflage scheme less the ETO identification markings.  It is carrying D-Day recognition stripes to it’s under surfaces whilst the upper surface ones have been over painted.  It wears its name on the left hand side of the fuselage as well as nose art in the form of a sitting female figure on the left hand side of the cowling.

The decals themselves have been printed by Cartograf.  They are thin and in perfect register.  Two sets of national insignia are provided with the ones destined for the fuselage being supplied in three parts to enable you to apply them to the intercooler doors.  The placement guide shows that each option wore national insignia on the under surfaces of both wings.  This is not a mistake as this practice was adopted for P-47s in the ETO to distinguish them from Fw 190s.   The squadron codes for the second option are provided in white with separate “part letters” in black so as you can apply them to the bottom half of the letters where they go over the white part of the D-Day stripes.  (There is uncertainty as it the way these were done on the aircraft so you are provided with both options).  Two sets of fairly comprehensive stencil data is also provided including individual and correct data blocks.

The placement guide is in the form of an A-4 sized sheet that carries full colour drawings of both options – left hand side profiles as well as (smaller) upper and lower surface plan views.  It also carries a full list of references consulted to realise the sheet as well as advice to use the Quickboost resin D-5 cowl ring for the early version of “Sweetie.

The decals and placement sheet come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

Bombshell Decals also provide further comprehensive reference for each option on their website via PDF documents that you can download.  The one for “Sweetie” is here: http://bombshelldecals.com/decals/48-BS-0011/48-BS-0011-Sweetie-Data-Sheet.pdf whilst the one for the "Belle of Belmont" is here:  http://bombshelldecals.com/decals/48-BS-0011/48-BS-0011-Belle-of-Belmont-Data-Sheet.pdf

Whilst the output from Bombshell Decals is not as prolific as some other decal manufacturers there quality certainly is high.  This sheet will supply you with excellent quality decals and first rate support material to enable you to model two hard working 8th Air Force P-47s.

Thanks to Bombshell Decals for this sample.

Text and Images Copyright © 2011 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 21 March, 2011
Last updated 21 March, 2011

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