Ich hau' noch einen raus, was Buntes, und natürlich wieder ein Whif.
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Some background:The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the largest and heaviest fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single piston engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to eight tons, and in the fighter-bomber ground-attack roles could carry five-inch rockets or a significant bomb load of 2,500 pounds; it could carry over half the payload of the B-17 bomber on long-range missions (although the B-17 had a far greater range).
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The P-47, originally based on the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine, was to be very effective as a short-to-medium range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and, when unleashed as a fighter-bomber, proved especially adept at ground attack in both the World War II European and Pacific Theaters.
The P-47 was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of World War II, and served with other Allied air forces, notably those of France, Britain, and Russia. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the U.S. were equipped with the P-47.
In 1943, two P-47D-15-RE airframes (serials 42-23297/23298) were selected for testing with the new experimental 2300 hp Chrysler XIV-2220-1 sixteen-cylinder inverted Vee liquid-cooled engine. These aircraft were re-designated XP-47H. The liquid-cooled Chrysler engine with its large under-fuselage radiator radically changed the appearance of the Thunderbolt, and increased overall length to 39 feet 2 inches. With the increased power and improved streamlining, a maximum speed of 490 mph was anticipated.
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The two P-47D-15-RE airframes were converted until early 1944 and test flights began on July 26, 1945. During flight trails, one of the XP-47Hs actually attained a speed of 490 mph in level flight, and the new aircraft was primarily intended as a fast interceptor for the European theater, where especially Great Britain was endangered by the fast V1 missiles, and initial reports about German jet fighters and reconnaissance aircraft that were hard to counter with current piston-engine types, stirred the need for this fast aircraft.
Production P-47Hs received several amendments that had already been introduced with the late D types, e. g. the lowered back and a bubble canopy that offered excellent view. The P-47H also received the new wing from the P-47N, recognizable by its characteristic square wing tips which allowed better roll manoeuvers. Not visible at first glance were the integral wing tanks, which enhanced the internal fuel load to 4.792,3 liters, resulting in a range of 3.500 km (2.175 ml), so that the P-47H was also suited for long range bomber escorts. Air brakes were added to the wing's lower surfaces, too, to allow braking after a dive onto its prey.
Furthermore, serial production machines received an uprated, more reliable Chrysler XIV-2220-2 engine, which had an output of 2.450 hp.
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
The P-47H was put into limited production with 130 built, sufficient for one group. However, the type suffered serious teething problems in the field due to the highly tuned engine. Engines were unable to reach operating temperatures and power settings and frequently failed in early flights from a variety of causes: ignition harnesses cracked at high altitudes, severing electrical connections between the magneto and distributor, and carburetor valve diaphragms also failed. Poor corrosion protection during shipments across the Atlantic also took their toll on the engines and airframes.
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
By the time the bugs were worked out, the war in Europe was nearly over. However, P-47Hs still destroyed 15 enemy jet aircraft in aerial combat in March-May 1945 when aerial encounters with the Luftwaffe were rare. The type also proved itself to be a valuable V1 missile interceptor over the Channel.
The entire production total of 130 P-47Hs were delivered to the 358th Fighter Group, which was part of the 9th Air Force and operated from Great Britain, France and finally on German ground. From the crews the P-47H received several nicknames like 'torpedo', 'Thunderbullet' or 'Anteater', due to its elongated nose section.
Twelve P-47H were lost in operational crashes with the 358th Group resulting in 11 deaths, two after VE Day, and two (44-21134 on 13 April 1945 and 44-21230 on 16 April 1945) were shot down in combat, both by ground fire.
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
General characteristics Crew: 1
Length: 39 ft 2 in (11.96 m)
Wingspan: 40 ft 9 in (12.42 m)
Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
Empty weight: 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Loaded weight: 13,300 lb (6,032 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Chrysler XIV-2220-2 sixteen-cylinder inverted Vee liquid-cooled engine, rated at 2.450 hp.
Performance Maximum speed: 503 mph at 30,000 ft (810 km/h at 9,145 m)
Range: 920 mi combat, 2.175 ml ferry (1.480 km / 3.500 km)
Service ceiling: 43,000 ft (13,100 m)
Rate of climb: 3,120 ft/min (15.9 m/s)
Wing loading: 44.33 lb/ft² ()
Power/mass: 0.19 hp/lb (238 W/kg)
Armament 8 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (3.400 rounds)
Up to 2,500 lb (1,134 kg) of bombs, drop tanks and/or 10× 5 in (127 mm) unguided rockets
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", aircraft 'CH-F [bar]' (s/n 44-63483) of USAAF 365th FS, 358th FG, 9th Air Force; based at Toul (France), early 1945 (Whif/kitbashing) by
dizzyfugu, on Flickr
Hier trifft mal wieder REalität auf Fiktion und ganz viel Spachtelmasse. Die P-47H hat es tatsächlich gegeben, aber nur als zwei Prototypen, umgebaute Razorback-P-47Ds. Es gibt sogar einen Bausatz davon, von MPM, aber der ist... rudimentär. Ich wollte aber immer mal solche einen Langnasen-Brummer bauen, und hatte, nachdem ich einen günstigen MPM-Bausatz erstanden hatte, eh den Plan eine Einsatzmaschine zu whiffen. Dann konnte ich aber auch gleich das volle Programm angehen, und die Segnungen der späten P-47-Baureihen wie der M oder N einfließen lassen.
Und dies ist dann in Form eines Kitbashings mit einer Heller-P-47N passiert - hier sind wirklich zwei Bausätze "gekreuzt" worden! Das Braune ist MPM, das Silberne Heller, und alles andere improvisiert:
Mach' ich nicht noch einmal, aber das Ergebnis ist ganz überzeugend geworden.
Die bunte Optik ist übrigens nicht weit weg von der Wahrheit - Thunderbolts der 358th Fighter Group flogen ähnlich bunt dekoriert über Frankreich und Deutschland, und letztlich sieht das Ding ein bisschen wie ein Stuntmobil von Evel Knievel aus...?
Thema: What if? 1:72 Republic P-47H-25 "Thunderbolt", der 358th Fighter Group USAAF (Kitbashing) (Gelesen 5891 mal)