P-47D Razorback Thunderbolts Pacific Theatre of Operations Part 3

Thundercals, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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Thundercals is a relatively new decal company that has so far released three decal sheets featuring P-47Ds operated by the USAAF in the South Pacific.  Part 1 and Part 2 have been favourable received; Rodger Kelly reviewed both on Hyperscale in January 2012 and concluded that they offered "excellent quality decals and well researched information for the often overlooked early P-47s that operated in the Pacific Theatre".

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Part 3 continues this focus on Pacific Thunderbolts, featuring three razorback P-47s as follows:

• P-47D-15-RA, "The Golden Gopher"/223152 flown by Captain Harry McMullen, 69th FS, Saidor, New Guinea, May 1944.  This aircraft – finished in Olive Drab over Neutral Gray with white tail surfaces, cowling, and wing leading edges – was lost during a raid in May 1944, with Captain McMullen bailing out and surviving for nearly two weeks before returning to his unit.

• P-47D-16-RE, "My San Antonio Rose"/275955 flown by Captain LeeRoy M. Chadwell, 310th FS, probably based at Noemfoor, Papua, 1944 and Philippines, 1944-45.  Also in Olive Drab over Neutral Gray, "My San Antonio Rose" wore a colourful Identification Yellow propeller boss and engine cowling, with every alternate cowl flap left in bare metal with a black outline.  The wing leading edges were white, as were the tail surfaces apart from the upper horizontal stabilisers, which remained Olive Drab.

• P-47D-23-RA, "Slick Chick"/227617 flown by 1st Lt. David C. Batey and 2nd Lt. Marty I. Jackson, 311th FS, probably based at Noemfoor, Papua, 1944 and Philippines, 1944-45. "Slick Chick's" overall natural metal finish was broken up by a 30" black band around the fuselage just behind the cockpit.  The evocative nose art was applied to the port engine cowling directly on to a 12" wide horizontal blue band; the tail surfaces were all white apart from 12" vertical black strips on either side of the vertical stabiliser. 

The information about these aircraft is presented on a set of instructions that is in my view close to perfect, and an example to other decal companies of how to provide information to modellers.  Research has clearly been comprehensive, and the results are displayed in a way that should leave modellers in no doubt about the key attributes of their chosen subject.  For example, not only is the type of propeller fitted to each aircraft identified, so is the style of warning markings at the tip of each blade.  Clear instructions are provided for painting the theatre-specific white wing leading edges to the correct dimensions.

One page is devoted to full-colour, port view profiles of the subject aircraft.  Nothing is left to chance here, with arrows used to specifically identify each colour while also describing colours used on areas that are not visible in the profiles (for example propeller blades and gear doors).

There are plenty of useful suggestions to help with applying the decals.  The instructions point out that while these were designed for Tamiya’s 1/48 P-47D razorback kit, they can also be used with Hasegawa, Otaki and Revell/Monogram kits.  However, some compromises will be necessary if you do this.  For example, the black cowl outlines for "My San Antonio Rose" are matched to Tamiya's open cowl flaps, but additional black pinstripe decals are supplied for modellers using another kit or finishing the Tamiya kit with closed cowl flaps.  Another option is provided with the yellow serial numbers for "My San Antonio Rose", that have been printed with and without an Olive Drab background to cater for those who may wish to paint this background themselves.

A comprehensive stencil placement guide is included, although the accompanying text points out that “many razorbacks in the South West Pacific did not carry a full complement of stenciling”.

The decals have been printed by Cartograf, and look flawless on the sheet.  Registration is excellent, apart from a slight shadow on the edges of the fuselage spine command stripes for "My San Antonio Rose".  Enough stencils and national insignia are provided for one aircraft. 

Special mention should be made of the nose art decals, which the instructions credit to Michael Kloppenburg of Bombshell Decals.  The quality of the nose art images for “Slick Chick” and “My San Antonio Rose” are exceptional – applied with care, these should look very good.

This release maintains the high standards Thundercals established with its first two Pacific Theatre P-47 releases. 

The combination of camouflaged and natural metal finishes, white theatre identification markings, colourful engine cowls and finely executed (and in one case slightly risqué) nose art will make these decals appeal to a wide audience. 

The instructions and decals are very well produced, and should result in both a satisfying modelling experience and a striking 1/48 P-47D at the end of the process.

Thanks to Thundercals for the sample

Review Copyright © 2014 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 15 July, 2014
Last updated 15 July, 2014

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