P-47 Thunderbolts
Part 3

BarracudaCals, 1/72, 1/48 & 1/32 scales

Reviewed by Glen Porter

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Well, we do now know who BarracudaCals is. Roy Sutherland, the man behind Cooper Details and frequent visitor and contributor to Hyperscale. They have a website at www.barracudacals.com and it is well worth a look.
The Decals.

Barracudacals has released “P-47 Thunderbolts Part 3”, available in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales, with bonus 1/144 scale markings also included on the 1/72 scale sheet.

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Thumbnail panels:

1/72 and 1/48 scales

Like the earlier releases, there are three P-47Ds on these sheets, two Bubbletops and one Razorback. The Bubbletops are both natural metal finish with red cowling ring and faded black or dark OD anti-glare panel.

Scheme 1: “Schmaltzie”, P-47D-30-RE, serial number 44-20866 of the 57th FG, 65th FS, 12th Air Force flown by Lt, F J Middleton, Southern Italy in the Summer of 1944. This is Blue 53 and has spoked wheels, 500lb bomb racks under the wings and a P-51 teardrop tank on the centreline. “Schmaltzie” in red is only on the Port (left) side and on the Starboard (right) is the name “Mercedes”, also in red.

Scheme 2: “Sleepy Jean III”, P-47D-28-RA with serial 42-28641 coded A7-W of the395th FS, 368th FG 9th Air Force flown by Lt. Bill Wayland, St. Dizier, France 1945. The same racks as above but with plain wheels with red centres.

Scheme 3: “Eileen”, a P-47D-11-RE razorback, serial 42-75429 coded WZ-S flown by 1st Lt. Frank Oiler, Duxford, England, 1944. This aircraft is Olive Drab and Neutral Grey with a B&W check cowling and invasion stripes on lower surfaces of wings and fuselage.

All three have nose-art and Curtiss Electric props, the two B/Ts with paddle blades and the R/B with narrow examples.

1/32 scale

In addition to "Sleepy Jean III" from the other sheets, two different schemes are offered on the 1/32 scale sheets. These were covered in the smaller scales on earlier Barracudacals releases, and they are very welcome now in 1/32 scale. The three options are:

Scheme 1: “Boise Bee” P-47D-1-RE, serial number 42-7890. 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th Air Force. Flown by Lt. Duane Beeson. Based at Debden, England, January, 1944.

Scheme 2: “Sleepy Jean III” P-47D-28-RA, Serial number 42-28641. 395th FS, 368th FG, 9th Air Force. Flown by Lt. Bill Wayland Based at St. Dizier, France. Spring of 1945.

Scheme 3: “Kansas Tornado II” P-47D-25-RE, serial number 42-26742. 510th FS, 405th FG, 9th Air Force. Flown by Capt. Howard Curran. Based at St. Dizier, France, Fall, 1944.

This is another excellent decal set from BarracudaCals with colourful and interesting subject, perfectly printed decals and an added bonus for the 1/144th brigade. If you think I'm impressed, you are correct.

Thanks to BarracudaCals for the samples

BarracudaCals decals are available online from their website

Text and Images Copyright © 2009 by Glen Porter
This Page Created on 13 February, 2009
Last updated 23 July, 2009

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