Corgi AA33803 P-47D Thunderbolt – “Miss Mary Lou.”
LIMITED EDITION
1/72 scale highly detailed, DIE CAST. Wingspan is 6.75”.
MSRP is $33.99.
Model is a new stock received from the manufacturer.
It is a beautiful model indeed, with attention to small details; clear, sharp, historically accurate imprints (NO DECALS). Lavishly reproduced fuselage artwork; Exceptional level of body panel details; Moving propellers and interchangeable undercarriage. Came with 2 sets of landing gears and heavy duty stand
Corgi added a model of P-47D Thunderbolt in 2003, this is the first Limited Edition issue. First issue of this plane was none limited and had been released in February in War Over Europe and Africa Series.
Packed in a very attractive box, insert has a story about the plane and Technical Specification.
In my opinion 1/72 scale Corgi are great alternatives or in many cases addition to collection of planes by Armour / Franklin Mint. They are very competitive in quality of castings and imprints as well, take much less display space, much more affordable and still displays great. Some models like Stuka, for example, when displays next to one from Armour looks better than this bigger and much more expensive model. If you are a collector of Armour models check heavy bombers by Corgi, you can’t find anything like those from Armour!
Corgi new models of die cast planes show an ability of this model maker to supply models of a great quality that before were available only in larger size and higher price.
ABOUT THE PLANE *
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt considered as one of the truly great fighter aircraft of all time. Its origin could be traced back to two 1936 designs by Seversky. The Company became known as Republic Aviation Corporation in 1939. Further developed project was submitted to the USSAC in August 1939 but was turned down with a request for development of larger and more powerful version. The chief designer Alexander Kartveli proposed two prototypes; both with Allison engine however study of aircombats over Western Europe during first months of the WW II set new standards for performance, armament and armour. Kartveli realized the new reality and drew a new alternative design around the new most powerful at the time available – Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial 1491kW (2,000hp) engine. The new XP-47B prototype flew first time on May 6, 1941 and project was submitted to the USAAC in June 1940. It was immediately accepted; and in September orders were placed for 171 production P-47Bs and 602 P-47Cs that had slightly longer fuselage to improve stability. Many changes were completed by the time when the first production P-47B came off the production line.
In June 1942 the 56th Fighter Group began its rearmament with P-47 and by the January 1943 it was deployed to England. It had flown its first combat mission on April 13, 1943.
P-47 had a crew of 1 and was a large aircraft compare to other fighters of a time with Wing span 40ft 8in / 12.43m; Length 36ft 1in / 11.01m; Height 14ft 2in / 4.32m; Weight 10,000lb / 4536kg empty and 19,400lb / 8800kg max t/o; Maximum range was 1260miles / 2028km with maximum speed of P-47D 428mph / 689 km/h at 30,000ft / 9,145m
It was first US fighter to use four-blade propeller that had a diameter of 12ft 2in (3.71m). In order to accommodate it the plane had telescoping undercarriage to provide sufficient ground clearance. The plane had controllable cooling gills at the rear of the engine that allow more air into the engine if the engine was running hot. The pilot set in a cockpit protected with bullet-resistant windscreen; armour plate in front and behind him, and it was heavily-framed. Armament consisted of eight or six 12.7mm (0.5in) MG in the wings with 425 rounds each; two 454kb (1000lb) bombs or 10 rockets.
Though a very formidable fighter unfortunately for Allies the plane didn’t have sufficient range to escort heavy bomber on their entire mission and after December 1943 was gradually replaced by P-51 Mustang as the escort fighter. But it had proven to be an excellent as a fighter-bomber and a ground attack plane. It became a legend as a survivor who could brought it’s pilot back to home after sustaining unbelievable punishment. That was not a strong side of P-51 Mustang with its water-cooled engine.
During its combat service over WW II Thunderbolts flew 546,000 combat sorties. They fired over 135 millions rounds of ammunition, launched 60,000 rockets and dropped 132,000 tons of bombs. Thunderbolts pilots on all fronts claimed the destruction of 3752 enemy aircrafts in the air and 3315 on the ground. Just on the Western Front in Europe during Allies operation between June 6, 1944 and May 8, 1945 Thunderbolt pilots were credited with a destruction of 6000 armored vehicles, 9000 locomotives and 86,000 railroad carts.
P-47 production ended in December 1945 with 15,660 aircrafts in different modification had been manufactured. Including 12,602 P-47D that were built by Republic and additional 354 by Curtiss-Wright with the designation P-47G. Two main versions were made. 130 of P-47M with 2,800hp R-2800-57 engine, which was equipped with water injection, were made. It was the fastest fighter that specifically designed to help combat German V-1 flying bomb attacks on Britain. The last variant was P-47N a very long-range escort fighter and fighter-bomber of which Republic built 1816 aircrafts.
944 Served with RAF and during the war the Soviet Union flew 195 P-47 with 8 were lost on en route there.
About two-thirds of all P-47 survived the WW II and were deployed in air forces of many South America and some European Countries. In the 1950s France used the P-47D in Algeria since it was found that the jets aircraft were unsuitable for close support in that environment.
COULD BE A GREAT GIFT TO YOURSELF OR ANY WW II VETERAN, AIRCRAFT ENTUSIAST, OR/AND MODEL COLLECTOR. IT IS NOT SUTABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS, BUT PERFECT TO THOSE WHO OVER 30!
**Age over 14 collectable item.
S&H: BUYER ASSUMES ALL RISKS FOR UN/UNDER INSURED SHIPMENTS. Will provide a copy of the shipment receipts upon request.
SAVE on a combine shipment!
