Zotz Decals has released several new sheets for Trumpeter's 1/32 scale P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback.

The first is entitled "P-47 Razorback in the PTO". Three full-sized decal sheets plus a smaller half-tone sheet with nose art are included with this release.

Two marking options for Pacific Theatre Razorbacks are supplied (as pictured at the top of the page):

• Bonnie: a P-47D-23 of the 460th FS, 348th FG at Leyte in the Philippines during December 1944. This is a very colourful machine finished in bare metal with black ID stripes on the fuselage and wings, and narrow red horizontal stripes on the rudder. Trumpeter offers this as a marking option in their kit but there are a number of inaccuracies, so these replacements from Zotz are very welcome. Zotz has even included the broad black bands and the rudder stripes in decal form.

• "Miss Mutt", a P-47D-2 of the 348th FG at Port Moresby, New Guinea in November 1943. This aircraft wears the factory finish of Olive Drab and Neutral Grey, supplemented with white theatre markings on the entire tailplanes and wing leading edhe, plus a yellow tip on the tail and atractive nose art.

The second set is "P-47 Razorback in the ETO". Two larger decal sheets plus a smaller half-tone sheet with nose art are included with this release.

 

 

Two marking options for European Theatre Razorbacks are supplied:

• "Rozzie Geth / "Boche Buster", a P-47D-10 of the 62nd FS, 56th FG during March 1944. Two versions of the nose art are included here, as interpretation of photos differs between researchers.

• "In the Mood / Jackson County, Michigan Fighter".

Both options are finished in Olive Drab and Neutral Grey with standard white ETO theatre bands on the nose and tail planes; plus attractive nose art.

The main decal sheets for both releases are all very well printed, with good colour saturation and registration.

 

 

The smaller sheets with the artwork are very impressive. At first glance they appear to be ALPS printed due to the subtle colour separations and half tones. However, unlike ALPS, these decals are printed on separate pieces of carrier film so you do not have to cut each piece of artwork out of the backing sheet before use. They look more robust than ALPS markings too.

Instructions for each set are supplied in full colour on a single half-letter sized sheet.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

Trumpeter's large-scale P-47D Razorback is a very nice model and Zotz new selection of decals will be a geat compliment to the chunky lines of the 1/32 scale Jug. The inclusion of accurate markings for "Bonnie" will be appreciated by modellers disappointed by the Trumpeter kit decals, while the alternate markings and colourful art on all the other options will deliver welcome variety to the traditional Olive Drab finish of the Razorback.

Zotz's new decals are very high quality offerings that will really add character to your big Jug.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Eli from Zotz for the samples