Bazooka Rocket Launchers for P-47

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/48 BRASSIN Spitfire Vb Gun Bays are available online from Squadron.com

In his Detail and Scale volume on the P-47 Thunderbolt, Bert Kinzey notes that Thunderbolts weren’t factory fitted with rocket hardpoints until the final D series production block, the P-47D-40-RA.  Before then, if rockets were needed, 4.5-inch triple tube launchers were “mounted directly below the guns under each wing, [leaving]…the pylons …free to carry other stores”.

This Brassin set recreates these launchers to install on your 1/32 P-47 model.  While nominally for Hasegawa’s large-scale Jugs, which don’t have rocket tubes amongst their armament options, the set could also be used with Trumpeter’s 1/32 kits.  While Trumpeter does include tubes, these aren’t as nice as the ones Eduard has created here.

The key advantage of the Brassin set is that Eduard has cast each triple-tube launcher as a single resin piece.  The Trumpeter launchers, in comparison, are two-part assemblies with long and tricky seams to remove.  The Brassin launchers are perfectly made, with fine ancillary details and only a small casting plug to remove.

The balance of the resin parts consists of four mounting lugs, optional tube ends (for loaded or empty tubes), and a small block to help crimp the photo-etched mounting straps once you’ve folded these around the tubes.

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The straps will potentially be the trickiest bit of the set to get right – although perhaps I’m prejudiced by my mixed success with attaching straps like this in the past.  Before you start, I’d recommend annealing the brass to make it easier to bend.  And if you do have a construction mishap, all is not lost as Eduard includes a few spares on the fret. 

Fitting the launchers to the model (and subsequent handling) will also require care, as the attachment points are neither large nor robust.

The three page, four step instructions are well illustrated and logically sequenced.  Gunze paints are used for colour call-outs.

This is a well-detailed set that will enhance any 1/32 P-47 model.  Highly recommended to modellers who are comfortable working with photo-etched brass and resin.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2019 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 14 February, 2019
Last updated 13 February, 2019

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